Deadline for ETRS Form One is October 30, 2026
As a reminder, all EAS Participants are required to participate in the nationwide EAS test AND make required filings in the FCC’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS).
- All EAS participants must submit their annual ETRS Form ONE for 2026 no later than October 30, 2026.
- The Nationwide EAS Test will be transmitted by FEMA at 1:20pm Central Time, November 17, 2026 thru IPAWS. If not it will be rescheduled for December 3, 2026.
- All participants must file ETRS Form TWO within 48 hours of the nationwide test.
- All participants must file ETRS Form THREE providing post-test data by January 4, 2027.
- Filing instructions are in the Public Notice issued by the FCC earlier this month.
Go here for David Oxenford’s informative blog on this issue.
Go here for Radioworld’s article explaining the test.
All EAS Participants, with limited exceptions. are required to register and file their ETRS – including Low Power FM stations (LPFM), Class D non-commercial educational FM stations, and stations that are silent pursuant to a grant of Special Temporary Authority. The only broadcast exemptions are LPTV stations that operate as television broadcast translator stations, FM broadcast booster stations and FM translator stations that entirely rebroadcast the programming of other local FM broadcast stations, and analog and digital broadcast stations that operate as satellites or repeaters of a “hub” station (or common studio or control point if there is no hub station) and rebroadcast 100 percent of the programming of the hub station (the hub station itself of course having an obligation to file the form).
Also, the FCC encourages EAS participants to take the following preparation steps in coordination with their State Emergency Communications Committees:
- Ensure a copy of the EAS operating handbook is located at normal duty positions or equipment locations and is accessible to operators. A writable PDF version can be found on the bureau’s website. This pdf requires your input for your specific facility before you implement it.
- Review handbook procedures for actions operators must take upon receipt of the test alert and tailor steps specific to your facility.
- Review state EAS plans for monitoring assignments and ensure equipment is configured to monitor those sources. Visit here to check assignments in Oklahoma.
- Update EAS equipment software and firmware to the most recent version.
- Confirm you are following the FCC’s cybersecurity rules… use strong passwords, promptly test and install security patches from manufacturers, and use a network firewall or comparable practice to limit access to your EAS equipment as outlined here in the FCC’s report and order.
- Ensure equipment clocks are synchronized to official time provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology if not automatically set.