Sec. 11.61  Tests of EAS procedures.

    (a) Tests shall be made at regular intervals as indicated below. 
Additional tests may be performed anytime. EAS activations and special 
tests may be performed in lieu of required tests as specified in 
paragraph (a)(6) of this section. All tests will conform with the 
procedures in the EAS Operating Handbook.
    (1) Required Monthly Tests of the EAS header codes, Attention 
Signal, Test Script and EOM code.
    (i) Effective January 1, 1997, AM, FM and TV stations.
    (ii) Effective July 1, 1997, cable systems.
    (iii) Tests in odd numbered months shall occur between 8:30 a.m. and 
local sunset. Tests in even numbered months shall occur between local 
sunset and 8:30 a.m. They will originate from Local or State Primary 
sources. Time and script content will be developed by State Emergency 
Communications Committees in cooperation with affected broadcast 
stations, cable systems, and other participants. Script content can be 
in the primary language of the broadcast station or cable system. These 
monthly tests must be transmitted within 15 minutes of receipt by 
broadcast stations and cable systems in an EAS Local Area or State. 
Class D non-commercial educational FM and LPTV stations need to transmit 
only the test script.
    (2) Required Weekly Tests:
    (i) Attention Signal. Until January 1, 1997, broadcast stations must 
conduct tests of the Attention Signal and Test Script at least once a 
week at random days and times between 8:30 a.m. and local sunset. Class 
D non-commercial educational FM and LPTV stations do not need to 
transmit the Attention Signal. Script content can be in the primary 
language of the station.
    (ii) EAS Header Codes and EOM Codes:
    (A) Effective January 1, 1997, AM, FM and TV stations must conduct 
tests of the EAS header and EOM codes at least once a week at random 
days and times.
    (B) Effective July 1, 1997, subject cable systems must conduct tests 
of the EAS header and EOM codes at least once a week at random days and 
times.
    (iii) Class D non-commercial educational FM and LPTV stations are 
not required to transmit this test but must log receipt.
    (iv) The EAS weekly test is not required during the week that a 
monthly test is conducted.
    (3) Periodic Wire Service Tests. AP, Reuters and UPI shall 
separately conduct test transmissions to broadcast stations and cable 
systems on their wire networks. Tests may occur no more than once a 
month at random times selected by the wire services. These tests shall 
conform with the procedures in the EAS Operating Handbook and the 
National Control Point Procedures.
    (4) Weekly Emergency Action Notification (EAN) network 
transmissions. Tests of the National level interconnection facilities 
shall be conducted on a random basis once each week. They shall 
originate from the Federal government over a dedicated network to 
specified control points of the radio and television networks, cable 
networks and program suppliers, wire services, common carriers and other 
organizations. The tests shall conform with the National Control Point 
Procedures.
    (5) Periodic National Tests. National Primary (NP) sources shall 
participate in tests as appropriate. The FCC may request a report of 
these tests.
    (6) EAS activations and special tests. The EAS may be activated at 
the State or Local Area level by a broadcast station or cable system in 
lieu of the monthly or weekly tests required by this section. Such 
activation must include transmission of the EAS header codes, Attention 
Signal, emergency message and EOM code for substitution of the monthly 
test. Activation must include transmission of the Attention

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Signal and emergency message for substitution of the weekly test in 
paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section. Activation must include 
transmission of the EAS header and EOM codes for substitution of the 
weekly test in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section. Television stations 
and cable systems shall comply with the visual message requirements in 
Sec. 11.51 of this part. Special EAS tests at the State and Local Area 
levels may be conducted on a day-to-day basis following procedures in 
State and Local Area EAS plans.
    (b) Entries shall be made in the broadcast station or cable system 
records as specified in Sec. 11.54(b)(14) concerning EAS tests received 
and transmitted.
[ 59 FR 67092 , Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at  60 FR 56000 , Nov. 6, 1995]