Nationwide Emergency Alert System test set for Nov. 9
MATTOON - Consolidated Communications and other TV service providers and broadcast radio providers across the country will be participating in the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in November.
The test will be conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The purpose is to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the EAS as a mechanism to alert the public of emergencies. Although EAS participants conduct state-level monthly test and local-level weekly tests, there has never been a nationwide test of the system.
The test will occur at 1 p.m. Central, 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Nov. 9, and is expected to last up to 3 minutes and 30 seconds. During the test, viewers will hear a message indicating that “This is a test.”
JJ Hollie, Video Product Manager, said customers do not need to do anything during the test. “When the test is over, our customers will see their selected TV channel automatically switched to another channel. In Illinois, our customers will see their TV channel switched to WCIS, Channel 20, C-SPAN, Channel 175 in Texas and in Pennsylvania, Channel 178, Weatherscan. All they need to do is change their channel back to what they were previously watching prior to the test,” he said.
If you have any questions about this test, please contact Residential Customer Service at 866-989-2255 or Business Customer Service at 800-500-9000.
