In greater Cleveland, there is now an FM alternative for Emergency Alert System participants.

On FM, iHeartMedia’s 96.5 WAKS(FM), licensed to Akron but with its transmitter located in Brecksville, is now providing local, state and national LP-1 level EAS alerts for radio, TV or cable operators to monitor with their EAS equipment, in addition to sister station 1100 WTAM(AM), the 50,000-watt Cleveland AM.

According to Greg Savoldi, iHeartMedia’s director of engineering in Cleveland and the chairman of the Ohio State Emergency Communications Committee, the addition is due to the proliferation of man-made electrical interference on the AM band.

WTAM is the LP-1 station, while WAKS will be designated as LP-1A.

Savoldi said the project was developed last year and is now ready for use by any radio, TV or cable operator in the central and east lakeshore EAS operational area that extends along Lake Erie from Erie County east to the Pennsylvania border.

WCLV(FM), on 90.3, remains the LP-2 station in the operational area, according to Savoldi.

Per the Ohio EAS plan, all stations are required to monitor at least two LP-class stations.

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