Editing Emergency Broadcast System (section)

===Test procedure===
====Opening announcement====
[[File:Emergency Brodcast System at KPTV Portland (1988).jpg|thumb|Emergency Broadcast System test message on [[KPTV|KPTV Portland]], 1988]]
[[File:EBS Test Screen.jpg|thumb|right|Video slide used by [[KEYC-TV]] in [[Mankato, Minnesota]] to announce an EBS test, c. 1990]]
First, normal programming was suspended, though tests were typically conducted during commercial breaks for continuity reasons. Television stations would transmit a video slide such as those seen throughout this article; numerous designs were available or used over the years. Some stations even had multiple slides that they used for their tests in rotation, one for the opening announcement, another for the attention signal transmission, and another for the closing announcement. One of the following announcements was transmitted:
* "''This is a test. For the next sixty'' (or thirty) ''seconds, this station will conduct a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.''"
* "(name of host station in a particular market) ''is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.''" (mainly radio stations used this particular announcement)
* "''This is a test. (Name of Host Station) is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test."''
* "''This is a test. This station is conducting a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test."''
* "''This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. This is only a test.''"
* "''The following is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System."''
* "''This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. Important information will follow this tone.''"

Alternatively, the name "Emergency Broadcasting System" or "Emergency Action Notification System" could be used.

====Attention Signal====
Next, the Attention Signal was transmitted. Prior to 1976, primary stations would turn their transmitters off for five seconds, back on for five seconds, off for five seconds more, then go back on air and transmit a 1000&nbsp;Hz tone for 15 seconds to alert secondary stations, as was used by predecessor [[CONELRAD]]. Television stations adhered to similar rules, but switched only their sound carriers off.<ref>{{cite book|title=Basic Emergency Broadcast System Plan|date=4 August 1967|publisher=Department of Defense|location=Washington, DC|page=33|edition=First Revision|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/80541666/Emergency-Broadcast-System-1967|access-date=27 October 2017|quote=Sound carrier only for TV stations|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731000157/https://www.scribd.com/document/80541666/Emergency-Broadcast-System-1967|url-status=live}}</ref> This quick off-and-on became known to broadcast engineers as the "EBS Stress Test", as older transmitters would sometimes fail after the quick cycling on and off.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oldradio.com/current/bc_conel.htm |title=Broadcast History<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-10-21 |archive-date=2015-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405012433/http://www.oldradio.com/current/bc_conel.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Starting in 1976, the two-tone Attention Signal (853 Hz and 960 Hz) was implemented, replacing the 1000 Hz tone and eliminating the need to switch the transmitter on and off. From 1976 to 1995, stations were required to broadcast the Attention Signal from the EBS encoder for 20 to 25 seconds; in mid-1995, a new rule was put in place that gave stations the option to transmit the attention signal for anywhere from eight to 25 seconds. Noncommercial educational FM radio stations operating at 10 watts or less and low-powered TV stations were exempt from transmitting the Attention Signal.<ref>{{cite web |author1=<!--Not stated--> |title=Emergency Broadcasting System standard operating procedures |url=https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0204/7348021.pdf |website=Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205002323/https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0204/7348021.pdf |archive-date=5 February 2023 |language=en-us |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxmCYGdmcNs&ab_channel=ChrisShebel | title=North Carolina EBS Training | website=[[YouTube]] | date=19 May 2012 }}</ref>

====Mid-test announcement====
Third, another announcement was transmitted following the attention signal. The first part read either:
* "''This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. The broadcasters of your area in voluntary cooperation with the FCC and other authorities'' (or, in later years, "federal, state and local authorities") ''have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency.''"
* "''This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. Broadcasters, in cooperation with the FCC and other authorities'' (or, in later years, "federal, state and local authorities") ''have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency.''"

Some stations began their tests with this first part of the announcement, then proceeded to the Attention Signal, and then continued with the second part of the announcement described below.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAgPWy8yOEA | title=WGBX 44, Boston - EBS Test, December, 1995 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=30 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im4dkOuR6Fw | title=KTVO-TV, Ch. 3, Kirksville, MO-Ottumwa, IA, Rare EBS Test & Station ID, Circa 1992 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=2 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJLFW0htgfU | title=Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) Test on WAVY-TV | website=[[YouTube]] | date=2 January 2018 }}</ref>
[[Image:EBS slide WTCN.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Video slide used by WTCN (now known as [[KARE (TV)|KARE]]) in the [[Twin Cities]] during an EBS Test, circa 1984]]

There were a number of variations for the second half of the statement. During the system's early days, stations other than the designated primary station for an operational area were required to shut down in the event of an emergency (reminiscent of the CONELRAD days), and the message was a variation of:
* "''If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to tune in to one of the broadcast stations in your area.''"
* "''If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed where to tune in your area for news and official information.''"

By the early 1980s, it had become easier for stations to record and relay messages from a primary station, and the risk of hostile bombers using broadcast signals to navigate lessened due to the development of [[ICBM]]s, as well as more capable on-board navigation systems for manned aircraft. As a result, the requirement for non-primary stations to shut down during an activation of the system was dropped, and the message became:
* "''If this had been an actual emergency, the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news, or instructions.''"

Stations could also list emergencies that the EBS would potentially be activated for (i.e. [[tornado warning]]s, [[flash flood warning]]s, [[Hurricane force wind warning|hurricane warnings]] and/or [[earthquakes]]); at least two stations - [[WRTI|WRTI-AM-FM]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] and [[WXYZ-TV]] in [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] - infamously made explicit reference to an attack on the United States as being a possible scenario for an EBS activation in their test scripts.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=November 16, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsnsQTd7jrE |title=11/25/1980 WXYZ EBS Emergency Broadcasting Alert Test and news promo |publisher=ewjxn |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=August 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007013641/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsnsQTd7jrE |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n89mbMWiEg&ab_channel=WilliamForrest | title=Emergency Broadcast System Test (Mid 1960s)--WRTI | website=[[YouTube]] | date=3 August 2023 }}</ref>
In the late 1980s and early 90s, several television stations in the [[Los Angeles]] area had specific test scripts that emphasized earthquake preparedness. People living in the Los Angeles area were urged to study an emergency preparedness section in their telephone directories to be prepared for an earthquake or other types of emergencies.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=August 30, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlhnDUra4p8 |title=1987 Emergency broadcast system test |publisher=Renegade Media |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=August 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206165701/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlhnDUra4p8 |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

As the EBS was about to be replaced by its successor, the aforementioned [[Emergency Alert System]] in the mid-1990s, some stations used the following message:
* "''This station is testing its Emergency Broadcast System equipment. The EBS will soon be replaced with the Emergency Alert System; the EAS will provide timely emergency warnings.''"

====Conclusion====
Lastly, the test concluded with one of these phrases:
* "(Name of host station) ''serves'' (name of operational area). ''This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System.''"
* "''Stations of the'' (name of the station public broadcasting network, for example: South Dakota Public Broadcasting Network) ''serve all operational areas in'' (name of state). ''This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System.'' (Used mostly by statewide public television and/or radio networks.)
* "''This station serves the'' (name of operational area). ''This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System.''"
* "This station ''serves'' (name of operational area). ''This concludes this Emergency Broadcast System Test.''"
* "''This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System serving the'' (name of operational area)."
* "''This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System on'' (name of station)."

====Variations====
Variations of the test script were heard in different parts of the country throughout the years depending on FCC regulations at the time, local preferences, and whether the specific station performing the test was a primary EBS station or not. The announcement text was mandated by the FCC. Stations had the option of either reading the test script live, or using recorded versions. [[WHEN (AM)|WHEN]] radio in [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[WGR]] radio in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], New York both had a sung version of the most common script.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=September 5, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRHAro1iTE |title=EBS Jingle |publisher=Klopford's OLD Channel |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=August 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201142608/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRHAro1iTE |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> There was also a version done by Los Angeles-based Cheap Radio Thrills, as well as another by the comedy team of [[Bob and Ray]]. The FCC declared it illegal to sing the test message, or read it as a joke. However, it was acceptable to read it in another language (for example, [[French language|French]] or [[Spanish language|Spanish]]), if a station broadcast in a language other than [[English language|English]], as was done on [[KWEX-DT|KWEX-TV]] in [[San Antonio, Texas]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arigk0R1GM8&ab_channel=ProjectPeacock | title=KWEX Emergency Broadcast System Test (1990s) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=11 December 2021 | access-date=2022-05-06 | archive-date=2022-05-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506154542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arigk0R1GM8&ab_channel=ProjectPeacock | url-status=live }}</ref> Copies of the [[Emergency Action Notification|warning message script]] had a note saying that it was acceptable to broadcast in any other language, so long as it was broadcast in English as well.<ref>http://www.ae5d.com/images/EBS-29zx.png {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015140125/http://www.ae5d.com/images/EBS-29zx.png |date=2011-10-15 }} The attack warning script has a note that says it can be read out in any language other than English if it broadcasts in that language.</ref>

Additionally, for a time during the 1980s, [[WFSB]] in [[Hartford, Connecticut]] had a woman appearing onscreen to deliver the opening and closing test announcements by using sign language (for the deaf people across the Hartford television market), accompanied by a male announcer reading both announcements as they were displayed on screen.{{cn|date=February 2025}}