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Finally an FM Radio in a Cel Phone

January 13th, 2012

BlackBerry Curve 9380Blackberry has announced that it’s latest version of OS allows for the control of FM radio hardware in the cel phones. They have already put an FM radio in their Curve 9360 and 9380 phones. This is a big step forward and what NAB as been asking for to help expand the role of EAS during emergencies when the Cel Phone system is down or over worked. By having FM radios built right into a device that almost everyone has, then with a single broadcast from an FM station tens of thousands of citizens can be kept up to date during emergencies.

During an emergency the simplest most direct channel to the public is a broadcast station received over the air. Hopefully other hand set makers will follow suite.

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, FEMA, Fire/Flood/Storm, Free-Over-The-Air-TV, Improved Product, Mobile, Radio, Safety, Transmitters

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How to be a Chief Operator

December 16th, 2011

Society of Broadcast Engineers

SBE is holding a webinar on how to be a good Chief Operator on January 12, this is the person responicable for keeping the station out of trouble with the FCC. Here’s what it’s about -

This webinar is intended to help stations comply with FCC regulations and instruct individuals on how to carry out the responsibilities of chief operator. The FCC requires each broadcast station to designate a chief operator. The responsibilities specific to each station’s chief operator will be reviewed, including administrative and technical responsibilities, communication requirements and authenticating station records. Sample templates of required documents will be provided.

The cost is $49 for Members and $69 for Non-Members

Sign up here or to get more information 

 

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, Educational, Engineering, FCC

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Did you get it?

November 10th, 2011
Look out this Fall for new EAS test

This Fall there will be a National EAS Test

How’d the big National EAS Test go for your station? Did you receive it from both LPs, did you send it back out, did everything work like it should?

We would like to hear from stations how it went. For us it was a bust, we had LP1 & LP2 tuned in as usual but with getting ready to move out of the building something got yanked somewhere. There was no receiving and no sending yesterday. I reported this to the FCC. I thought they would ask for an explanation or something but there was just a checkbox for “did you receive the test?”. That’s all

I read that there were a lot of problems all over, especially with cable. Did you see or hear any of this?

Please leave a comment or write to comments@theonlineengineer.org

Don’t worry, names will be changed to protect the broadcaster, I promise.

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, FCC, FEMA

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Are you ready? Is your family?

November 6th, 2011
Get ready to spend some more money.

Are your friends and Family ready?

Are you ready for the big EAS test? For broadcasters this means being sure your equipment is hooked up & working, retransmitting it an logging it, same goes for cable & satellite companies.

But even if your not “one of us” you should be prepared too. Now, I don’t watch much TV but I haven’t seen one PSA telling me about the test, have you?

If your reading this Blog then you know about it, have you told your friends and family members about the test?

Remember this is a nation wide test, on Wed Nov 9th at 11AM pacific time the whole country will be hearing the same signal. The have shorten it to about 1minute in length, which will help, but still I guess it could be freighting to some with all radio stations on the dial and all TV channels, whether it’s broadcast, cable or satellite showing the same EASTest at the same time. It really could look like a real national emergency.

The more people know that it’s just a test the less panic there will be. So call your mom & dad, call your grandma and talk to your friends about the test and tell them “It’s only a test”.

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, FCC, FEMA, Free-Over-The-Air-TV

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A Shorten National Test

November 4th, 2011

Janet Napolitano

The FCC has announced that the National EAS Test scheduled for Nov. 9 will only be 30 seconds long and has advised stations to change their announcements to inform the public. The change came from Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

With tone bursts and other a sundry data the total test time is expected to be 45 to 60 seconds long.

So get busy confusing the public with even more announcements.

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, FCC, FEMA, Free-Over-The-Air-TV, Safety

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Get the EAS Test Book!

November 3rd, 2011

The FCC has released a PDF book all about the up coming National EAS Test. You can go to their website – http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test  – or download it right here - EAS Handbook – National Test

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, FCC, FEMA, Safety

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Last Chance before Nov. 9th EAS Test

October 14th, 2011

Thank you for your interest, questions, comments, and ideas in the FEMA IPAWS Nationwide EAS Test Informational.

The click below to see these documents:

  1.  Nationwide EAS Test Webinar Update A Year in Review 10-13-2011
  2.  EAS Best Practices Guide 10-11-2011
  3.  Nationwide_eas_test_info_toolkit_081511
  4. SAMPLE 2 NATIONAL EAS Test PSA Announcement (PSAs) [Courtesy of Nevada Broadcasters Association- Talent: Ross Mitchell*]
  5. Spanish PSA 30 sec (PSAs) [Courtesy of Puerto Rico Association of Broadcasters- Talent: Junior Irizarry-Palermo*]
  6. NPR Radio Coverage Slide
  • NPR Contact Information: Mitch Eaton, NPR HQ Master Control Supervisor (202-513-2500)

REMEMBER: The Nationwide EAS Test will occur

November 9th at 2:00 PM (Eastern)/ 11:00 AM (Pacific).

*Authorized by talent for on-air use

As mentioned in the webinar, some examples of Nationwide EAS Test resource material and PSA’s are located on the following websites:

FEMA IPAWS Nationwide EAS Test Page:
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm

A National Dialogue on the Emergency Alert System
https://nationaldialogue-emergencyalertsystem.ideascale.com/

FCC PSHSB Nationwide EAS Test Page:
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test

NAB Nationwide EAS Test Page:
http://www.nab.org/documents/advocacy/EAS/EAS.asp

Michigan Association of Broadcasters EAS Test Resource Page:
http://michmab.com/eas/easNATIONALtest.html

SBE Nationwide EAS Test Page:
http://www.sbe.org/sections/gov_eas.php

National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations Page:
http://www.easalert.org/

 

Let us know if you have any questions,

Manny Centeno
Program Manager
IPAWS Program Office, National Continuity Programs
Department of Homeland Security – FEMA
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
202-646-4328 Office
manuel.centeno1@dhs.gov

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, Engineering, FCC, Free-Over-The-Air-TV, Radio, Safety, Television

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Last Webinar Till National EAS Test

October 11th, 2011

FEMA IPAWS Special Event: Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test Preparations and Procedures- A Year in Review

October 13th 12:30 PM- 2:00 PM (Eastern)

Join us on October 13th at 12:30 PM for the next webinar before the Nationwide EAS Test to discuss final preparations, procedures, and expectations. This discussion will focus on a year in review of the national dialogue on the EAS, aggregate Test information and resources, as well as address questions that still remain from the EAS Community.

Discussion topics include:

  • First Version of the EAS Best Practices Guide
  • Review of National Public Radio (NPR) Participation
  • Review of Monitoring Assignments and Best Practices
  • Review of Informational Materials and Resources

Event Details:

What: Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test Preparations and Procedures- A Year in Review

When: Thursday, October 13; 12:30 PM- 2:00 PM (Eastern)

Where: Microsoft Live Meeting 2007 (This link will be active the morning of October 13th) (https://www323.livemeeting.com/cc/eiip/join?id=IPAWS&role=attend)- Please note that if you have Live Meeting Client correctly installed, you do not need a pass code or username (Live Meeting instructions http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/livemtginstruct.pdf)

Want to contribute ideas for the EAS Best Practices Guide and Nationwide EAS Test Informational Toolkit? Go to A National Dialogue on the Emergency Alert System (https://nationaldialogue-emergencyalertsystem.ideascale.com/). For official information on the Nationwide EAS Test, please visit theFEMA IPAWS website: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm. Want an invite? Email FEMA IPAWS at: ipaws@dhs.gov.

 

 

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, FCC

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A Voice from FEMA, for the national EAS test that is.

October 4th, 2011

National EAS Test is soon!

The National EAS test is just around the corner and to get you prepared, along with your audience FEMA has prepared a PSA script along with a toolkit for you  and two PSA audio files to help you.

Where did they get this voice?

SAMPLE 1 NATIONAL EAS Test PSA Announcement_1    MP3 File

SAMPLE 2 NATIONAL EAS Test PSA Announcement_2   MP3 File

National EAS Test PSA Audio Sample Scripts 1 2 10-4-2011  PDF

Nationwide_EAS Informational Toolkit_081511   PDF

Some quick tips for PSA and information placement for broadcasters, cable, and government departments:

  • Communicate and share information with on-air staff and news departments
  • Inform applicable Regional, State, and local government community relations departments
  • Convert PSA Script text into a quick over-the-air news brief
  • Convert PSA and Toolkit information into inserts for subcribers
  • Consider posting information on company, government, and community websites

Public Service Announcement (PSA) Sample Audio File (Courtesy of the Nevada Broadcasters Association)
Public Service Announcement (PSA) Sample Script 1 & 2

As always, do no hesitate to contact me at manuel.centeno1@dhs.gov.

Many thanks and look for our next announcement soon on the Oct. 13th final informational webinar before the Nationwide EAS Test.

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, FEMA, Free-Over-The-Air-TV, Safety

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FEMA IPAWS Special Event – Prepared & Ready -TODAY!!

September 29th, 2011

FEMA IPAWS Special Event – Prepared & Ready: The Final Stretch Before the Nationwide EAS Test- September 30th 1:30PM- 3:30 PM ET

 

Join us in welcoming back our government and industry leaders from our EAS Participant Virtual Roundtable series for the next discussion on September 30, from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM ET!

 

The event will discuss progress and current industry activities to support the Test, provide a comprehensive look from our past two roundtables, propose new topics to consider, and provide sample scripts and audio messages to support the EAS Best Practices Guide and Nationwide EAS Test Informational Toolkit. Some discussion topics include:

 

  • Special Case Study: Nevada “Mini-National EAS Test” and Other Required Monthly Tests
  • EAS Device Configuration and Operation Comprehensive Review
  • Television and Cable EAS Background Slate
  • Post-Test Data Reporting
  • Test Message Transcript and Audio Sample
  • Public Service Announcement Transcript and Audio Sample
  • Nationwide EAS Test Toolkit Informational Updates
  • EAS Best Practices Guide Final Overview

 

The event will finalize the best practices guide with industry for a formal release on October 3, 2011.

 

Event Details:

What: FEMA IPAWS Special Event – Prepared & Ready: The Final Stretch Before the Nationwide EAS Test
When: Friday, September 30, 2011; 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM ET

Where: Microsoft Live Meeting 2007 (This link will be active the morning of September 30th) (https://www323.livemeeting.com/cc/eiip/join?id=IPAWS&role=attend) Please note that if you have Live Meeting Client correctly installed, you do not need a pass code or username (Live Meeting instructions http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/livemtginstruct.pdf)

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Posted in Broadcasting, EAS/CAP/IPAWS, Engineering, FCC, FEMA, Safety

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