There has been lots of talk about EAS these last few weeks, though not much to do ... yet. Yes, we had the Text to Speech fire drill, but that was a big to do about nothing for most of us.

The June 30, 2012 deadline to have certified CAP EAS equipment in place, connected to the Internet and polling the IPAWS aggregator, is still looming. If you are a radio broadcaster like me, you have probably been compliant with having your equipment in place and connected to the Internet for quite some time. Like me, you're probably just playing the waiting game to hear what you need to enter into your equipment for it to contact the FEMA concentrator.

One of the larger EAS equipment manufacturers has published a statement that says, "Looking ahead to June 30, you need to be receiving CAP messages by then. We will have a release of the IPAWS enabled ENDEC software out in a week or two."

I strongly suggest you check your vendor's website to see if they have an update for your unit. This information is way overdue from IPAWS, FEMA or whomever, to us in the field. Let's hope we have more than a week's notice. Maybe we will get some clues from the IPAWS/NASBA/NAB webinar titled: "Getting Ready for CAP: Countdown to June 30". This webinar will be held June 6, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET (1 to 2 p.m. PT). Bookmark the following webinar link or save it in your calendar:

https://eiip.webex.com/eiip/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=922661163

I believe most of us are hoping some of the final instructions about connecting to a concentrator and testing, will be addressed. The webinar notice is provided below.

Scott Mason, CPBE

SBE EAS Education Committee Chairman

SBE website EAS Page

FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)

In Partnership with the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Association (NASBA)

and the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)

  IPAWS Webinar: Getting Ready for CAP: Countdown to June 30th

Wednesday, June 6

4 - 5 p.m. ET 

Join us in welcoming back our industry and government leaders for the next discussion in our continuing EAS Webinar Series on Wednesday, June 6, from 4 to 5 p.m. ET!  The event will be hosted by Manny Centeno of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Suzanne Goucher of NASBA and the Maine Association of Broadcasters (MAB).

The Webinar will discuss what EAS Participants need to know to ensure they are prepared to receive alert messages in Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and will include presentations on the following topics:

• Antwane Johnson, FEMA IPAWS Director, will provide an overall update on IPAWS developments
• IPAWS staff will discuss general EAS-CAP best-practices, EAS device configuration, and parallel operation of the EAS using traditional monitoring and CAP  
• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will address recent changes to Part 11 Rules governing EAS and what State and local Emergency Communications Committees should be aware of as they update their State EAS Plans
• Whit Adamson, President of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters (TAB) will share the steps he has taken to develop local officials' interest in using the EAS   
• IPAWS staff will provide an update on the Primary Entry Point (PEP) Expansion Program.

Event Details:

What: FEMA IPAWS Special Event - Getting Ready for CAP: Countdown to June 30

When: Wednesday, June 6, 2012; 4 - 5 p.m. ET

Where: WebEx (This link will only be active the afternoon of June 6) 

https://eiip.webex.com/eiip/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=922661163

NOTE: The audio portion of the program will be delivered via your computer speakers. Please review the instructions posted at: http://www.emforum.org/WebExInstructions.htm  prior to the program.

Webinar Login: The following login link can be used not earlier than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled meeting time: https://eiip.webex.com/eiip/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=922661163. The password is attend.

Questions can be directed to the FEMA IPAWS email address: ipaws@PROTECTED, Manny Centeno at Manuel.Centeno@PROTECTED, or Suzanne Goucher at Suzanne@PROTECTED

Sample SECC Plan

The Broadcast Warning Working Group (BWWG) and invited stakeholders met during the 2012 NAB Show and held a State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) plan writing workshop. The group produced a sample state plan document (v4.0) that is posted on the EAS FORUM website. If you have any questions or suggestions about the sample plan, contact the BWWG through their website, http://eas.radiolists.net.

Sample SECC Plan

The Broadcast Warning Working Group (BWWG) and invited stakeholders met during the 2012 NAB Show and held a State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) plan writing workshop. The group produced a sample state plan document (v4.0) that is posted on the EAS FORUM website. If you have any questions or suggestions about the sample plan, contact the BWWG through their website,http://eas.radiolists.net.