WASHINGTON—The new EAS Operating Handbook, published in August, may end up being revised after the national EAS test this month. Still, that’s the version you should use until further notice.

An FCC spokesperson told Radio World, “We encourage EAS Participants to review the Handbook and note any changes applicable to their facilities as they prepare for the test.” The commission plans to review whatever participant feedback it gets through the post-test data filings on Form 3 in the new EAS Test Reporting System. “We expect to incorporate lessons learned as we move forward.”

Radio World had inquired because we noticed that there had been some modified versions of the handbook discussed on an alerting listserv, intended to assist station operators; and one observer commented that the FCC staff knows a more user-friendly version, plus some other tweaks, is needed. The commission spokesperson didn’t directly address this with us, but the message seems clear that the commission wants EAS participants to avoid using anything but the official version — or as one observer put it, “the EAS Handbook is the EAS Handbook” until the commission tells us otherwise.

The spokesperson did remind us that all EAS participants are expected to prepare and take part in the Sept. 28 test using the revised handbook as released on Aug 19. “They should ensure that a copy of the Handbook is located at normal duty positions or EAS equipment locations, as required by the Commission’s rules.”

Find it here (PDF); scroll down to EAS Operating Handbook.

This story originally appeared in TVT's sister publication Radio World.

WASHINGTON—The new handbook is here! The new handbook is here!

Forgive a classic Steve Martin reference, but the new EAS Operating Handbook is here. (Earlier we told you it was coming and shared with you a Q&A with Gary Timm, who was involved in its creation.)

The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau now has released the latest version and reminded EAS participants to set aside their old ones. A copy of the current handbook must be located at normal duty positions or EAS equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty and be immediately available to staff responsible for administering EAS tests.

The Handbook supersedes any other EAS Handbooks, and must be in place in time for the 2016 nationwide EAS test in late September.

“The Handbook’s new format was designed by industry and alerting stakeholder members of the Commission’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC),” the bureau wrote. “This format allows each EAS Participant to enter data specific to their own configuration, tailoring the operational steps outlined in the manual for local relevance.”

(EAS Participants are U.S. radio broadcast stations, including AM, FM and low-power FM stations; digital audio broadcasting stations, including digital AM, FM and low-power FM stations; Class A television and low-power TV stations; television broadcast stations, including digital Class A and digital low-power TV stations; cable systems; wireline video systems; wireless cable systems; direct broadcast satellite service providers; and digital audio radio service providers.)

Download a copy by clicking on the cover image and scroll down to the appropriate section.

This story first appeared on TVT's sister publication Radio World.