Even months - third Tuesday at 12:50 a.m.For the next few months, this schedule results in the tests falling on the following dates at the times shown:
Odd months - third Tuesday at 10:50 a.m.
In the week that a station airs a monthly test, it is not required to perform a weekly test.
10/17/00 12:50 a.m. 11/21/00 10:50 a.m. 12/19/00 12:50 a.m. 1/16/00 10:50 a.m. 2/20/00 12:50 a.m.
The test originates at WPST. Within 15 minutes, the stations that monitor WPST, including WKDN, should relay it. WFME monitors WKDN and should retransmit it within 15 minutes after WKDN. The test should unmute receivers at stations monitoring WFME (in Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Union, Passaic, Morris) between 2 minutes and 30 minutes after it originates. They must send it within 15 minutes.
The state is divided into seven local areas:
Operational Area | State Primary (SP) station | Counties | |
---|---|---|---|
Northwest New Jersey | WNNJ | 103.7 | Sussex, Warren |
Northeast New Jersey | WFME | 94.7 | Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Union, Passaic, Morris In the text, Morris is in Northeast New Jersey. However, it is shown as part of Central New Jersey on the map in Annex C of the plan. |
Central New Jersey | WPST | 97.5 | Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer |
North Coastal | WRAT | 95.9 | Monmouth, Ocean (north of Rt. 72) |
Delaware Valley | WKDN | 106.9 | Burlington, Camden, Gloucester |
South Coastal Also called "Atlantic Coastal" in text |
WFPG | 96.9 | Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean (south of Rt. 72) |
Delaware Bay | WBSS | 97.3 | Salem, Cumberland |
There are problems with the monitoring assignments in the plan. WKDN and WPST are assigned to monitor each other. WNNJ and WFME are assigned to monitor out-of-state stations and would not receive the statewide alerts. When the plan was written, the statewide alerts were to be distributed using the state-police microwave and a packet radio system. However, that system is not operating.
Many stations in North Jersey are assigned to monitor WPST (97.5 MHz). However, they get a much stronger signal from another station on the same frequency, WALK-FM, Patchogue, NY.
The plan contains four pages of the EAS protocol copied from section 11.31 of the FCC rules. It also lists the following additional event codes that are not in the rules:
Earthquake Alert | EQA | |
Emergency Public Information | EPI | |
Hazardous Materials Incident | HMI | |
Ozone Alert | OAA | |
Radiological Accident | RAD | |
River Flood Warning | FLW | |
Coastal Flood Watch/Warning | CFW | see memo from National Weather Service, below |
Special Marine Warning | SMW |
Nine pages in the State Plan are devoted to re-statements of FCC rules sections:
Chapter title | Taken from FCC Rule Section |
---|---|
EAS code and Attention Signal Transmission requirements. | 11.51 |
EAS code and Attention Signal Monitoring requirements. | 11.52 |
Dissemination of Emergency Action Notification. | 11.53 |
National Level emergency. | 11.54 |
State or Local Area emergency. | 11.55 |
Tests of EAS | 11.61 |
The codes SMW and CFW are transmitted by the National Weather Service but they are not listed in the FCC rules and must not be used by broadcasters or cable systems [11.31(c)].January 17, 1997 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PRODUCTS RECOMMENDED FOR "IMMEDIATE" EAS ACTIVATION PRODUCT EVENT CODE FLASH FLOOD WARNING FFW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING SVR TORNADO WARNING TOR SPECIAL MARINE WARNING SMW NOTE: BECAUSE THE EVENTS LISTED ABOVE ARE LIFE THREATENING, THEIR CORRESPONDING WARNINGS SHOULD BE SENT IMMEDIATELY. RECOMMENDED FOR A 5 MINUTE TRANSMISSION DELAY PRODUCT EVENT CODE BLIZZARD WARNING BZW COASTAL FLOOD WARNING CFW FLOOD WARNING FLW HURRICANE WARNING/ HUW TROPICAL STORM WARNING WINTER STORM WARNING WSW NOTE: THE FIRST LINE OF THE MASS MEDIA HEADER FOR THESE (AND OTHER) PRODUCTS WILL CONTAIN THE SLUG "BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED." NWSEAS.REC
The 5 minute recommendation is the maximum delay, according to Conte.
Richard Archut WKDN-FM 2906 Mt. Ephraim Ave. Camden, NJ 08104 Phone: 609-854-5300
Disclaimer: John Neuhaus makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information on this page. All risk relating to its use is assumed by the user. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.Last update: Mon, Nov 6, 2000