Report on the National Association of Counties (NACO) EAS Webinar

Report on The National Association of Counties (NACO) EAS Web Seminar

July 28, 2011 – 2 PM Eastern Time

The NACO EAS Webinar today was actually a briefing on the national live code EAN test. Nothing new, but the information to local governments is worth having for us all to pass along to our own local government contacts. Two people from the Commission were on the Web Seminar, Gregory Vandas, and Gregory Cooke, both with the Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.

•When FEMA issues the test it will be propagated through the Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations to broadcast and cable entities

•A three minute message will be originated at the FEMA warning center at Mt. Weather

•Will start on Wednesday, November 9 at 11 AM Pacific time (2 PM Eastern)

•If it works as it is supposed to, it will capture and hold all EAS boxes for a duration of three minutes until the message’s EOM happens.

•The message will be voiced by a FEMA employee, not the President

•This will be a benchmark test for the existing EAS - no components of new EAS provisions (including CAP) will be tested

•Broadcast/cable entities are being asked to report results on a "no fault" basis

•There is supposed to be a public awareness campaign for this test - details have not been firmed up.

•Local/state governments should alert key departments and PSAP's to expect calls from the public regarding the test on 11/9, so they can reassure the public that it is just a test.

I was able to offer some comments that were repeated during the web seminar. The FCC people involved were not terribly well briefed.

1. Some people may be aware of pending EAS Rules changes to incorporate the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). You might make it clear that the upcoming November test is a benchmark test of the existing EAS and will not test anything having to do with the CAP.

2. Another way to explain the difference: The live code mandatory EAN event is supposed to capture and hold open the connection from FEMA to all EAS devices. Local/state EAS operates on a “Store and forward” voluntary basis with a 2-minute time limit.

3. You might add that the Primary Entry Point delivery system was designed as a last ditch means for the President to communicate with as large a segment of public as possible -- only to be used if other and far better means (network radio and TV) to reach the public are still available.

I did ask one question during the Web seminar:

The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) will make it possible for authorized emergency warning centers and AMBER Alert originators to produce messages that can get to the public by all types of warning systems – broadcast, text message, PDA, cell phone, etc.Implementing CAP where it has not already been started will require local and state investments in dollars, time and training. The public benefit will be better warnings to let those at risk take timely and proper protective actions. Will NACO work with other stakeholders to help implement CAP?

The answer was that NACO sees its role as an information and education resource for local government. Their legislative goals according to their website have to do with initiatives to protect jobs in local government.

The recorded web seminar URL will be posted soon on the NACO website:

Richard A. Rudman

The BWWG