2023 National EAS Test Results Show Improved Performance Over Previous Outing

posted on 7.01.2024

The FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) has released its report on last fall's nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.

The good news is that broadcasters' performance on the Oct. 4, 2023, national EAS test was much improved over the previous test in 2021.

The report said the test was received by 96.6 percent of all EAS participants, up from 89.3 percent in 2021.

FCC staff said the significant improvement was likely due to initiation of the 2023 test alert via Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), which introduced additional resiliency that was not available during the over-the-air-only 2021 nationwide test.

The retransmission success rate was also up - 93.6 percent versus 87.1 percent in 2021.

The commission staff said despite the improved performance, there is still work to be done.

For example, 23 percent of EAS endecs, representing some 4,500 national test participants, were either using outdated software or were using equipment that no longer supported regular software updates. While there were fewer performance issues than in 2021, FCC staff recommended that "the commission adopt rules to improve the operational readiness of EAS Participants and participating CMS Providers, as well as ensure that EAS participants are installing software updates in a timely manner and have plans for replacing equipment that is no longer supported by the manufacturer."

Questions? Contact TAB's Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.

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