Source: http://www.jneuhaus.com/fccindex/part_11/index.htm
Timestamp: 2014-07-29 18:48:38
Document Index: 685988692

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 11', 'ART 11', '§ 11', '§ 73', '§ 74', '§ 11', '§ 74', '§ 74', '§ 74', 'art 21', 'art 74', '§ 11', '§ 11', 'art 73', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11', '§ 11']

PART 11-EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS)
| Other parts of the FCC Rules | Communications resources |
PART 11-EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS)Subpart A - General
11.1Purpose.
11.11The Emergency Alert System (EAS).
11.12Two-tone Attention Signal Encoder and Decoder.
11.13Emergency Action Notification (EAN) and Emergency Action Termination (EAT).
11.14EAN Network and Primary Entry Point (PEP) System.
11.15EAS Operating Handbook.
11.16National Control Point Procedures.
11.17Authenticator Word Lists.
11.18EAS Designations.
11.19EAS Non-participating National Authorization Letter.
11.20State Relay Network.
11.21State and Local Area Plans and FCC Mapbook.
Subpart B - Equipment Requirements
11.31EAS protocol.
11.32EAS Encoder.
11.33EAS Decoder.
11.34Acceptability of the equipment.
11.35Equipment operational readiness.
Subpart C - Organization
11.41Participation in EAS.
11.42Participation by communications common carriers.
11.43National level participation.
11.44EAS message priorities.
11.45Prohibition of false or deceptive EAS transmissions.
11.46EAS public service announcements.
11.47Optional use of other communications methods and systems.
Subpart D - Emergency Operations
11.51EAS code and Attention Signal Transmission requirements.
11.52EAS code and Attention Signal Monitoring requirements.
11.53Dissemination of Emergency Action Notification.
11.54EAS operation during a National Level emergency.
11.55EAS operation during a State or Local Area emergency.
Subpart E - Tests
11.61Tests of EAS procedures.
11.62Closed Circuit Tests of National Level EAS facilities.
This part contains rules and regulations providing for an
Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS provides the President
with the capability to provide immediate communications and
information to the general public at the National, State and
Local Area levels during periods of national emergency. The
rules in this part describe the required technical standards and
operational procedures of the EAS for AM, FM and TV broadcast
stations, cable systems and other participating entities. The
EAS may be used to provide the heads of State and local
government, or their designated representatives, with a means of
emergency communication with the public in their State or Local
(a) The EAS is composed of broadcast networks; cable networks and program suppliers; AM, FM and TV broadcast 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 § 11.31, to send and receive emergency alerts in accordance with the effective dates in the following tables:
AM & FM TV
Two-tone encoder2,3
Two-tone decoder4,5
EAS decoder Y 1/1/97
1 LPTV stations that operate as television broadcast translator stations are exempt from the requirement to have EAS equipment.
2 Effective July 1, 1995, the two-tone signal must be 8-25 seconds. 3 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. 4 Effective July 1, 1995, the two-tone decoder must respond to two-tone signals of 3-4 seconds duration. 5 Effective January 1, 1998, the two-tone decoder will no longer be used.
EAS REQUIREMENTSCABLE 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.
>= 10,000 subscribers
>=5,000 but < 10,000 subscribers
Two-tone signal from storage device1
Y 12/31/98
Y 10/1/02
EAS decoder Y 12/31/98
Video interrupt and audio alert message on all channels;2 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 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.
Wireless Cable Systems(MDS/MMDS/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.
>= 5,000 subscribers
EAS decoder Y 10/1/02
Video interrupt and audio alert message on all channels;2 Audio and Video EAS message on at least one channel
(b) Class D non-commercial educational FM stations as defined in § 73.506 of this chapter and LPTV stations as defined in § 74.701(f) of this chapter are not required to have or operate EAS encoders as defined in § 11.32. LPTV stations that operate as television broadcast translator stations, as defined in § 74.701(b) of this chapter are not required to comply with the requirements of this part. FM broadcast booster stations as defined in § 74.1201(f) of this chapter and FM translator stations as defined in § 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.
(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 and Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) stations operated as part of wireless cable systems in accordance with Subpart I of Part 74 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 above. 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.
[Editor's note: § 11.11 revised in FCC 95-420, October 23, 1995, and FCC 97-338, adopted: September 24, 1997.]
§ 11.12 Two-tone Attention Signal Encoder and Decoder.
Existing two-tone Attention Signal encoder and decoder equipment type accepted for use as Emergency Broadcast System equipment under Part 73 of this chapter may be used by broadcast stations until January 1, 1998, provided that such equipment meets the requirements of § § 11.32(a)(9) and 11.33(b). Effective January 1, 1998, the two-tone Attention Signal decoder will no longer be required and the two-tone Attention Signal will be used to provide an audio alert.
[Editor's note: Section 11.12 revised in FCC 95-420, October 23, 1995]
§ 11.13 Emergency Action Notification (EAN) and Emergency
Action Termination (EAT).
(a) The Emergency Action Notification (EAN) is the notice to all broadcast stations, cable systems and wireless cable systems, other regulated services of the FCC, participating industry entities, and to the general public that the EAS has been activated for a national emergency. (b) The Emergency Action Termination (EAT) is the notice to all broadcast stations, cable systems and wireless cable systems, other regulated services of the FCC, participating industry entities, and to the general public that the EAN has terminated. [Editor's note: § 11.13 revised in FCC 97-338, adopted: September 24, 1997.]
§ 11.14 EAN Network and Primary Entry Point (PEP) System.
(a) The EAN network is a dedicated communications service
connecting industry networks, wire services and common carriers
with government activation points. It is used to distribute EAN
and EAT messages. The industry control locations retransmit the
EAN message, the Presidential message, and the EAT message on
their facilities to their affiliates.
(b) The PEP system is a nationwide network of broadcast
stations connected with government activation points. It can
also be used to distribute EAN and EAT.
The EAS Operating Handbook states in summary form the actions to be taken by personnel at broadcast stations, cable systems and wireless cable systems, and other participating entities upon receipt of an EAN, an EAT, tests, or State and Local Area alerts. It is issued by the FCC and contains instructions for the above situations. A copy of the Handbook must be located at normal duty positions or EAS equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty and be immediately available to staff responsible for authenticating messages and initiating actions.
[Editor's note: § 11.15 revised in FCC 97-338, adopted: September 24, 1997.]
(a) The National Control Point Procedures are written
instructions issued by the FCC to national level EAS control
points. They are for use by the participating radio and
television networks, cable networks and program suppliers, common
carriers and wire services. The procedures are divided into
(1) National Level EAS Activation. This section contains
the activation and termination instructions for Presidential
(2) EAS Test Transmissions. This section contains the
instructions for testing the EAS at the National level.
(3) National Information Center (NIC). This section
contains instructions for distributing United States Government
official information messages after completion of the National
Level EAS activation and termination actions.
§ 11.17 Authenticator Word Lists.
There are three lists issued by the FCC annually. The lists
are to be used by EAS participants to ensure that the National
level alerts and tests are legitimate. The lists must be used in
accordance with directions in the EAS Operating Handbook and the
National Control Point Procedures. LPTV stations and cable systems and wireless cable systems do not receive authenticator lists. (a) Red Envelope Authenticator List. This list is used for
authentication purposes in accordance with instructions in the
EAS Operating Handbook and National Control Point Procedures. It
is issued to all broadcast stations and specified control points
of the radio and television networks, cable networks and program
suppliers, common carriers, wire services and other specified
entities. A current copy of this list must be located in the
pocket on the inside front cover of the EAS Operating Handbook.
This list should be opened only to authenticate receipt of an EAN message and an EAT message from the above control points. The FCC may request immediate return of the Red Envelope at any time.
[Editor's note: FCC discontinued distribution of red envelopes. See Public Notice, September 3. 1998.]
(b) White Envelope Authenticator List. This list is used for caller identification purposes in accordance with instructions in the National Control Point Procedures. It is issued only to specified control points.
(c) NIC Authenticator List. This booklet is used for
authentication purposes in accordance with instructions in the National Control Point Procedures. It is issued only to participating control points.
[Editor's note: § 11.17 revised in FCC 97-338, adopted: September 24, 1997.]
(a) National Primary (NP) is a source of EAS Presidential
(b) Local Primary (LP) is a source of EAS Local Area
messages. An LP source is responsible for coordinating the
carriage of common emergency messages from sources such as the
National Weather Service or local emergency management offices as
specified in its EAS Local Area Plan. If it is unable to carry
out this function, other LP sources in the Local Area may be
assigned the responsibility as indicated in State and Local Area
Plans. LP sources are assigned numbers (LP-1, 2, 3, etc.) in the
sequence they are to be monitored by other broadcast stations in
(c) State Primary (SP) is a source of EAS State messages.
These messages can originate from the Governor or a designated
representative in the State Emergency Operating Center (EOC) or
State Capital. Messages are sent via the State Relay Network.
(d) State Relay (SR) is a relay source of EAS State
messages. It is part of the State Relay Network and relays
National and State common emergency messages into Local Areas.
(e) Participating National (PN) sources transmit EAS
National, State or Local Area messages. The EAS transmissions of
PN sources are intended for direct public reception.
(f) Non-participating National (NN) sources have elected not
to participate in the National level EAS and hold an
authorization letter to that effect. Upon activation of the
national level EAS, NN sources are required to broadcast the EAS
codes, Attention Signal, the sign-off announcement in the EAS Operating Handbook and then stop operating. All NN sources are
required to comply with § 11.51, § 11.52 and § 11.61 of this
part. They may transmit EAS State or Local Area messages at any
§ 11.19 EAS Non-participating National Authorization Letter.
This authorization letter is issued by the FCC to broadcast station licensees and cable systems and
wireless cable systems. It states that the licensee, cable operator or wireless cable operator has agreed
to go off the air or in the case of cable discontinue programming on all channels during a national
level EAS message. For Broadcast licensees this authorization will remain in effect through the period
of the initial license and subsequent renewals from the time of issuance unless returned by the holder
or suspended, modified or withdrawn by the Commission.
[Editor's note: § 11.19 revised in FCC 97-338, adopted: September 24, 1997.]
This network is composed of State Relay (SR) sources, leased
common carrier communications facilities or any other available
communication facilities. The network distributes State EAS
messages originated by the Governor or designated official. In
addition to EAS monitoring, satellites, microwave, FM subcarrier
or any other communications technology may be used to distribute
State emergency messages.
EAS plans contain guidelines which must be followed by broadcast and