Don’t Forget - ETRS Form Three is Due by Sept. 23

posted on 9.09.2019

The last national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) seems like ages ago, even though it just happened Aug. 7. The test was meant to ascertain the operational status of the broadcast-based daisy chain method of national EAS alert delivery.

Several broadcasters took advantage of TAB’s ETRS Form Two filing party at TAB’s Annual Convention and Tradeshow that afternoon as stations reported their “day of test” results to the FCC.

Jessica Nyman, an attorney in the Austin office of TAB’s FCC legal counsel, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, was on hand to assist broadcasters in filing the relatively simple Form Two using the FCC’s Electronic Test Reporting System (ETRS).

While TAB isn’t offering a similar cookies, coffee and tea event for the filing of ETRS Form Three, we do want to remind broadcasters that Form Three is due in less than two weeks on Sept. 23.

The FCC, it appears, is also concerned that broadcasters might forget about the due date.  Last week, it issued Public Notice reminding stations of their ETRS Form 3 obligation.

ETRS Form Three requires broadcasters to provide more detail about the actual test and any problems encountered in receiving or relaying it.  Stations can access ETRS by visiting the FCC website’s ETRS page at https://www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system.

Additional information, including instructional videos and answers to frequently asked questions about entering data into the ETRS forms, can be found at that location.

Filers also may contact the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau for assistance in completing ETRS Form Three at ETRS@fcc.gov.

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

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