[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 47, Volume 1] [Revised as of October 1, 2004] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 47CFR11.11] [Page 723-724] TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PART 11_EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS)--Table of Contents Subpart A_General Sec. 11.11 The Emergency Alert System (EAS). (a) The EAS is composed of broadcast networks; cable networks and program suppliers; AM, FM Low Power FM (LPFM) and TV broadcast stations; Class A television (CA) stations; Low Power TV (LPTV) stations; cable systems; wireless cable systems which may consist of Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS), Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS), or Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) stations; and other entities and industries operating on an organized basis during emergencies at the National, State and local levels. It requires that at a minimum all participants use a common EAS protocol, as defined in Sec. 11.31, to send and receive emergency alerts in accordance with the effective dates in the following tables: Broadcast Stations ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EAS Equipment requirement AM & FM TV FM Class D LPTV \1\ LPFM \2\ Class A TV ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two-tone encoder \3\ \4\...... Y Y N N N Y EAS decoder................... Y 1/1/97 Y 1/1/97 Y 1/1/97 Y 1/1/97 Y Y EAS encoder................... Y 1/1/97 Y 1/1/97 N N N Y Audio message................. Y 1/1/97 Y 1/1/97 Y 1/1/97 Y 1/1/97 Y Y Video message................. N/A Y 1/1/97 N/A Y 1/1/97 N/A Y ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ LPTV stations that operate as television broadcast translator stations are exempt from the requirement to have EAS equipment. \2\ LPFM stations must install a decoder within one year after the FCC publishes in the Federal Register a public notice indicating that at least one decoder has been certified by the FCC. \3\ Effective July 1, 1995, the two-tone signal must be 8-25 seconds. \4\ Effective January 1, 1998, the two-tone signal may only be used to provide audio alerts to audiences before EAS emergency messages and the required monthly tests. Cable Systems [A. Cable systems serving fewer than 5,000 subscribers from a headend must either provide the National level EAS message on all programmed channels--including the required testing--by October 1, 2002, or comply with the following EAS requirements. All other cable systems must comply with B.] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- System size and effective dates ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- B. EAS Equipment Requirement =10,000 =5,000 but < subscribers 10,000 subscribers <5,000 subscribers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two-tone signal from storage device Y 12/31/98 Y 10/1/02 Y 10/1/02 \1\. EAS decoder \3\.................... Y 12/31/98 Y 10/1/02 Y 10/1/02 EAS encoder \2\.................... Y 12/31/98 Y 10/1/02 Y 10/1/02 Audio and Video EAS Message on all Y 12/31/98 Y 10/1/02 N channels. Video interrupt and audio alert N N Y 10/1/02 message on all channels,\3\ Audio and Video EAS message on at least one channel. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Two-tone signal is only used to provide an audio alert to audience before EAS emergency messages and required monthly test. The two-tone signal must be 8-25 seconds in duration. \2\ Cable systems serving <5,000 subscribers are permitted to operate without an EAS encoder if they install an FCC-certified decoder. \3\ The Video interrupt must cause all channels that carry programming to flash for the duration of the EAS emergency message. The audio alert must give the channel where the EAS messages are carried and be repeated for the duration of the EAS message. Note: Programmed channels do not include channels used for the transmission of data such as interactive games. Wireless Cable Systems (MDS/MMS/ITFS Stations) [A. Wireless cable systems serving fewer than 5,000 subscribers from a single transmission site must either provide the National level EAS message on all programmed channels--including the required testing--by October 1, 2002, or comply with the following EAS requirements. All other wireless cable systems must comply with B.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ System size and effective dates ---------------------------------------- B. EAS Equipment Requirement = 5,000 subscribers < 5,000subscribers ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EAS decoder.................... Y 10/1/02 Y 10/1/02 EAS encoder \1\ \2\............ Y 10/1/02 Y 10/1/02 Audio and Video EAS Message on Y 10/1/02 N all channels. Video interrupt and audio alert N Y 10/1/02 message on all channels; \3\ Audio and Video EAS message on at least one channel. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ Two-tone signal is only used to provide an audio alert to audience before EAS emergency messages and required monthly test. The two-tone signal must be 8-25 seconds in duration. [[Page 724]] \2\ Wireless cable systems serving <5,000 subscribers are permitted to operate without an EAS encoder if they install an FCC-certified decoder. \3\ The Video interrupt must cause all channels that carry programming to flash for the duration of the EAS emergency message. The audio alert must give the channel where the EAS messages are carried and be repeated for the duration of the EAS message. Note: Programmed channels do not include channels used for the transmission of data services such as Internet. (b) Class D non-commercial educational FM stations as defined in Sec. 73.506, LPFM stations as defined in Sec. Sec. 73.811 and 73.853, and LPTV stations as defined in Sec. 74.701(f) are not required to comply with Sec. 11.32. LPTV stations that operate as television broadcast translator stations, as defined in Sec. 74.701(b) of this chapter, are not required to comply with the requirements of this part. FM broadcast booster stations as defined in Sec. 74.1201(f) of this chapter and FM translator stations as defined in Sec. 74.1201(a) of this chapter which entirely rebroadcast the programming of other local FM broadcast stations are not required to comply with the requirements of this part. International broadcast stations as defined in Sec. 73.701 of this chapter are not required to comply with the requirements of this part. Broadcast stations that operate as satellites or repeaters of a hub station (or common studio or control point if there is no hub station) and rebroadcast 100% of the programming of the hub station (or common studio or control point) may satisfy the requirements of this part through the use of a single set of EAS equipment at the hub station (or common studio or control point) which complies with Sec. Sec. 11.32 and 11.33. (c) For purposes of the EAS, Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) stations operated in accordance with subpart K of part 21 of this chapter and Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) stations operated as part of wireless cable systems in accordance with subpart I of part 74 of this chapter are defined as follows: (1) A ``wireless cable system'' is a collection of channels in the MDS, MMDS, or ITFS used to provide video programming services to subscribers. The channels may be licensed to or leased by the wireless cable system operator. (2) A ``wireless cable operator'' is the entity that has acquired the right to use the channels of a wireless cable system for transmission of programming to subscribers. (d) Local franchise authorities and cable television system operators may enter into mutual agreements that require the installation of EAS equipment before the required dates listed in the tables in paragraph (a). Additionally, local franchise authorities may use any EAS codes authorized by the FCC in any agreements. (e) Organizations using other communications systems or technologies such as, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low earth orbit satellite systems, paging, computer networks, etc. may join the EAS on a voluntary basis by contacting the FCC. Organizations that choose to voluntarily participate must comply with the requirements of this part. [63 FR 29662, June 1, 1998, as amended at 65 FR 7639, Feb. 15, 2000; 65 FR 21657, Apr. 24, 2000; 65 FR 30001, May 10, 2000; 65 FR 34406, May 30, 2000; 67 FR 18506, Apr. 16, 2002]