| In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled FEMA and the @FCC will test the Emergency Alert System nationwide Tues., Nov. 17, 2026, around 2:20 p.m. ET. Radio and TV may pause for about 1 minute. Cell phones will not get this test. No action is needed. , Drago wrote: |
Oops you said “Sept. 17th, 2026” and the FEMA tweet/X post says November 17th...never mind. Happens every month in any case. |
On September 17, FEMA announced it would have a test one month hence, on November 17.
Yep, I worked in broadcast TV for a few decades...monthly “EBS” (now “EAS”) tests are a thing: (They added cell phones to the network around 2007)
“Required monthly tests (RMTs) are generally originated by the local or state primary station, a state emergency management agency, or by the National Weather Service and are then relayed by broadcast stations and cable channels. RMTs must be performed between 8:30 a.m. and local sunset during odd numbered months, and between local sunset and 8:30 a.m. during even-numbered months. Received monthly tests must be retransmitted within 60 minutes of receipt.[59][68] Additionally, an RMT should not be scheduled or conducted during an event of great importance such as a pre-announced presidential speech, coverage of a national/local election, major local or national news coverage outside regularly scheduled newscast hours or a major national sporting event such as the Super Bowl or World Series, with other events such as the Indianapolis 500 and Olympic Games mentioned in individual EAS state plans.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Alert_System