Updated Texas State EAS Plan Available for Download

posted on 2.02.2026

FCC regulations (47 CFR Part 11) require Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants, such as broadcasters and cable systems, to keep certain EAS documentation immediately available. Failure to produce these records during an FCC inspection could result in an FCC fine. 

That includes a copy of the current state EAS plan, in this case the Texas State EAS Plan dated Jan. 28, 2026. The plan was updated last week to include a new EAS event code, a change in the LP-2 station in Texas EAS District #5 – Abilene, as well as revisions to National Weather Service radio station information contained in the plan. These are discussed in more detail below.

Along with the most recent state EAS plan, the FCC also requires stations to be able to produce the current FCC EAS Operating Handbook, which is the 2023 version, and the station’s records of  RMT and RWT test results and other EAS activations.  The latter may be maintained separately as an EAS log, but it is considered part of the station log that must be reviewed and signed weekly by the station Chief Operator.  The EAS test and activation records must be maintained by a station for two years. 

The following is a brief summary of what changed in the latest update.

MEP EAS event code added

The FCC’s new EAS Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) event code was added to the table of EAS codes to be used by all EAS Participants, including broadcast stations. It was also added to the list of suggested ENDEC event codes. The MEP EAS event code went into effect Sept. 8, 2025. 

It can be used in missing or abduction cases involving a victim 17 years of age or older, from states, territories, or tribal communities. As in the case of the CAE event code (Child Abduction Emergency, commonly known as an Amber Alert), relay of an MEP EAS alert is voluntary. There are only four types of required EAS messages that must be relayed by a station upon receipt. These are contained in a brief list on Page 26 of the Texas State EAS Plan:  

• “NEM” (National Emergency Message) - Must be re-transmitted immediately. 
• “RMT” (Required Monthly Test) containing County of License code - Must be re-transmitted within 5- 60 minutes of origination.
• “RWT” (Required Weekly Test) containing County of License code - This received test need only be logged. No re-broadcast required.
• “NPT” National Periodic Test) - Must be re-transmitted immediately.

New LP-2 station in Texas State EAS District #5 - Abilene

Effective last week, KEYJ-FM Abilene is no longer serving as the Local Primary #2 EAS station there. It has been replaced by KTJK-FM, 106.3, in the Abilene market. Texas State EAS District #5 includes all stations within the following counties: Callahan, Fisher, Jones, Nolan, Shackelford, and Taylor.

In the interest of fostering greater redundancy in the Emergency Alert System, the FCC is asking states to cease situations in which both “Local Primary” stations in an EAS region are located under the same roof. When the Texas State EAS Plan was created in 1996, there were seven instances of this. In the event that one LP station is inoperable in an EAS district, the other LP station should be independent to serve that region as the backup. 

Abilene is the first district in which a change has been made. TAB anticipates similar changes occurring in the following Texas EAS districts: Amarillo, DFW, Paris, San Angelo, Waco, and Wichita Falls.

NWS Weather Radio 

The following were changes related to NWS weather radio station service in Texas.

• Corrected the NWS weather radio station information for the Alpine, Lufkin/Nacogdoches, and Tyler/Longview EAS districts.
• Removed out of service references to the Pecos NWS weather radio station. It is back in service.
• Updated URL links for various NWS weather radio station information.

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

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