Latest edition of FCC Handbook features blank spaces galore to be filled in by EAS participants themselves. Two days after we posted a reminder about the upcoming deadline for EAS participants to (a) register on the Commission’s new EAS Test Reporting System and (b) submit their Form Ones (or should that be “Forms One”?) through … Continue Reading
Attention all you EAS participants. The deadline for registering with the Commission’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) AND submitting your ETRS Form One is fast approaching. We alerted you to the August 26, 2016 deadline a couple of months ago – but, what with the distractions of summer and all, we figure it’s a good … Continue Reading
Last month we reported on the addition of three new event codes (those would be EWW, SSA and SSW) and two revised location codes to the laundry list of EAS-related codes to be used in the headers of emergency announcements. As we noted back then, the FCC’s original order didn’t seem to mention exactly when … Continue Reading
While supporting the decision, Commissioner O’Rielly criticizes FCC’s “cost/benefit” analysis In what four out of five FCC Commissioners seem to view as a no-brainer, the Emergency Alert System just got three more event codes and two slightly-revised geographic location codes. The odd man out? Commissioner O’Rielly. He doesn’t question the potential utility of the new/revised … Continue Reading
Less than a week ago we reported that the FCC has invited comments on a draft revision of its EAS Operating Handbook proposed by the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). We mentioned that the comment period would be short – 15 days from Federal Register publication – which suggested that the FCC wants … Continue Reading
EAS participants must register and complete Form One pronto; FCC also seeks comment on new approach to the EAS Handbook Attention, all you EAS participants. The Commission has formally opened up its new EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS), which means that you’ve got until August 26, 2016 to get into the site and complete Form … Continue Reading
In connection with second-ever nationwide EAS test (now scheduled for September), FCC introduces new EAS Test Reporting System If you participate in the Emergency Alert System, it’s time to get out your calendars and circle Wednesday, September 28, 2016 – because we now know that that’s the day on which our friends at the Federal … Continue Reading
FCC “grants” petition seeking mandatory foreign language EAS alerts by declining to impose mandatory foreign language EAS alerts; but some new reporting requirements are added How do you say EAS en español? Apparently, that’s something EAS participants won’t need to worry about anytime soon. The FCC has rejected a proposal that would have mandated the … Continue Reading
FEMA-organized test to include 22 states, two territories and D.C. Here’s a big CommLawBlog HEADS UP for those of you broadcasting in any of these 25 (count ‘em, 25!) jurisdictions: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, … Continue Reading
More than six months ago we reported on some tweaks of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) that the FCC had adopted after analyzing the results of its 2011 national EAS test. While most of the changes kicked in last July, two revised sections of the rules – Sections 11.21(a) and 11.61(a)(3)(iv) – did not. That’s … Continue Reading
A couple of weeks ago we reported on the revisions to the Emergency Alert System rules adopted in the wake of the 2011 nationwide EAS test. Those revisions have now been published in the Federal Register, so we know that they will take effect on July 30, 2015. All the new rules, that is, EXCEPT … Continue Reading
After analyzing the performance of the Emergency Alert System during the 2011 nationwide test, and after twice soliciting input from interested parties, the Commission has decided to tweak the system.… Continue Reading
Problems with the EAS system surfaced in the 2011 nationwide test. Now the Commission is looking to fix them, but it could take a while and be pricey for EAS participants.… Continue Reading
If you were planning to file comments about MMTC's proposal for dealing with non-English language EAS alerts, you've got another month to get your thoughts together.… Continue Reading
Deadlines have been set for comments in response to the FCC's invitation to "refresh the record" relative to improving the availability of non-English EAS announcements.… Continue Reading
The Commission is looking for comments on an unorthodox "designated hitter" proposal to assure that broadcast emergency announcements reach non-English speaking audiences.… Continue Reading
Hot on the heels of a $1.9 million fine for use of EAS tones in a movie ad, a report of a similar EAS-laden ad (supposedly for charcoal) is making the rounds.… Continue Reading
One of the endearing qualities about zombies is their resilience: knock them down and they'll get back up again, and again, and again.… Continue Reading
The lesson of the day: it is illegal to broadcast EAS attention signal tones, or simulations of EAS tones, except in connection with a genuine alert or an authorized test of the EAS system.… Continue Reading
Two years after the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, the FCC has identified, and is now seeking answers to, problems that cropped up.… Continue Reading
