There has been a lot of criticism over the last few years concerning the Emergency Alert System.
I don’t pay much attention to comments on social media, most of which are misguided. But I have seen remarks about how ineffective and outdated the system is, the cost of installing and maintaining the system for broadcasters, and even comments that suggest broadcasters don’t need an alerting system since most people are using other sources for information instead of over-the-air broadcast.
I am sure no one would disagree with that statement that everything can be improved. Our great creator gave us a wonderful universe and placed us on a planet with all the raw resources to develop everything we need to live a peaceful and productive life.
Sometimes we do it right and sometimes we don’t. Winston Churchill once said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Distribution revolution
President Harry S. Truman established CONELRAD in 1951. It was a system that could alert the public of any type of disaster that would affect life and property. In the beginning it was to be used by the president to alert citizens of an invasion from a foreign country.
Over the years the system and its successors were expanded to cover state or local alerts such as weather, Amber Alerts and many others. EAS has continued to create updates to ensure the system meets the requirements and needs for national and state emergency agencies.
Just recently a new EAS code was created. Missing Endangered Persons or MEP is intended to help find missing persons outside the age covered by Amber Alert. While MEP is a valuable service, time will tell how effective state agencies, and the broadcasters will use this code.
[Read “What’s Next for the MEP Code”]
In addition, FEMA and other agencies continue to upgrade security issues in the creation and distribution of alerts.
How these alerts are distributed has changed as well. What started with just over-the-air broadcast operations has now expanded to include streaming services, personal wireless systems and more.
Research on creating an EAS system that can operate entirely in the IP world and even maybe in the cloud is underway. Developers need to be very careful in the design to ensure that they create a fully redundant system, using hard line creation and distribution to back up highly vulnerable IP networks. They should give careful attention to addressing any weak links in the system. As the old saying goes, don’t put all our eggs in one basket.
All that being said, the present EAS is what we have, and until some great thinkers come up with something better, as Marconi and Farnsworth did many years ago, we need to support and follow the present guidelines of its use.
I’m the chairman of the Alabama SECC. Ww work daily to aid stations in complying with the technical status and rules of the present EAS system. Our goal is to do what we can with the system we have to help protect the public from harm.
In Alabama the committee has a special monitor service that monitors more than 180 EAS units around the state. This is offered at no charge to stations and is used to aid the SECC in keeping a watch on the health of the state distribution system.
Our key role
A particular area of concern is the lack of interest some broadcasters seem to have in the EAS system.
While alerting is not a revenue-generating source for the station, it’s a highly important service to their listeners and viewers.
Even in our state there are several stations that still use outdated software in their EAS devices. By FCC rules, these units are not in compliance and could result in notice of violations, which can lead to monetary fines.
To further beef up the state EAS system, we also have installed SiriusXM radios at all local primary stations as well as additional units in major markets. They serve as a redundant PEP source for national alerts.
Alabama also has a dedicated satellite-fed network of 45 stations around the state. This satellite system, furnished by Global Security Systems, act as a CAP origination site for state agencies and as well as redundant distribution source. The cost of these services have been covered by the Alabama Broadcasters Association and state grants.
We encourage stations to take seriously their obligations to serve their audiences. This includes issuing warnings that help protect life and property. If stations will follow the guidelines set forth by the commission and their state SECC, the present EAS system works!
Got questions? Contact your SECC or email me at the Alabama SECC. Find contact info here.
Read more Radio World stories and commentaries about emergency alerting.