Sec.  11.51   EAS code and Attention Signal Transmission requirements.

   Link to an amendment published at  70 FR 71035 , Nov. 25, 2005.

   (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) When relaying EAS messages, broadcast stations and cable systems and
   wireless cable systems 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, cable systems and wireless 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 required 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
 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, Low Power FM (LPFM) stations as defined in  Sec.  Sec. 73.811 and 73.853
   of this chapter, and low power TV (LPTV) 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 station equipment 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 and wireless 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 required in  Sec. 11.32(a)(4), shall modulate the transmitter at the
   maximum possible level, but in no case less than 50% 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.

   (g) Effective October 1, 2002, cable systems with fewer than 5,000
   subscribers per headend and wireless cable systems with fewer than 5,000
   subscribers shall transmit EAS audio messages in the same order specified in
   paragraph (a) of this section on at least one channel. The Attention Signal
   may be produced from a storage device. Additionally, cable systems and
   wireless 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 shall
   comply with the aural signal requirements in  Sec. 76.605 of this chapter,

   (2) Provide a video interruption and an audio alert message on all channels.
   The audio alert message must state which channel is carrying the EAS video
   and audio message,

   (3) Cable systems and wireless 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 and wireless cable systems may elect not to interrupt EAS
   messages from broadcast stations based upon a written agreement between all
   concerned. Further, cable systems and wireless cable systems may elect not
   to interrupt the programming of a broadcast station carrying news or weather
   related emergency information with state and local EAS messages based on a
   written agreement between all parties.

   (5) Wireless cable systems with a requirement to carry the audio and video
   EAS message on at least one channel and a requirement to provide video
   interrupt and an audio alert message on all other channels stating which
   channel is carrying the audio and video EAS message, may comply by using a
   means on all programmed channels that automatically tunes the subscriber's
   set-top box to a pre-designated channel which carries the required audio and
   video EAS messages.

   (h) Effective December 31, 1998, cable systems with 10,000 or more
   subscribers; and, effective October 1, 2002, cable systems serving 5,000 or
   more, but less than 10,000 subscribers per headend and wireless cable
   systems with 5,000 or more subscribers; 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, after the dates
   indicated, these cable systems and wireless 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 and radio receivers equipped with EAS decoders and to
   audibly alert subscribers. Wireless cable systems shall also provide
   sufficient signal levels to operate subscriber television and radio
   receivers equipped with EAS decoders and to audibly alert subscribers.

   (2) The cable systems and wireless cable systems in this paragraph (h) shall
   transmit the EAS audio message required in paragraph (a) of this section on
   all downstream channels.

   (3) The cable systems and wireless cable systems in this paragraph (h) shall
   transmit the EAS visual message on all downstream channels. The visual
   message shall contain the Originator, Event, Location and the valid time
   period of the EAS message. These are elements of the EAS header code and are
   described in  Sec. 11.31. 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 and wireless cable systems may elect not to interrupt EAS
   messages from broadcast stations based upon a written agreement between all
   concerned. Further, cable systems and wireless cable systems may elect not
   to interrupt the programming of a broadcast station carrying news or weather
   related emergency information with state and local EAS messages based on a
   written agreement between all parties.

   (5) Wireless cable systems with a requirement to carry the audio and video
   EAS message on all downstream channels may comply by using a means on all
   programmed channels that automatically tunes the subscriber's set-top box to
   a pre-designated channel which carries the required audio and video EAS
   messages.

   (i) If manual interrupt is used as authorized in paragraph (k) of this
   section, EAS Encoders must be located so that broadcast station, cable
   system or wireless cable system staff, at normal duty locations, can
   initiate the EAS code and Attention Signal transmission.

   (j) Broadcast stations, and cable systems and wireless 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
   stations or cable systems or wireless cable systems with one EAS Encoder.
   The requirements of  Sec. 11.32 must be met by the combined facility.

   (k) Broadcast stations and cable systems and wireless 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), and when the
   accompanying location codes include their State or State/county. These EAS
   messages shall be retransmitted unchanged except for the LLLLLLLL-code which
   identifies the broadcast station, cable system, wireless cable system, or
   other entity retransmitting the message. See  Sec. 11.31(c). If an EAS source
   originates an EAS message with the Event codes in this paragraph, it must
   include the location codes for the State and counties in its service area.
   When transmitting the required weekly test, broadcast stations and cable
   systems and wireless cable systems shall use the event code RWT. The
   location codes are the state and county for the broadcast station city of
   license or cable system or wireless cable system community or city. Other
   location codes may be included upon approval of broadcast station, cable
   system or wireless cable system management. EAS messages may be transmitted
   automatically or manually.

   (1) Automatic interrupt of programming and transmission of EAS messages are
   required when facilities are unattended. Automatic transmissions 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 Event code must be transmitted immediately
   and Monthly EAS test messages within 60 minutes. All actions must be logged
   and include the minimum information required for EAS video messages.

   (l) Broadcast stations and cable systems and wireless cable systems may
   employ a minimum delay feature, not to exceed 15 minutes, for automatic
   interruption of EAS codes. However, this may not be used for the EAN event
   which must be transmitted immediately. The delay time for an RMT message may
   not exceed 60 minutes.

   (m) Either manual or automatic operation of EAS equipment may be used at
   broadcast stations and cable systems and wireless cable systems that use
   remote control. If manual operation is used, an EAS decoder must be located
   at the remote control location and it must 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 alert. Broadcast stations and
   cable systems and wireless 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;  63 FR 29664 , June 1, 1998;  65 FR 7639 , Feb. 15, 2000;  67 FR 18510 , Apr. 16, 2002;
    70 FR 19315 , Apr. 13, 2005]