The FCC last week published its Second Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted May 31 regarding revisions to rules governing the nation’s Emergency Alert System.
The order aims to update the nation’s EAS systems by requiring participants to accept messages using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), which will serve as the foundation of the next generation of the system, no later than 180 days after the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) announces adoption of standards.
The order preserves the existing EAS network but enhances it by allowing the delivery system to be upgraded. It also now covers wireline common carriers that carry video programming.
Under the order, participant also will be required to transmit state and local alerts from governors or their designees no later than 180 days after FEMA publishes its adoption of CAP.
The FCC also adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to examine other aspects of EAS.
To learn more, see: “FCC action intended to strengthen EAS.”
To read the order, visit: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-109A1.doc
