Tennessee Association of Broadcasters

ERBA Program (Emergency Response Broadcaster Act) 

The Emergency Response Broadcasters Act (ERBA) allows broadcast engineers and technical personnel to access affected areas (such as broadcast stations or transmitter sites) during an emergency or disaster for the purposes of restoring, repairing, or resupplying such facilities or equipment critical to the ability to acquire, produce and transmit essential public information during an emergency.

To prepare and certify as an Emergency Response Broadcaster, please complete the following steps:

1. Fill out and return a completed Request for Issue Application.
2. Fill out and return a completed Employment Verification Form for each employer.
3. Provide a copy of one form of government issued photo identification (i.e.: Driver’s License).
4. Complete FEMA training IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command. Provide a copy of completion certificate.
5. Complete FEMA training IS-700.A: National Incident Management System (NIMS). Provide a copy of completion certificate.

Each Station may apply for ERBA certification and ID cards for five individuals. All forms and supporting documentation must be complete and legible and may be returned to the TAB in person, by mail or scanned and emailed to: [email protected]. *Anyone unable to appear in person for the ID photograph may provide a head shot in . jpg form as long as it can be verified against a government issued photo identification (i.e.: Driver’s License).

Upon completion of this training, an identification card will be issued for the Emergency Response Broadcaster. Local Emergency Management will be notified of your presence in their jurisdiction. You will be provided with contact information and expected to follow up with Local Emergency Management in your area.

*The ERBA Identification Card does not eliminate the legal responsibility or authority of public officials (County Mayor, Local EMA Director, Incident Commander) to safeguard lives and property. In the event of an emergency, you must contact your Local Emergency Manager prior to entering an affected area. This is to protect yourself and your beneficiaries in case of injury or death.

All Emergency Response Broadcasters will be subject to the following disclaimer, “As an Emergency Response Broadcaster under Tenn. Code Ann. Section 58-2-134, I understand that I assume all risk associated with entering an area affected by an emergency, and that no emergency first responders, such as law enforcement personnel, shall be liable to me for any harm I might suffer by entering an emergency area.”

For any questions, please call the TAB at: (615) 365-1840.