Sec.  11.51   EAS code and Attention Signal Transmission requirements.

   

   (a) 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) 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 signalling requirement for
   National level messages and tests.

   (b) When relaying EAS messages, broadcast stations and cable systems
   and wireless cable systems may transmit only the EAS header codes and
   the EOM code without the Attention Signal and emergency message for
   State and local emergencies. Television stations, cable systems and
   wireless cable systems should ensure that pauses in video programming
   before EAS message transmission do 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) Effective January 1, 1997, all radio and television stations shall
   transmit EAS messages in the main audio channel.

   (d) By the above date, television 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) Class D non-commercial educational FM stations as defined in
   Sec. 73.506 of this chapter, Low Power FM (LPFM) stations as defined in
   Sec. Sec. 73.811 and 73.853 of this chapter, and low power TV (LPTV) stations
   as defined in Sec. 74.701(f) of this chapter are not required to have
   equipment capable of generating the EAS codes and Attention Signal
   specified in Sec. 11.31.

   (f) Broadcast station equipment generating the EAS codes and the
   Attention Signal shall modulate a broadcast station transmitter so
   that the signal broadcast to other broadcast stations and cable
   systems and wireless cable systems 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) Effective October 1, 2002, cable systems with fewer than 5,000
   subscribers per headend 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, cable systems and wireless cable systems must:

   (1) Install, operate, and maintain equipment capable of generating the
   EAS codes. The modulation levels for the EAS codes and Attention
   Signal shall comply with the aural signal requirements in Sec. 76.605 of
   this chapter,

   (2) 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) Cable systems and wireless cable systems 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) Cable systems and wireless cable systems may elect not to
   interrupt EAS messages from broadcast stations based upon a written
   agreement between all concerned. Further, 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 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) Effective December 31, 1998, cable systems with 10,000 or more
   subscribers; and, effective October 1, 2002, cable systems serving
   5,000 or more, but less than 10,000 subscribers per headend 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, after the dates indicated, these cable systems
   and wireless cable systems must:

   (1) Install, operate, and maintain equipment capable of generating the
   EAS codes. The modulation levels for the EAS codes and Attention
   Signal for cable systems shall comply with the aural signal
   requirements in Sec. 76.605 of this chapter. This will provide sufficient
   signal levels to operate cable subscriber television and radio
   receivers equipped with EAS decoders and to audibly alert subscribers.
   Wireless 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) The cable systems and wireless cable systems in this paragraph (h)
   shall transmit the EAS audio message required in paragraph (a) of this
   section on all downstream channels.

   (3) The cable systems and wireless cable systems in this paragraph (h)
   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) Cable systems and wireless cable systems may elect not to
   interrupt EAS messages from broadcast stations based upon a written
   agreement between all concerned. Further, 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 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) If manual interrupt is used as authorized in paragraph (k) of this
   section, EAS Encoders must be located so that broadcast station, cable
   system or wireless cable system staff, at normal duty locations, can
   initiate the EAS code and Attention Signal transmission.

   (j) Broadcast stations, and cable systems and wireless cable systems
   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 cable systems or wireless cable systems
   with one EAS Encoder. The requirements of Sec. 11.32 must be met by the
   combined facility.

   (k) Broadcast stations and cable systems and wireless cable systems
   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 broadcast station,
   cable system, wireless cable system, or other entity 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, broadcast stations and cable
   systems and wireless cable systems shall use the event code RWT. The
   location codes are the state and county for the broadcast station city
   of license or cable system or wireless cable system community or city.
   Other location codes may be included upon approval of broadcast
   station, cable system or wireless cable 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.

   (l) Broadcast stations and cable systems and wireless cable systems
   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.

   (m) Either manual or automatic operation of EAS equipment may be used
   at broadcast stations and cable systems and wireless cable systems
   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. Broadcast stations and cable systems and
   wireless cable systems may change back and forth between automatic and
   manual operation.

   [ 59 FR 67092 , Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at  60 FR 56000 , Nov. 6, 1995;
    63 FR 29664 , June 1, 1998;  65 FR 7639 , Feb. 15, 2000;  67 FR 18510 ,
   Apr. 16, 2002;  70 FR 19315 , Apr. 13, 2005]