October 2025
This guide only applies to stations for whom “form one” has been filed in a previous year — it is a relatively simple process to re-file the form, but can be difficult the first time.
Every year, radio and TV stations must update the feds about their emergency-alert system (EAS) device and its configuration, by filing what’s called ETRS (EAS Test Reporting System — acronym soup!) “Form One”. In most years there is also a national EAS test, after which each station must file “Form Two” and subsequently “Form Three” to record test results. The main ETRS web page will get updated to reflect that year’s deadlines and tests. You can find the main page by asking a search engine for FCC ETRS or head over to www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system.
This yearly form-one obligation is also a good time to do some EAS hygiene! Make sure you have downloaded, filled-in (i.e. your EAS operator) the most-recent EAS handbook, available from the ETRS page, and made it available at your EAS control location.
Before you begin, you’ll need to know what software/firmware version is loaded in your EAS (DASDEC, Trilithic Viavi, Sage, Gorman) unit, which should be available from its front-panel display. Alternately you can login to its web GUI to find out, for example this is from an older DASDEC unit:
This is a good time to ensure that your EAS model, firmware, and FEMA security certificate are compliant with the current EAS requirements, which constantly change. It’s not always obvious (as with this particular unit), and EAS manufacturer’s technical support staff (Monroe in this case) are usually very helpful (but may recommend updates you don’t technically need — confirm it) if you have questions.
To log into ETRS, you’ll need your “FCC username” (an email address) and password, and your FRN, which are managed through the FCC CORES system. ETRS will use your station’s Facility ID in order to repopulate data from your station’s previous filing. If you don’t have it handy, search for your station in FCC LMS.
Now head over to ETRS and follow the login link on the page and do the obvious thing(s) to begin filing form one:
Scroll down to “Test Cycle”, after reading everything carefully of course(!), and use its drop-down menu. Lots of ETRS answers are filled in like this:
Your FRN should be available from the drop-down in the next entry box.
Tell ETRS that your participant type is radio station.
After you enter your Facility ID, which is NOT automatically populated, ETRS will populate the rest of the form with your station’s previous answers.
Confirm your firmware version in the “Equipment’ box. If something has changed, use the two boxes above “Equipment”, which is a little weird. You may also be asked to confirm the location using a little pop-up map.
Contact information — check and update.
Sometimes new questions are added to form one, but otherwise everything should now be answered. Review and change as necessary and submit the form. That’s it!