The FCC just released a Public Notice announcing a National EAS Test will be held on November 17, 2026 and noting the deadlines for stations to file Forms One, Two and Three relating to that test.

FEMA will transmit the nationwide test of the EAS at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time on November 17, 2026, using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). If conditions on that date require the rescheduling of the test, it will be conducted on December 3, 2026.

The test will be disseminated in English and Spanish as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message using the Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System (NPT) event code. The test message audio and text, which is designed to be identical to the greatest extent possible, is as follows: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 2:20 to 2:50 hours Eastern.  This is only a test. No action is required by the public.”

It is mandatory for stations to have the latest firmware loaded in your EAS equipment. The required firmware version for Sage Endec’s is 96.00 or higher and for DasDec’s is 54.00 or higher.

Broadcasters should be aware that if your EAS unit firmware is out of date, you may not be able to receive the test and your station operation will be consider as non-compliant, which could trigger enforcement action from the FCC.

The ETRS deadlines are:

• All EAS Participants must submit their annual ETRS Form One for calendar year 2026 no later than October 30, 2026.
• All EAS Participants must file ETRS Form Two within 48 hours of the nationwide test. The deadline for Form Two filings is 2:20 pm Eastern on November 19, 2026, or, if the test is conducted on the alternative date, 2:20 pm ET on December 5, 2026.
• All EAS Participants must file ETRS Form Three to provide detailed post-test data within 45 days following the nationwide test, which will be on or before January 4, 2027, or, if the test is conducted on the alternative date, on or before January 18, 2027.

The FCC is encouraging EAS Participants to prepare in advance by keeping a copy of the EAS Operating Handbook at duty positions, reviewing state EAS monitoring assignments, updating equipment software and firmware, and synchronizing EAS equipment clocks to National Institute of Standards and Technology time where automatic synchronization isn’t available.