FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, Sending Messages to all TVs, Radios and Cell Phones

Photo provided by FEMA.

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall. The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Backup testing date is Oct. 11.

IPAWS National Test ASL | FEMA







Prueba Nacional IPAWS | FEMA







The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.

FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.

The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.

The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.

This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).

All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:

• Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.

• For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

• Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”


WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.

Important information about the EAS test:

• The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.

• The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.


Published at 12.01am on Tuesday, October 03, 2023 Material from multiple FEMA resources used for this article.

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AT&T Plans to Deploy Broadband Over Powerlines A Brief History of Local Broadband Discussions

Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) is one of the ways that acceptable internet speeds can be delivered to a large chunk of America, especially locations in rural areas where fiber optic to the home or internet via radio towers is not an option for telecommunication companies unwilling or unable to make an investment in their infrastructure. 

Edit with link added from commenter on Facebook: Whether or not they can make it work without causing interference to other users of the radio spectrum is a different question. [LINK]

Digital Trends has an article about BPL that makes for interesting reading. [LINK] It is where the video posted above originated.

BPL could fill in the gap until longer term delivery systems, like orbiting drones, come into play. Even that future is in doubt after Google has dropped it's plan to use drones to deliver internet access to under served locations. [LINK]

Residential access to internet speeds in excess of 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up is going to be crucial to economic success in the next few years. 

Definitions

BPL = Broadband over Power Line [LINK]
Mbps = Megabits per second [LINK]

FCC Redefines Broadband [LINK]



Local Broadband Discussions

Access to a faster, and more reliable, internet service has been a topic of discussion for Macon County for a while now. Here are some links to how the discussion has gone in past years, with most recent videos and links first:

Broadband Presentation - December 2016




Broadband Discussion - October 2016




County Planning Board - September 2016






December 2015 Planning Board Meeting



Of course, the current delivery methods used by those who provide internet service is not going to be able to meet the FCC Definition of Broadband access (25 Mbps Up and 3 Mbps down) anytime soon, except in very small geographically confined locations.

Perhaps the biggest barrier to accessing faster internet is the government itself, as can seen seen in a TechDirt article from Jan 2016. [LINK]



I'll leave you with perhaps the granddaddy of the broadband discussions in Macon County, a meeting that took place in December 2011 hosted by MCNC and Advantage West at Southwestern Community College: [LINK]




Commentary and Call to Action

We geared up and won World War Two in less time than the period that has elapsed since the need for higher speed internet has been recognized.

To keep track of national developments in increasing access to broadband, keep an eye on the FCC web page "Measuring Broadband America." [LINK]

In the coming days, the 2017 report should be posted on that page. 

Perhaps the best way to ensure we get faster internet is to keep reminding your elected officials at the local, state and federal levels...and call your internet provider to ask them what they're doing to increase their internet speed.

Contact Details and Links to More Information

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen [LINK]

Macon County Commissioners [LINK]

State Representative [LINK]

State Senator [LINK]

US Congressman [LINK]

US Senators [LINK] 

FCC Consumer Guide to Getting Broadband [LINK]

NC Broadband [LINK]

National Broadband Map [LINK]

National Telecommunications & Information Administration Blog [LINK]

If you have any comments to add, please leave them on our Facebook Page. [LINK]


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