Emergency Alert System tests picking up in frequency: The Real Deal

Published: 10/14 3:29 pm

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Updated: 10/14 6:57 pm

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – The high-pitched Emergency Alert System tests on TV are supposed to happen weekly or monthly, but lately they seem to be popping up a lot more frequently.

Time Warner Cable has confirmed that within the past 24 hours, they have been dealing with a network issue that affects how many times their emergency alert is played. They are troubleshooting the issue now.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, the maximum number of tests a viewer should see on one channel per week is three - when weekly and monthly tests fall in the same week.

The chance of seeing more tests increases when a viewer channel surfs because channels can play the alert tests at slightly different times.

Stations have one hour to play Emergency Alert System tests when they are instructed to by FCC regulators.
Each station has a pre-set plan, guided by the FCC, for what hour of the day stations will play their tests.

"The stations really don't have an incentive to run these tests more than the number of times required by the FCC because it takes up air time," said Tom Beers, chief of the Policy and Licensing division of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the FCC.

He says the system has not changed in over 20 years, adding that if a viewer is seeing more than three warnings a week, they should call their local cable provider. If the company declines to deal with the problem, Beers can be reached at (202) 418-0952.

The first nationwide test will be Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. and will last three minutes. It will be the first time the alert was tested nation wide since it's inception during the Cold War. More information about the nationwide test can be found here: http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test.

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