National Periodic Test
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 The 2023 Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System |
A National Periodic Test (NPT), currently known as a Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System since 2022, is an Emergency Alert System test that is conducted nationwide every year by the United States Government and the FCC.
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On February 3, 2011, the FCC announced plans and procedures for national EAS tests, which involve all television and radio stations connected to the EAS, as well as all cable and satellite services in the United States. They are not relayed on the NOAA Weather Radio (NOAA/NWS) network as it is an initiation-only network and does not receive messages from the PEP network.[1][2] The national test would transmit and relay an Emergency Action Notification on November 9, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. EST.[3][4]
The Federal Communications Commission found that only half of the participants received the message via Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, and some "failed to receive or retransmit alerts due to erroneous equipment configuration, equipment readiness and upkeep issues, and confusion regarding EAS rules and technical requirements", and that participation among low-power broadcasters was low. Many reported visuals or audio missing, and in the case of DirecTV, aired Lady Gaga music instead.[5][6]This is due to the fact that DirecTV's channels play music when nothing is airing, and this is still the case for their EAS channel. To reduce viewer confusion, the FCC stated that future national tests would be delivered under the new event code "National Periodic Test" ("NPT"), and list "United States" as its location.[7][8]
A second national test, the first classified as an NPT, occurred on September 28, 2016 as part of National Preparedness Month.[9][10] A third national periodic test occurred on September 27, 2017.[11]
The fourth NPT occurred on October 3, 2018 (delayed from September 20, 2018, due to Hurricane Florence). It was preceded by the first mandatory wireless emergency alert test.[12][13][14]
The fifth NPT occurred on August 7, 2019, and moved up from past years to prevent it from occurring during the heart of the Atlantic hurricane season. The test focused exclusively on distribution to broadcast outlets and television providers via the primary entry point network to gauge the efficiency of alert distribution in the event the internet cannot be used.[15][16]
The sixth NPT was postponed to 2021 amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic "out of consideration for the unusual circumstances and working conditions for those in the broadcast and cable industry."[17] The sixth test occurred on August 11, 2021, at 2:20 pm EDT.[18] This test involved the WEA system alongside television and radio.
As of 2022, as part of a clarification and streamlining of terminology used in messages, further NPTs will now be referred to in the test message as a "Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System" issued by the United States Government.[19] On May 3, 2022, it was announced that the seventh NPT would not take place during 2022, and instead occur in early 2023.[20]
On August 3, 2023, FEMA and the FCC announced that the seventh NPT would occur October 4, 2023 with a backup date of October 11, 2023. The test commenced just before 2:20 pm ET, and consisted of an alert on TV/radio as well as a WEA on all cell phones.[21]
A test was planned for 2024, but was ultimately cancelled by the FCC for unknown reasons.[22]
A test was also planned for fall 2025, but was also canceled, possibly due to Donald Trump's staffing cuts.[23]
References
- ↑ "FCC Press Release: "FCC Action Paves Way for First-Ever Presidential Alert to be Aired Across U.S. on Nation's Emergency Alert System"" (PDF). fcc.gov. FCC. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2011.
- ↑ "FCC Third Report and Order: In the Matter of Review of the Emergency Alert System" (PDF). fcc.gov. FCC. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 10, 2011.
- ↑ "FEMA, FCC Announce Nationwide Test Of The Emergency Alert System" (Press release). FEMA. June 9, 2011. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011.
- ↑ Clayton, Mark (November 9, 2011). "Emergency Alert System: Why US is doing first national test now". Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on December 14, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
- ↑ "Did the national Emergency Alert System mistakenly play Lady Gaga?". Christian Science Monitor. 2011-11-09. ISSN 0882-7729. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
- ↑ Malone, Noreen (2011-11-09). "Why Is the Emergency Broadcast System Playing Lady Gaga?". Intelligencer. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ↑ "September 28, 2016 Nationwide EAS Test". Federal Communications Commission. April 21, 2017. Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ↑ "The 2016 National EAS Test Will Be Different". Govtech. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
- ↑ "Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for September 27 - FEMA.gov". www.fema.gov. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for September 28". Federal Communications Commission. September 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 30, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ↑ "Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned for September 27" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. July 14, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ↑ "Mark Your Calendars: Next EAS Test Date Affirmed". Radio & Television Business Report. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ↑ Stracqualursi, Veronica. "'Presidential Alert': Trump text slides to October 3". CNN. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ↑ "Emergency alert test sounds off on mobile phones nationwide". Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
- ↑ Ashworth, Susan (May 29, 2019). "Next Nationwide Emergency Test Set for August 2019". TV TTechnology. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ↑ "FEMA Sets August For 2019 National EAS Test With Focus On PEP Stations". Insideradio.com. May 24, 2019. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ↑ "No National Test this Year for FEMA's Integrated Public Alert & Warning System". FEMA. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ↑ "FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Aug. 11 Test Messages Will be Sent to TVs and Radios Along with Select Cell Phones That Have Opted-in to Receive Test Messages". FEMA.gov. 2021-06-11. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- ↑ "FCC updates new Emergency Alert System rules to improve more message clarification". Radioinsight.com. 2022-10-02. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
- ↑ "FEMA Says No National EAS Test is Planned for This Year". Insideradio.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ↑ "FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, 2023". fema.gov. 2023-08-03. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ↑ "No National EAS Test In 2024, FEMA Says, But Radio's October Filing Deadline Remains. | Story | insideradio.com". Archived from the original on 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
- ↑ "No National EAS Test In 2025, But Radio's October Filing Deadline Remains". www.insideradio.com.