Goto Section: 11.47 | 11.52 | Table of Contents
FCC 11.51
Revised as of October 1, 2008
Goto Year:2007 |
2009
Sec. 11.51 EAS code and Attention Signal Transmission requirements.
(a) Analog and digital broadcast stations must transmit, either
automatically or manually, national level EAS messages and required tests by
sending the EAS header codes, Attention Signal, emergency message and End of
Message (EOM) codes using the EAS Protocol. The Attention Signal must
precede any emergency audio message. After January 1, 1998, the shortened
Attention Signal may only be used as an audio alert signal and the EAS codes
will become the minimum signaling requirement for National level messages
and tests.
(b) When relaying EAS messages, EAS Participants may transmit only the EAS
header codes and the EOM code without the Attention Signal and emergency
message for State and local emergencies. Pauses in video programming before
EAS message transmission should not cause television receivers to mute EAS
audio messages. No Attention Signal is required for EAS messages that do not
contain audio programming, such as a Required Weekly Test.
(c) By the effective dates provided in Sec. 11.11(a), all analog and digital
radio and television stations shall transmit EAS messages in the main audio
channel. Effective December 31, 2006, all DAB stations shall also transmit
EAS messages on all audio streams. Effective December 31, 2006, all DTV
broadcast stations shall also transmit EAS messages on all program streams.
(d) By the effective dates provided in Sec. 11.11(a), analog and digital
television broadcast stations shall transmit a visual message containing the
Originator, Event, Location and the valid time period of an EAS message. If
the message is a video crawl, it shall be displayed at the top of the
television screen or where it will not interfere with other visual messages.
(e) Analog class D non-commercial educational FM stations as defined in
Sec. 73.506 of this chapter, digital class D non-commercial educational FM
stations, analog Low Power FM (LPFM) stations as defined in Sec. Sec. 73.811 and
73.853 of this chapter, digital LPFM stations, analog low power TV (LPTV)
stations as defined in Sec. 74.701(f) of this chapter, and digital LPTV stations
as defined in Sec. 74.701(k) of this chapter are not required to have equipment
capable of generating the EAS codes and Attention Signal specified in
Sec. 11.31.
(f) Analog and digital broadcast station equipment generating the EAS codes
and the Attention Signal shall modulate a broadcast station transmitter so
that the signal broadcast to other EAS Participants alerts them that the EAS
is being activated or tested at the National, State or Local Area level. The
minimum level of modulation for EAS codes, measured at peak modulation
levels using the internal calibration output required in Sec. 11.32(a)(4), shall
modulate the transmitter at the maximum possible level, but in no case less
than 50% of full channel modulation limits. Measured at peak modulation
levels, each of the Attention Signal tones shall be calibrated separately to
modulate the transmitter at no less than 40%. These two calibrated
modulation levels shall have values that are within 1 dB of each other.
(g) Analog cable systems and digital cable systems with fewer than 5,000
subscribers per headend and wireline video systems and wireless cable
systems with fewer than 5,000 subscribers shall transmit EAS audio messages
in the same order specified in paragraph (a) of this section on at least one
channel. The Attention signal may be produced from a storage device.
Additionally, these analog cable systems, digital cable systems, and
wireless cable systems:
(1) Must install, operate, and maintain equipment capable of generating the
EAS codes. The modulation levels for the EAS codes and Attention Signal for
analog cable systems shall comply with the aural signal requirements in
Sec. 76.605 of this chapter,
(2) Must provide a video interruption and an audio alert message on all
channels. The audio alert message must state which channel is carrying the
EAS video and audio message,
(3) Shall transmit a visual EAS message on at least one channel. The message
shall contain the Originator, Event, Location, and the valid time period of
the EAS message. If the visual message is a video crawl, it shall be
displayed at the top of the subscriber's television screen or where it will
not interfere with other visual messages.
(4) May elect not to interrupt EAS messages from broadcast stations based
upon a written agreement between all concerned. Further, analog cable
systems, digital cable systems, and wireless cable systems may elect not to
interrupt the programming of a broadcast station carrying news or weather
related emergency information with state and local EAS messages based on a
written agreement between all parties.
(5) Wireless cable systems and digital cable systems with a requirement to
carry the audio and video EAS message on at least one channel and a
requirement to provide video interrupt and an audio alert message on all
other channels stating which channel is carrying the audio and video EAS
message, may comply by using a means on all programmed channels that
automatically tunes the subscriber's set-top box to a pre-designated channel
which carries the required audio and video EAS messages.
(h) Analog cable systems and digital cable systems with 10,000 or more
subscribers; analog cable and digital cable systems serving 5,000 or more,
but less than 10,000 subscribers per headend; and wireline video systems and
wireless cable systems with 5,000 or more subscribers shall transmit EAS
audio messages in the same order specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
The Attention signal may be produced from a storage device. Additionally,
these analog cable systems, digital cable systems, and wireless cable
systems:
(1) Must install, operate, and maintain equipment capable of generating the
EAS codes. The modulation levels for the EAS codes and Attention Signal for
analog cable systems shall comply with the aural signal requirements in
Sec. 76.605 of this chapter. This will provide sufficient signal levels to
operate subscriber television and radio receivers equipped with EAS decoders
and to audibly alert subscribers. Wireless cable systems and digital cable
systems shall also provide sufficient signal levels to operate subscriber
television and radio receivers equipped with EAS decoders and to audibly
alert subscribers.
(2) Shall transmit the EAS audio message required in paragraph (a) of this
section on all downstream channels.
(3) Shall transmit the EAS visual message on all downstream channels. The
visual message shall contain the Originator, Event, Location and the valid
time period of the EAS message. These are elements of the EAS header code
and are described in Sec. 11.31. If the visual message is a video crawl, it
shall be displayed at the top of the subscriber's television screen or where
it will not interfere with other visual messages.
(4) May elect not to interrupt EAS messages from broadcast stations based
upon a written agreement between all concerned. Further, analog cable
systems, digital cable systems, and wireless cable systems may elect not to
interrupt the programming of a broadcast station carrying news or weather
related emergency information with state and local EAS messages based on a
written agreement between all parties.
(5) Wireless cable systems and digital cable systems with a requirement to
carry the audio and video EAS message on all downstream channels may comply
by using a means on all programmed channels that automatically tunes the
subscriber's set-top box to a pre-designated channel which carries the
required audio and video EAS messages.
(i) Effective December 31, 2006, SDARS licensees shall transmit national
audio EAS messages on all channels in the same order specified in paragraph
(a) of this section.
(1) SDARS licensees must install, operate, and maintain equipment capable of
generating the EAS codes.
(2) SDARS licensees may determine the distribution methods they will use to
comply with this requirement.
(j) Effective May 31, 2007, DBS providers shall transmit national audio and
visual EAS messages on all channels in the same order specified in paragraph
(a) of this section.
(1) DBS providers must install, operate, and maintain equipment capable of
generating the EAS codes.
(2) The visual message shall contain the Originator, Event, Location and the
valid time period of the EAS message. These are elements of the EAS header
code and are described in Sec. 11.31. If the visual message is a video crawl, it
shall be displayed at the top of the subscriber's television screen or where
it will not interfere with other visual messages.
(3) DBS providers may determine the distribution methods they will use to
comply with this requirement. Such methods may include distributing the EAS
message on all channels, using a means to automatically tune the
subscriber's set-top box to a pre-designated channel which carries the
required audio and video EAS messages, and/or passing through the EAS
message provided by programmers and/or local channels (where applicable).
(k) If manual interrupt is used as authorized in paragraph (m) of this
section, EAS Encoders must be located so that EAS Participant staff, at
normal duty locations, can initiate the EAS code and Attention Signal
transmission.
(l) EAS Participants that are co-owned and co-located with a combined studio
or control facility, (such as an AM and FM licensed to the same entity and
at the same location or a cable headend serving more than one system) may
provide the EAS transmitting requirements contained in this section for the
combined stations or systems with one EAS Encoder. The requirements of
Sec. 11.32 must be met by the combined facility.
(m) EAS Participants are required to transmit all received EAS messages in
which the header code contains the Event codes for Emergency Action
Notification (EAN), Emergency Action Termination (EAT), and Required Monthly
Test (RMT), and when the accompanying location codes include their State or
State/county. These EAS messages shall be retransmitted unchanged except for
the LLLLLLLL-code which identifies the EAS Participant retransmitting the
message. See Sec. 11.31(c). If an EAS source originates an EAS message with the
Event codes in this paragraph, it must include the location codes for the
State and counties in its service area. When transmitting the required
weekly test, EAS Participants shall use the event code RWT. The location
codes are the state and county for the broadcast station city of license or
system community or city. Other location codes may be included upon approval
of station or system management. EAS messages may be transmitted
automatically or manually.
(1) Automatic interrupt of programming and transmission of EAS messages are
required when facilities are unattended. Automatic transmissions must
include a permanent record that contains at a minimum the following
information: Originator, Event, Location and valid time period of the
message. The decoder performs the functions necessary to determine which EAS
messages are automatically transmitted by the encoder.
(2) Manual interrupt of programming and transmission of EAS messages may be
used. EAS messages with the EAN Event code must be transmitted immediately
and Monthly EAS test messages within 60 minutes. All actions must be logged
and include the minimum information required for EAS video messages.
(n) EAS Participants may employ a minimum delay feature, not to exceed 15
minutes, for automatic interruption of EAS codes. However, this may not be
used for the EAN event which must be transmitted immediately. The delay time
for an RMT message may not exceed 60 minutes.
(o) Either manual or automatic operation of EAS equipment may be used by EAS
Participants that use remote control. If manual operation is used, an EAS
decoder must be located at the remote control location and it must directly
monitor the signals of the two assigned EAS sources. If direct monitoring of
the assigned EAS sources is not possible at the remote location, automatic
operation is required. If automatic operation is used, the remote control
location may be used to override the transmission of an EAS alert. EAS
Participants may change back and forth between automatic and manual
operation.
[ 70 FR 71035 , Nov. 25, 2005, as amended at 71 FR 76220 , Dec. 20, 2006; 72 FR 62135 , Nov. 2, 2007; 71 FR 76220 , Dec. 20, 2006; 72 FR 62135 , Nov. 2, 2007]
Goto Section: 11.47 | 11.52
Goto Year: 2007 |
2009
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