[EAS] Identifying the Test on air

[Adrienne Abbott]

Right now, audio is not part of an RWT. The RWT is three long duck quacks
followed immediately by three short duck quacks. The audio in between might
be construed as a "failed" test. 

Keep in mind, the FCC developed the RWT to be "unobtrusive" so it could be
inserted into regular programming without taking up the time (and attention)
of the old EBS and CONELRAD weekly tests. Broadcasters asked for this so
they could have one more 60-second spot a week...the FCC gave us about 45
seconds back. All the RWT did was check your equipment, it doesn't check the
network. It also gets operators familiar with the equipment, but it may go
the way of EBS, CONELRAD and the stegosaurus after CAP.
Adrienne

"Radio burps, it cries, it needs to be fed all the time, it requires
constant attention, but we love it." Jim Aaron WGLN 

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On
Behalf Of Tom Spencer

I'd make it part of the test:

"This is important!  For the next ( ) seconds, what you hear might save your
life!

(start RWT - DFs and two-tone attention signal)

"This is a test of the Emergency Alert System.  This system has been
developed to provide warning of life-threatening dangers in and near
(area/market/COL).  If an emergency situation, such as severe weather, a
missing child, (other examples) were occurring, the alerting signals you
just heard would have been followed by important information and
instructions relating to the impending disaster or missing child.  
Thanks for taking time to listen; the next time you hear those sounds could
be life-or-death for you or your loved ones.  This concludes this test of
the Emergency Alert System."

(EOT)

While I'm not a legal beagle, it seems that such an announcement - feel free
to paraphrase or edit to fit your market/station demographics, etc. - would
be allowed, even if no longer required.

Waddaya thunk?

Is there a limit on how often a RWT can be sent?