§ 11.52   EAS code and Attention Signal Monitoring requirements.

   (a) EAS Participants must be capable of receiving the Attention Signal
   required by § 11.31(a)(2) and emergency messages of other broadcast
   stations during their hours of operation. EAS Participants must install
   and operate during their hours of operation, equipment that is capable
   of receiving and decoding, either automatically or manually, the EAS
   header codes, emergency messages and EOM code, and which complies with
   the requirements in § 11.56.

   Note to paragraph (a): The two-tone Attention Signal will not be used
   to actuate two-tone decoders but will be used as an aural alert signal.

   (b) If manual interrupt is used as authorized in § 11.51(m)(2),
   decoders must be located so that operators at their normal duty
   stations can be alerted immediately when EAS messages are received.

   (c) 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 comply with the EAS monitoring requirements contained
   in this section for the combined station or system with one EAS
   Decoder. The requirements of § 11.33 must be met by the combined
   facility.

   (d) EAS Participants must comply with the following monitoring
   requirements:

   (1) With respect to monitoring for EAS messages that are formatted in
   accordance with the EAS Protocol, EAS Participants must monitor two EAS
   sources. The monitoring assignments of each broadcast station and cable
   system and wireless cable system are specified in the State EAS Plan
   and FCC Mapbook. They are developed in accordance with FCC monitoring
   priorities.

   (2) With respect to monitoring EAS messages formatted in accordance
   with the specifications set forth in § 11.56(a)(2), EAS Participants'
   EAS equipment must interface with the Federal Emergency Management
   Agency's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to enable
   (whether through "pull" interface technologies, such as Really Simple
   Syndication (RSS) and Atom Syndication Format (ATOM), or "push"
   interface technologies, such as instant messaging and email) the
   distribution of Common Alert Protocol (CAP)-formatted alert messages
   from the IPAWS system to EAS Participants' EAS equipment.

   (3) Monitoring specifications associated with the distribution of
   CAP-formatted alert messages by state alert message systems are
   described in the State EAS Plan, as set forth in § 11.21(a).

   (4) If the required EAS message sources cannot be received, alternate
   arrangements or a waiver may be obtained by written request to the
   Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. In an emergency, a
   waiver may be issued over the telephone with a follow up letter to
   confirm temporary or permanent reassignment.

   (5) The management of EAS Participants shall determine which header
   codes will automatically interrupt their programming for State and
   Local Area emergency situations affecting their audiences.

   (e) EAS Participants are required to interrupt normal programming
   either automatically or manually when they receive an EAS message in
   which the header code contains the Event codes for Emergency Action
   Notification (EAN) or the Required Monthly Test (RMT) for their State
   or State/county location.

   (1) Automatic interrupt of programming is required when facilities are
   unattended. Automatic operation must provide a permanent record of the
   EAS message that contains at a minimum the following information:
   Originator, Event, Location and valid time period of the message.

   (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 recorded as specified in § § 11.35(a) and
   11.54(a)(3). Decoders must be programmed for the EAN Event header code
   and the RMT and RWT Event header codes (for required monthly and weekly
   tests), with the appropriate accompanying State and State/county
   location codes.

   [ 70 FR 71036 , Nov. 25, 2005, as amended at  77 FR 16705 , Mar. 22, 2012]

   return arrow Back to Top