Sec.  11.11   The Emergency Alert System (EAS).

   Link to an amendment published at  70 FR 71031 , Nov. 25, 2005.

   (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 Broadband Radio Service (BRS),
   or Educational Broadband Service (EBS) 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
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---------------------------------
   EAS Equipment requirement     AM & FM       TV        FM Class D     LPTV \1
\      LPFM \2\    Class A TV
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---------------------------------
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
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---------------------------------
\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 publishe
s 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 eith
er provide the National level EAS
    message on all programmed channels_including the required testing_by Octobe
r 1, 2002, or comply with the
                    following EAS requirements. All other cable systems must co
mply with B.]
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---------------------------------
                                                            System size and eff
ective dates
                                     ------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
    B. EAS Equipment Requirement                                >=5,000 but < 1
0,000
                                        >=10,000 subscribers          subscribe
rs         <5,000 subscribers
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---------------------------------
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.
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---------------------------------
\1\ Two-tone signal is only used to provide an audio alert to audience before E
AS 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 a
n 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 messag
es 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 (BRS/EBS 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           < 5,000
                                     subscribers          subscribers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 \3\.
Video interrupt and audio alert  N..................  Y 10/1/02
 message on all channels; \4\
 Audio and Video EAS message on
 at least one channel.
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\1\ The two-tone signal is used only to provide an audio alert to an
  audience prior to an EAS emergency message or to the Required Monthly
  Test (RMT) under  Sec.  11.61(a)(1). The two-tone signal must be 8-25
  seconds in duration.
\2\ Wireless cable systems serving < 5,000 subscribers are permitted
  to operate without an EAS encoder if they install an FCC-certified
  decoder.
\3\ All wireless cable systems may comply with this requirement by
  providing a means to switch all programmed channels to a predesignated
  channel that carries the required audio and video EAS messages.
\4\ 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, Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Educational
   Broadband Service (EBS) stations operated as part of wireless cable systems
   in accordance with subpart M of part 27 of this chapter are defined as
   follows:

   (1) A “wireless cable system” is a collection of channels in the BRS or EBS
   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;  69 FR 72031 , Dec. 10, 2004;  70 FR 19315 , Apr.
   13, 2005]