REC operational status (April 25, 12:30 PM EDT) - REC will be in reduced operations on Friday, April 26, 2024 due to family priorities. Phone support may not be available but email will be monitored. Thank you for your patience.

First of all, to be clear; that in this statement, I am not taking any position on President Donald J. Trump; neither for or against.  What I am taking a position on is the trivializing of [today's] nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alert test.

In the past few years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the FCC has developed the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).  This system has two primary functions, it allows public agencies from the local level to the federal level to originate alerts.  These alerts are then pushed to other users who will receive these alerts for rebroadcast to the public.  The latter includes potential for broadcast stations, standalone devices, video gaming consoles, websites and wireless phones and tablets to receive data that is aggregated from IPAWS for distribution to the public.  

For decades, going back to the old CONELRAD system (and some have even said, before that), there has been a method for the federal government at the level of the Executive Branch (i.e. the Presidential level) to access our radio and television broadcast stations for the dissemination of emergency information of federal importance.  These types of warnings have been referred to as "Presidential Alerts" because they can allow the President to address the nation within 10 minutes during a national emergency.

In this modern age of social media, our Nation's leadership has embraced this medium, especially Twitter in order to get non-critical messages out to millions of "followers" including many U.S. citizens.  Both President Trump and former President Obama have used Twitter.  Both Presidents have been criticized for the content of their tweets.

In the past few months, there have been many in the media (mainstream and niche) and on social media who have rode this dangerous wave of over-analyzing the codified terminology "Presidential Alert" to trivialize the importance of today's test. There have been questions raised on whether the President will break protocol and use the system to send messages of a non-critical national security/civil defense nature (i.e. for political gain). Today is not the first nationwide test for emergency alerts, but it is the first for them being delivered through wireless devices.  Instead of trying to be aware of the importance of this system, many have said they would shut off their phones because they "don't want to hear from the President". 

Again, I am not taking a position on the policies, nor conduct of our current President, nor the previous President; I am just stating the facts regarding the reception to today's emergency alert test.

In 2017, less than 50% of all licensed LPFM stations participated in the previous test (down from the previous year).  LPFM needs to improve that this year. All broadcast stations, especially LPFM stations, need to make sure that they have Form One already submitted and Form Two submitted by end of day today after the conclusion of the test and to submit Form Three by mid-November.  

Since the 1950s, the President of the United States has had access to every American through the primary method of electronic media that they monitor.  For decades, this meant radio and television but now, it also means other methods that many Americans use for monitoring electronic media, mainly wireless mobile devices. 

This is a test, this is only a test.  Hopefully, it will never be more than a test. But if it ever was, then I will be glad its there.  Let's not trivialize this, nor any future tests over some kind of political speculation.  This goes for both sides of the aisle.   IPAWS, EAS and WEA should not be political footballs in any way.  They are an important part of our Nation's infrastructure.  Let's treat it that way.

Michelle Bradley
Founder
REC Networks

REC to FCC: LPFM should be considered an "FM broadcast station"

With the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress is allowing "FM broadcast stations" and FM translators access to reimbursement for certain expenses accured as a result of the repacking of television stations.  In MB Docket 18-214, the Commission reached a tentative conclusion that LPFM stations were considered as "FM broadcast stations" for the purpose of enacted law and therefore should be permitted to seek reimbursement as appropriate. 

2018 National EAS Test postponed until October 3

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced that the 2018 National Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) tests have been postponed until the backup date of October 3, 2018 due to Florence and other weather events.   The WEA test will take place at 2:18 PM EDT and the EAS test will take place at 2:20 PM EDT.

Clients retained by REC for the test should check their in-boxes for an update. 

Statistics from the 2013 LPFM filing window

This data was compiled on June 9, 2017 in a review of whether we need review the eligbility standards for new LPFM stations.  REC's priority is to foster new community stations operated by collectives of local community members with a level of transparency and accountability and free of hidden multiple ownership.

Reminder from the FCC regarding the upcoming EAS National Test

As we are all preparing for next week’s nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert System (WEA) on September 20th, just a reminder to broadcasters and cable providers not to air the audio attention signal for WEA or the EAS during any news coverage of the test.  Any transmission, including broadcast, of the WEA or EAS attention signals or codes, or a simulation of them, under any circumstances other than a genuine alert, authorized test, or approved public service announcement violates the Commission’s rules and undermines the important public safety pr

(updated) 18-119: REC aligns with LPFM Coalition on most translator interference issues

REC Networks has filed Reply Comments with the FCC today in MB Docket 18-119 relating to proposed changes to the rules regarding interference by proposed or newly constructed FM translator stations to existing broadcast stations including LPFM stations. 

In REC's reply, we have aligned with many of the comments filed by the LPFM Coalition in regards to various issues including:

REC commends Prometheus and MMP on appeal of FCC "Broadcast Incubator" decision

REC Networks is all about a citizen's access to spectrum.  This means assuring that new entrants are able to enter into broadcasting for the first time.  While the FCC's "Broadcast Incubator" program was touted to do just that, it is not.  Instead, it is an underhanded method of allowing large corporate broadcasters a "free-pass" on the local ownership caps under the guise of a "mentorship" program.  While we support "big" broadcasters providing mentorship to upstarts, a "free-pass" on the ownership cap is not the appropriate reward where a more appropriate reward could be consideration suc

[Updated] Statement of REC: Sen. John McCain

Let's put the politics and division on hold for just this one moment.  In 2010, John McCain was the Republican catalyst behind the enactment of the Local Community Radio Act of 2010. Along with Democratic collegue Maria Cantwell, Mr.

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