Broadcasters Encounter FCC System Obstacles in Meeting Monday Deadline for EAS Form 1 Filing

The Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have established September 27, 2017 as the date for the next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Like 2016’s test, all EAS participants must file Form 1 a month before the test. The Form 1 has been modified, however, requiring information that was not requested previously. In addition, the FCC’s Emergency Test Reporting System (ETRS) has been revamped so that prior log in codes do not work and the system’s functionality is now unfamiliar to prior users. As a result, while the Form 1 is technically due next Monday, August 28th, anyone who has not yet started the filing process should begin immediately and aim to finish the process this week.