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) Broadcast stations 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 and 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 warranted 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 and low power TV 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 stations are responsible for ensuring that the 
equipment for 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 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 specified in 
Sec. 11.32(a)(4) shall modulate the transmitter at no less than 80% 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.

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    (g) Effective July 1, 1997, cable systems 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, subject 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 or radio receivers 
equipped with EAS decoders and to audibly alert subscribers.
    (2) Provide a video interruption and an audio EAS message on all 
channels. The audio message must state which channel is carrying the 
visual EAS message.
    (3) Subject 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 shall provide a method to alert hearing impaired 
or deaf subscribers to EAS messages. Methods may include: a box that 
displays EAS messages and activates other alerting mechanisms or lights; 
visual messages on all channels; etc.
    (5) Cable systems may elect not to interrupt EAS messages from 
broadcast stations based on a written agreement between all concerned.
    (h) If manual interrupt is used as specified in paragraph (l) of 
this section, EAS Encoders must be located so that station or cable 
staff, at normal duty locations, can initiate the EAS code and Attention 
Signal transmission.
    (i) Broadcast stations or 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 station or cable 
system with one EAS Encoder. The requirements of Sec. 11.32 must be met 
for both the broadcast station and cable system.
    (j) Broadcast stations and 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), with the 
accompanying location codes for their State and State/county. These EAS 
messages shall be retransmitted unchanged except for the LLLLLLLL- code 
which identifies the broadcast station or cable system retransmitting 
the message. See Sec. 11.31(c). If an EAS source originates any EAS 
messages with the above Event codes, it must include the location codes 
for the State and counties in its service area. When transmitting the 
required weekly test, broadcast stations and subject cable systems will 
use the event code RWT. The location codes will be the state and county 
for the broadcast station city of license or subject cable system 
community. Other location codes may be included upon approval of station 
or cable system management approval. EAS code requirements and examples 
are provided in the EAS Operating Handbook. Operations may be conducted 
automatically or manually.
    (1) Automatic interrupt of programming and transmission of EAS 
messages is required when facilities are unattended and 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 and EAT Event codes must be 
transmitted immediately and Monthly EAS test messages within 15 minutes. 
All actions must be logged or recorded.
    (k) Broadcast stations and cable systems may employ a minimum delay 
feature, not to exceed 15 minutes, for automatic interrupt of EAS codes 
but

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not for the EAN Event which must be transmitted immediately.
    (l) Either manual or automatic operation of EAS equipment may be 
used at broadcast stations or cable systems that use remote control. If 
manual operation is used, an EAS decoder must be located at the remote 
control location and 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 message. Broadcast stations and 
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]