With Matthew, the first big hurricane to threaten Florida and the Carolinas in several years, barreling up the coast, the FCC has started its anticipatory disaster response. A public notice released this afternoon alerts the public that Commission personnel will be available, 24/7, to assist communications providers as they deal with the effects of the storm. … 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
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
Broadcasters may be asked by the FEMA to broadcast some PSA's relating to the (relatively) new Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. Turns out it's OK to do so.… Continue Reading
With a nasty nor'easter threatening to dump its load all the way from the Great Lakes to New York and New England, the FCC has started its anticipatory disaster response.… Continue Reading
If you've been worrying about whether the "information collection" aspects of the revised EAS rules would be in effect soon enough to give everybody time to meet the upcoming deadline for CAP compliance, you can breathe easy.… Continue Reading
The FCC mandated a couple of months ago that text-to-speech conversion of EAS messages by EAS participants would not be permitted. That came as disappointing news to, among others, FEMA. But FEMA should be happy now.… Continue Reading
If you're an EAS participant and you're inclined to read the FCC's Fifth Report and Order (and, BTW, you should), here's a handy glossary of the 40+ abbreviations and acronyms the FCC has sprinkled throughout the document.… Continue Reading
Last month the Commission took another major step in its effort to drag the Emergency Alert System (EAS) into the digital era. With the June 30, 2012 deadline for CAP-compliance fast approaching, the Commission's action came none too soon.… Continue Reading
With Christmas weekend almost upon us, let's not lose sight of the fact that Form 3 reports from the nationwide EAS test conducted in early November are due to be filed by December 27.… Continue Reading
The on-line system devised by the Commission for reporting the results of the Nationwide EAS Test -- that would be the Test currently scheduled for next week -- is apparently still a work in progress.… Continue Reading
The FCC's Nationwide EAS Test on-line reporting system, unveiled a mere two weeks before the Big Event, has raised some questions among engineers who have tried to use it. Good thing that there's an old-fashioned, non-electronic option for filing those reports.… Continue Reading
Just released by the FCC - the new EAS Handbook that MUST be deployed by each EAS participant in connection with the November 9 Nationwide Test. Plus, the Nationwide Test reporting forms have finally been activated at the FCC's website.… Continue Reading
With the first ever nationwide EAS test fast approaching, the FCC has yet to unveil the electronic reporting format it promised last February - but that doesn't stop US from providing our readers a look-see.… Continue Reading
