EAS

Today, Monday, August 12, 2024, REC Networks (REC) is announcing the launch of a new initiative to recognize well-established Low Power FM (LPFM) broadcast stations with a track record of longevity, dependability and rules compliance.

The new program is called PACE, which stands for Participation, Availability, Compliance and Experience.  PACE will utilize various metrics from REC’s vast collection of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data to highlight those well-established stations that have been the most involved in the proper operation of their station in an effort to be good broadcast band neighbors and to better the medium of radio in an effort consistent with REC’s overall goals to keep radio relevant, especially in this time of “non-radio” competition.

Citing the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus public health emergency response, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has stated that they will not conduct a national test of the IPAWS system.  In their statement, FEMA noted:

Dear Ms. Fowlkes,

I am very sad to say that this is the second year in a row that I have had to write to you regarding results of the participation of LPFM stations in a Nationwide EAS test.  As a major stakeholder who advocates for the LPFM service, I am very disappointed by the outcome of LPFM’s overall participation in the test.  While LPFM stations did report an increase in receiving and retransmitting the test message, the actual percentage of LPFM stations participating was very disappointing.  After the 2016 test results, I had hoped that Staff would have reached out to me, so we could work on uncovering why the participation was so low and what we could do to improve it.