Goto Section: 11.47 | 11.52 | Table of Contents
FCC 11.51
Revised as of October 1, 2018
Goto Year:2017 |
2019
§ 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.
(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) All analog and digital radio and television stations shall transmit
EAS messages in the main audio channel. All DAB stations shall also
transmit EAS messages on all audio streams. All DTV broadcast stations
shall also transmit EAS messages on all program streams.
(d) 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. Effective June 30, 2012, visual messages
derived from CAP-formatted EAS messages shall contain the Originator,
Event, Location and the valid time period of the message and shall be
constructed in accordance with § 3.6 of the “ECIG Recommendations for a
CAP EAS Implementation Guide, Version 1.0” (May 17, 2010), except that
if the EAS Participant has deployed an Intermediary Device to meet its
CAP-related obligations, this requirement shall be effective June 30,
2015, and until such date shall be subject to the general requirement
to transmit a visual message containing the Originator, Event, Location
and the valid time period of the EAS message.
(1) The visual message portion of an EAS alert, whether video crawl or
block text, must be displayed:
(i) At the top of the television screen or where it will not interfere
with other visual messages
(ii) In a manner (i.e., font size, color, contrast, location, and
speed) that is readily readable and understandable,
(iii) That does not contain overlapping lines of EAS text or extend
beyond the viewable display (except for video crawls that intentionally
scroll on and off of the screen), and
(iv) In full at least once during any EAS message.
(2) The audio portion of an EAS message must play in full at least once
during any EAS message.
(e) Analog class D non-commercial educational FM stations as defined in
§ 73.506 of this chapter, digital class D non-commercial educational FM
stations, analog Low Power FM (LPFM) stations as defined in § § 73.811
and 73.853 of this chapter, digital LPFM stations, analog low power TV
(LPTV) stations as defined in § 74.701(f) of this chapter, and digital
LPTV stations as defined in § 74.701(k) of this chapter are not required
to have equipment capable of generating the EAS codes and Attention
Signal specified in § 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 § 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 § 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
visual message shall contain the Originator, Event, Location, and the
valid time period of the EAS message. Effective June 30, 2012, visual
messages derived from CAP-formatted EAS messages shall contain the
Originator, Event, Location and the valid time period of the message
and shall be constructed in accordance with § 3.6 of the “ECIG
Recommendations for a CAP EAS Implementation Guide, Version 1.0” (May
17, 2010), except that if the EAS Participant has deployed an
Intermediary Device to meet its CAP-related obligations, this
requirement shall be effective June 30, 2015, and until such date shall
be subject to the general requirement to transmit a visual message
containing the Originator, Event, Location and the valid time period of
the EAS message.
(i) The visual message portion of an EAS alert, whether video crawl or
block text, must be displayed:
(A) At the top of the television screen or where it will not interfere
with other visual messages;
(B) In a manner (i.e., font size, color, contrast, location, and speed)
that is readily readable and understandable;
(C) That does not contain overlapping lines of EAS text or extend
beyond the viewable display (except for video crawls that intentionally
scroll on and off of the screen), and
(D) In full at least once during any EAS message.
(ii) The audio portion of an EAS message must play in full at least
once during any EAS message.
(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 § 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. Effective June 30, 2012,
visual messages derived from CAP-formatted EAS messages shall contain
the Originator, Event, Location and the valid time period of the
message and shall be constructed in accordance with § 3.6 of the “ECIG
Recommendations for a CAP EAS Implementation Guide, Version 1.0” (May
17, 2010), except that if the EAS Participant has deployed an
Intermediary Device to meet its CAP-related obligations, this
requirement shall be effective June 30, 2015, and until such date shall
be subject to the general requirement to transmit a visual message
containing the Originator, Event, Location and the valid time period of
the EAS message.
(i) The visual message portion of an EAS alert, whether video crawl or
block text, must be displayed:
(A) At the top of the television screen or where it will not interfere
with other visual messages
(B) In a manner (i.e., font size, color, contrast, location, and speed)
that is readily readable and understandable,
(C) That does not contain overlapping lines of EAS text or extend
beyond the viewable display (except for video crawls that intentionally
scroll on and off of the screen), and
(D) In full at least once during any EAS message.
(ii) The audio portion of an EAS message must play in full at least
once during any EAS message.
(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) 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) 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. Effective June 30, 2012,
visual messages derived from CAP-formatted EAS messages shall contain
the Originator, Event, Location and the valid time period of the
message and shall be constructed in accordance with § 3.6 of the “ECIG
Recommendations for a CAP EAS Implementation Guide, Version 1.0” (May
17, 2010), except that if the EAS Participant has deployed an
Intermediary Device to meet its CAP-related obligations, this
requirement shall be effective June 30, 2015, and until such date shall
be subject to the general requirement to transmit a visual message
containing the Originator, Event, Location and the valid time period of
the EAS message.
(i) The visual message portion of an EAS alert, whether video crawl or
block text, must be displayed:
(A) At the top of the television screen or where it will not interfere
with other visual messages
(B) In a manner (i.e., font size, color, contrast, location, and speed)
that is readily readable and understandable,
(C) That does not contain overlapping lines of EAS text or extend
beyond the viewable display (except for video crawls that intentionally
scroll on and off of the screen), and
(D) In full at least once during any EAS message.
(ii) The audio portion of an EAS message must play in full at least
once during any EAS message.
(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 § 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) 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 § 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, or the National
Periodic Test (NPT) Event code in the case of a nationwide test of the
EAS, must be transmitted immediately; Monthly EAS test messages must be
transmitted 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 code, or the NPT Event code in the case
of a nationwide test of the EAS, 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.
(p) The standard required in this section is incorporated by reference
into this section with the approval of the Director of the Federal
Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. To enforce any
edition other than that specified in this section, the Federal
Communications Commission must publish notice of change in the Federal
Register and the material must be available to the public. All approved
material is available for inspection at the Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC (Reference Information
Center) and is available from the source indicated below. It is also
available for inspection at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030 or go to
http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ib
r_locations.html.
(1) The following standard is available from the EAS-CAP Industry Group
(ECIG), 21010 Southbank Street, #365, Sterling, VA, 20165, go to
http://www.eas-cap.org.
(i) “ECIG Recommendations for a CAP EAS Implementation Guide, Version
1.0” (May 17, 2010).
(ii) [Reserved]
[ 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; 77 FR 16704 , Mar. 22, 2012; 80 FR 37175 , June 30, 2015]
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Goto Section: 11.47 | 11.52
Goto Year: 2017 |
2019
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