Ramsey Communications Services

08/03/2023

From the CT Broadcasters Association:

In case you missed it, the FCC has announced that a nationwide EAS test has been scheduled for October 4th, with a back-up date of October 11th. The FCC asks broadcasters to update their ETRS Form I, if there have been changes, by September 15th.

Here is more detailed information about all of that:

FEMA and the FCC today announced that this year’s Nationwide EAS Test is scheduled for October 4, 2023 (with a back-up date of October 11). FEMA issued this Release about the test. The FCC issued a Public Notice which includes a list of recommended steps that broadcasters should take to prepare for the alert. All broadcasters should review the FCC’s Public Notice and the steps that the FCC sets out to ensure that all stations are prepared for the test and have done everything that is required by FCC rules.

The FCC also announced that, by September 15, 2023, broadcasters should review and update, if necessary, their Form I information in the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS). ETRS is the FCC filing system where stations report on the results of the EAS test. Form I provides the FCC with basic identifying information about the broadcaster and their EAS equipment. Form I was supposed to have been filed by all broadcasters (with some limited exceptions for translators and satellite stations) by February 28, 2023. The FCC has previously issued a reminder about that filing deadline, urging that any broadcaster who did not timely file Form I to do so immediately. This September 15 deadline is for updates that result from station sales, moves, or other changes since Form I was filed. The FCC Public Notice provides more details on ETRS filings.

We hope you find this useful.
Sincerely...Michael Ryan

Michael Ryan
President
Connecticut Broadcasters Association
Phone: 860-305-2038

06/16/2023

01/07/2023

Because the FCC has been having issues with its Online Public Inspection File system, it has extended the deadline for uploading Quarterly Issues Programs list to the public file. The normal deadline is January 10, but given the system problems, the deadline has been extended until January 31. The FCC’s Public Notice announcing the extension is available here:

09/06/2022

Those of you who are interested in broadcast technology might want to attend this free event happening later this month at the really neat Vintage Radio and Communications Museum in Windsor.

08/05/2022

Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participant,

On August 1, 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued an advisory on a potential vulnerability in certain EAS encoder/decoder devices that have not been updated to most recent software versions (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSFEMA/bulletins/3263326). FEMA observes that if EAS devices are not up-to-date, an unauthorized actor could issue EAS alerts over the EAS Participant’s infrastructure.

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB or Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission has released a Public Notice (https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-828A1.pdf) advising all EAS Participants to take steps to ensure the security of their EAS equipment. PSHSB has previously warned EAS Participants about this vulnerability and encouraged them to secure their EAS equipment by installing current security patches and using firewalls. The Bureau again urges all EAS Participants, regardless of the make and model of their EAS equipment, to upgrade EAS their equipment software and firmware to the most recent versions recommended by the equipment manufacturer and secure their equipment behind a properly configured firewall as soon as possible.

In addition, the Bureau urges EAS Participants to take the following steps to improve their cyber hygiene:

Install software security patches issued by the manufacturer as soon as they become available.
Change default passwords.
Continually monitor EAS equipment and software and review audit logs to detect and report incidents of unauthorized access.
Review the list of recommended best practices to address potential data security vulnerabilities issued by the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council in 2014, which are available at https://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/advisory/csric4/CSRIC_IV_WG3-EAS_SECURITY_INITIAL_REPORT_062014.pdf.
Under the FCC’s rules, EAS Participants are responsible for ensuring that EAS equipment is installed so that the monitoring and transmitting functions are available during the times the stations and systems are in operation. Failure to receive or transmit EAS messages during national tests or actual emergencies because of an equipment failure may subject the EAS Participant to enforcement.

The Bureau thanks you for your efforts to ensure the continued effectiveness of EAS.

Debra Jordan

Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau
Federal Communications Commission

08/02/2022

Replacing broken day/night contactor at 50kw AM station.

08/02/2022

A bit of a surprise this morning at one of my client stations.

07/26/2022

Storm clouds just to the north of the WTIC antenna array.

11/03/2021

I had the pleasure of working with Brad when I was chief engineer of WDRC back in the mid-80s. He was a real gentleman and a true professional. He will be missed.

The Talk of Connecticut is sad to learn that legendary Talk of Connecticut broadcaster Brad Davis has passed away.

Davis is best known for his more than 40-year career on WDRC radio.

On Oct. 20, 2015, Davis was inducted into the Connecticut Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Brad’s family and friends at this time

09/11/2021

These six engineers were on duty atop the World Trade Center on 9/11/01. They never made it home that day.

09/08/2021

Tower painting.

08/10/2021

The 2021 National Periodic EAS Test is this Wednesday afternoon (8/11). All stations should have already filed their Form One thru the ETRS. Form 2 must be filed immediately after the test and Form 3 shortly thereafter.

07/24/2021

07/04/2021

Just a quick reminder that stations must upload their 2nd Quarter, 2021 Issues/Programs List to their Public Files by 7/10/21. LPFM and Class D FM stations are exempt.

07/02/2021

This message is from Sage Alerting Systems regarding your Sage Digital ENDEC model 3644. It applies only to users in the United States.

We discuss two timely, but unrelated events:

1) FEMA Signing Certificate updates, Action required before August 21, 2021.
2) National Periodic Test - Scheduled for August 11, 2021

FEMA Signing Certificate updates (CR-Rev6)

A signing certificate used by FEMA to validate CAP alerts will expire on Aug 21, 2021 at 21:00:00 UTC. Sage has released a free firmware update for Rev95 that you must install to permit your ENDEC to continue to receive EAS CAP alerts from FEMA after that date. You can install the CR-Rev6 update at any time before August 21, 2021. You do not need to install it before the National Periodic Test as the NPT will not use CAP this year.

Please go to the Sage firmware update page at https://www.sagealertingsystems.com/support-firmware-new.htm to read the release notes and download the update file. You must already be running the Rev95 release to install this update.

A signing certificate used by FEMA to validate CAP alerts will expire on Aug 21, 2021 at 21:00:00 UTC. This release contains updated certificates that you must install to permit our ENDEC to continue to receive EAS CAP alerts from FEMA after that date. This update supercedes the CR-Rev5 update from....