FCC, Broadcasting, Emergency Alerts

FCC Extends ETRS Form One Filing Deadline to October 18, 2024

Wiley Rein LLP on 10/3/2024

On October 1, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) extended the deadline for Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participants to file the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) Form One to October 18, 2024. The...more

EAS Participants Must File FCC Form One by October 4, 2024

Pillsbury - CommLawCenter on 9/20/2024

The FCC’s rules require that all Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participants update their identifying information in the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) annually. Accordingly, all EAS Participants must update and submit their...more

Annual Update to ETRS Form One Due By October 4, 2024

Wiley Rein LLP on 8/12/2024

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has announced that the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) is now open for Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participants to file Form One. Under the FCC’s rules, EAS...more

FCC Grants Limited Extension of EAS Compliance Deadline for Customers Using Sage Equipment

Wiley Rein LLP on 11/30/2023

On November 28, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) granted a limited extension of the deadline to prioritize Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-formatted emergency alerts for customers of equipment...more

Reminder: Nationwide EAS and WEA Tests Coming October 4, 2023

Wiley Rein LLP on 10/4/2023

As a reminder, on October 4, 2023, at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the...more

Nationwide EAS and WEA Tests Coming October 4, 2023

Wiley Rein LLP on 8/4/2023

On October 4, 2023, at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert...more

Annual Update to ETRS Form One Due by February 28, 2023

Wiley Rein LLP on 2/7/2023

The FCC has announced the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) is open for EAS Participants to file Form One. Under the FCC’s rules, EAS Participants must renew their Form One filing each year. The deadline to renew Form One is...more

FCC Acts to Improve Emergency Alerting Systems

Wiley Rein LLP on 11/11/2022

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) has adopted two recent items designed to improve its emergency alerting systems, the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)....more

FCC Updates Federal Emergency Alert System Rules

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 10/13/2022

On September 30, 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order (Order) updating its Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules with the stated goal of making EAS alerts more informative and easier to...more

FCC Adopts Changes to EAS Rules for Broadcasters

BakerHostetler on 10/6/2022

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Report and Order (Order) approving several changes to its rules governing the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Through the new rules, the FCC seeks to make EAS...more

FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ December 2021

Pillsbury - CommLawCenter on 12/21/2021

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. ...more

FOX NFL Pre-Game Emergency Alert Tone Puts Affiliates in a Difficult Position

Pillsbury - CommLawCenter on 12/1/2021

As the trades have reported, a rather unusual spot appearing to be a FOX NFL promo aired during yesterday’s NFL pre-game show. What made it particularly unusual was that it included an EAS-like tone, and had a URL at the...more

Reminder: Nationwide EAS Test August 11

Wiley Rein LLP on 8/11/2021

As a reminder, today (August 11) at 2:20 p.m. EDT, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System...more

FCC Proposes Rule Changes to Allow “Zonecasting” by FM Booster Stations

Wiley Rein LLP on 12/4/2020

On December 1, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on changes to its retransmission rules for FM booster stations that would allow...more

FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ October 2020

Pillsbury - CommLawCenter on 10/30/2020

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others. ...more

FCC Seeks to Unlock Potential of TV Spectrum for Advanced Broadband Services

Perkins Coie on 6/12/2020

The Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted on June 9, 2020, to adopt a Declaratory Ruling and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to promote broadcast internet services through a new broadcast standard called ATSC 3.0....more

Proposed $272,000 FCC Fine Against CBS for False EAS Alert Tone Raises Intriguing First Amendment Debate

Pillsbury - CommLawCenter on 9/10/2019

Yesterday, the FCC released a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture against CBS for false EAS alerting, which is FCC-speak for “CBS, tell us why we shouldn’t fine you $272,000 for airing a fake EAS alert tone.”...more

FCC Enforcement Monitor ~ August 2019

Pillsbury - CommLawCenter on 8/30/2019

Pillsbury’s communications lawyers have published FCC Enforcement Monitor monthly since 1999 to inform our clients of notable FCC enforcement actions against FCC license holders and others....more

New Nationwide EAS Alert Test … Sound the Alarm

Womble Bond Dickinson on 8/22/2018

The next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), will occur on September 20, 2018. This test will include multiple forms of communication; distributed by broadcasters through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and...more

FCC Grants TV Stations Last-Minute Reprieve on Certain Audible Crawl Requirements

Pillsbury - CommLawCenter on 5/28/2018

CommLawCenter readers may recall that the FCC adopted a rule in 2013 requiring broadcasters to present aurally on a secondary audio stream (“SAS”) all emergency information provided visually during programming other than...more

Paper Copies of FCC Rules No Longer Required

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP on 2/23/2018

In a Report and Order released Tuesday, February 20, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) eliminated certain rules requiring cable operators and broadcasters to maintain paper copies of FCC rules, recognizing...more

Fulfilling Pledge Made in May, Chairman Pai and FCC Approve New Blue Alerts, Similar to Amber Alerts, to Notify About Threats to...

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP on 12/19/2017

At the December Open Meeting of the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), the Commissioners approved a Report and Order (“Order”) that adopts a new form of emergency alerting, Blue Alerts, which would serve to inform the...more

The United States Federal Communications Commission › Broadcasting › Emergency Alerts