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2019 National EAS Test
Everything you need to know but
were afraid to ask
...updated to 9/16/19
The 2019 NPT was on August 7, 2019 at 2:20 PM EDT. The FCC and the FEMA urge everyone to get ready. There is even a video now posted on the
ETRS
(EAS Test Reporting System) page.
This year's test was designed to test
the legacy daisy-chain system, from the PEP (Primary Entry Point) to the
LP (Local Primary) to the individual stations that pass the test on to
others. The IPAWS/CAP system was not be involved in this test.
The following is more information on the NPT,
the Forms - registering and reporting - and the frequently asked
questions:
The purpose of the 2019 test is to both focus on
the station-to-station chain, and to see if every station in the country
gets the test.
1. recognize the "national geo code" 000000
2. Respond to the new NPT (National Periodic Test) code
3. As with the EAS, the FEMA and the FCC desire stations relay
"immediately."
Additionally, stations
must have a copy of the
new EAS Handbook at the operating position.
THE ETRS (EAS Test Reporting
System) AND REPORTING
1.
The initial FCC
ETRS page is here.
2. All EAS Participants are required to register
with ETRS and were supposed to
complete the filing of Form One on or before August
5, 2019.
(Not have your Form One done? Do it now anyway. The FCC just wants it
done!)
3. The "day of test" information sought by ETRS
Form Two
was to be filed at or before 11:59 PM EDT on August 7th, 2019.
Go here.
4. The detailed post-test data ETRS Form Three
must be filed on or before September 23, 2019.
FORM ONE QUESTIONS:
-
The form should be submitted
as soon as possible.
-
The Form One should
self-populate information. The FCC wants you to confirm it is
correct and the contact person information is current.
-
A guide to answering many
of your questions is at
"Meet the ETRS"
Check the Videos.
More
information is here.
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The FCC has a special crew
at etrs@fcc.gov to answer any
questions you have.
FORM TWO QUESTIONS:
This form is designed to simply have stations answer- by midnight EDT of
the test day:
1.
if they received the NPT and
2.
did they relay it.
There is a batch file option, should you be reporting for multiple
stations. Need help? etrs@fcc.gov
FORM THREE QUESTIONS:
The FCC will ask more detailed questions, requiring more time to answer,
but provided 45 days
to do so. The form continues to undergo
some changes, but we understand stations will be asked
to provide
information as to:
1. Was
the NPT received?
2. the
source from which they received the NPT
3. The
time and date of the receipt of the NPT
4.
which time zone they are in
5. Were
there are complications in receiving the NPT, and
6.
provide any explanation necessary to help the FCC understand any of the
answers.
7. Did
the station retransmit the NPT?
8.
Retransmission date and time.
9. Any
complications in retransmission?
10. Any
necessary explanations and comments.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1.
How can I tell if my EAS box is "ready" for an NPT?
A. If you have not recently updated your
firmware, you should contact your manufacturer and
ensure you have the right version. DASDEC is V3.1 or 4.0, Sage is
V89-34,
Trilithic is V18.10.05 -
Gorman-Redlich is V9.9.5 or V20.9.7
Be sure you are monitoring your assigned station.
State Plans are here.
2.
What if my manufacturer is out of business?
A. The demise of TFT (and previous
companies' EAS products) have left many questions.
Perhaps the easiest answer is: if you cannot reach the manufacturer,
your
system is obsolete and needs replacing. this includes TFT, HollyAnne,
and Burk.
3.
Hey! What is this "immediate" business? Do I comply?
A. The FCC still has not officially been very clear.
They did change section 11.54 to make the NPT
the functional equivalent of the EAN. Most manufacturers now break into
programming as
soon as the headers are received.
4. OK, so
I will upgrade. Why does this cost me?
A. The upgrades mandated by the FCC (to switch
"immediately," new codes, etc.) and
the FEMA (TLS and other security changes) meant significant changes were
needed
in the operating code. Most manufacturers try to hold back upgrade
costs, but the
accumulated changes caused this situation. Some manufactures made the
upgrade
nearly two years ago. Some others seem to have waited until the time
factor got too tight.
5. Does
that mean all upgrades cost money?
A. Not necessarily. Mostly it depends upon how complex
the FCC and the FEMA changes dictate. While
6. The New
(2017) EAS Handbook
does not "fit all." What should we do?
A. The FCC says to edit the Handbook to meet your needs
and then post at the Control Point.
7. Will
there be an issue with "invalid certificate" this year?
A. Not to worry. All EAS boxes now operating properly
will be OK until November, when a new
certificate will be put in place. All EAS boxes that are up to date
should accept the new
certificate without problems, according to current information.
8. I did not get a confirmation of my Form One submission. What should I
do?
A. Go back to the ETRS and check your status fir Form
One. Some had to "sign off"
then "sign back on" and submit. If you have trouble, contact
etrs@fcc.gov
They will help solve the problem.
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