NPR Distribution and its Public Radio Satellite System are taking steps to help stations be ready for the upcoming national EAS test.
Starting today, and every day through Nov. 8, one day before the event, PRSS is sending signals to all of its stations, spokesman Erich Shea tells RW. “This is just one of several initiatives between FEMA and NPR Distribution, specifically NPR Labs.”
Shea said the collaboration is intended to ensure that PRSS-interconnected stations are prepared to participate in the national exercise.
Once a day at approximately 1:15 p.m. Eastern, PRSS is distributing a special Required Weekly Test (RWT) feed for stations to ensure that audio levels and verifications are set correctly. “By subscribing to one of these EAS tests, stations can ensure they have all the required audio tones and settings for the mandatory Nov. 9 test,” the organization said.
It provided these specifics for users:
The PRSS Network Operations Center has created a subscription for the RWT feed in the ContentDepot portal called “EAS Tests,” which runs from 1 to 2 p.m. ET each day starting today (Oct. 25). The subscription expires on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
“Stations wishing to manually tune to these feeds may do so by referring to the program stream information listed at the end of each day’s Operations Schedule (OPSKED), which can be found in the Exchange section of the ContentDepot portal,” PRSS told users. “Additional technical information on the EAS test may be found on the PubTech listserv.”
On Nov. 9, the day of the national test, PRSS will provide a feed of the national exercise at 2 p.m. A subscription has been created in the portal for the event called “EAS Test.”
Stations wishing to manually tune to these feeds may do so by referring to the program stream information listed at the end of each day’s OPSKED.
“This special Primary Entry Point (PEP) feed is intended only to support station efforts during the Nov. 9 test, and the subscription is slated to expire immediately following the national exercise,” it stated. “A longer-term solution for EAS testing over the PRSS is in development and will be shared with the system in the coming months.”
PRSS users with questions should email [email protected].
