[SBE] Alaska EAS test with EAN

[chscherer at everestkc.net]

You no doubt know that Alaska held an EAS test today and used the EAN code. It was covered in every broadcast trade publication and newsletter.

Some have wondered how it went. Again, the trades are covering it, but I saw this post from Gary Timm that provides a good summary.

Chriss

==========

>From   Gary Timm

>Sent  Wednesday, January 6, 2010 1:34 pm

>To : SBE EAS Exchange

>Subject  [sbe-eas] Alaska EAN Test Heard on Internet

>

>Alaska EAN Test Observation via Internet:

>

>Here is what I heard listening to NPR station KSKA Internet streaming:

>

>Just before the top of the hour, a KSKA announcer read a script very 

>similar to the script used in the TV PSA.

>They then went to NPR News at 10AM Local Time.

>

>10 seconds after 10AM NPR News started, the EAS Code ran.

>

>A somewhat thin, but completely intelligible, voice announced 

>something like (not an exact quote):

>

>This is the FEMA Operations Center.  Standby for the Presidential 

>Communications Officer.

>

>Test... test... test... This is a test of the Emergency Alert 

>System.  The message you are hearing is part of a live code test of 

>National Emergency Alert System capabilities limited to the State of 

>Alaska only.  This test message has been initiated by National Alert 

>and Warning authorities in coordination with State of Alaska 

>authorities and broadcasters in your area.  If this had been an 

>actual emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have 

>been followed by official information or instructions.

>

>(The paragraph above was repeated several times.)

>

>Conclusion: This concludes this test as of 14:05 hours.  Stations 

>can now resume normal programming.

>Then EOM was sent.

>

>This alert took 3 minutes, 20 seconds from Header Code start to EOM end.

>

>

>Then 15 seconds later, the Header Code ran again.  It was followed 

>by an entire repeat of the alert, with very noisey audio.  That 

>alert was obviously received on an EAS Receiver and relayed.  The 

>audio was quite poor quality.  That alert took 3 minutes, 45 seconds.

>KSKA then returned to normal programming.

>

>

>I'm not sure if a duplicate EAN is supposed to be detected and 

>ignored, or if any and all EAN's, including repeats, are to be 

>relayed.  I don't believe that is addressed in Part 11.

>

>

>In any event, it appears the test worked, as I heard a relay of it, 

>meaning it was circulating in the Alaska EAS network.

>

>Gary Timm, Broadcast Chair

>Wisconsin SECC