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Emergency Alert System2001 TV Handbook

TV Emergency Alert System Procedures • 2001 2

Introduction

More information on EAS may be obtained from theFederal Communications Commission on our tollfree number 888-225-5322 (888-CALL FCC) or Visitour EAS Website at www.fcc.gov/eb/eas

EAS HandbookThe purpose of this Handbook is to provideinstructions for EAS participants to follow duringnational, state and local alerts and tests. ThisHandbook should be located at each operatorposition and should be immediately available to staffresponsible for authenticating and initiating EmergencyAction Notifications, Terminations, alerts and tests.

Contents of the HandbookThis Handbook contains simplified instructions forthe following Emergency Alert procedures:

n National Activation ProceduresActivated by the President.(Page 4)

n National Termination Procedures Activated by the President.(Page 14)

n State and Local Activation ProceduresActivated by State and Local Officials orothers.(Page 19)

n Monthly and Weekly EAS TestActivated according to State and Localplan.(5)

EAS DesignationEach broadcast station and cable system has an EASdesignation which defines its role in the EAS structure.These designations are found in EAS state and localplans that can be obtained from the FCC or your StateEmergency Communication Committee. Find yourstation or system on the list for your EAS Local Area.Note the EAS Local Area you serve and indicate thisinformation on the front cover of this handbook.

For more detailed information, refer to the EASRules and Regulations, 47 CFR, Part 11, and the EASActivation and Testing Procedures.

In the event the EAS equipment becomes de-fective, a broadcast station or cable system may op-erate without the defective equipment pending its repairor replacement for a period not in excess of 60 dayswithout further FCC authority.

Entries shall be made in the broadcast station orcable system records showing the date and time theequipment was removed and restored to service.

For personnel training purposes, the requiredmonthly test script must still be transmitted even though theequipment for generating the EAS message codes, Atten-tion Signal and EOM code is not functioning.

Use of Automatic Encoder and De-coder Equipment

EAS equipment can be programmed to automaticallyretransmit EAS alerts. If management has done this,your programming may be interrupted shortly afterincoming EAS messages.


Station Notes


Emergency Action Notification Audio Message

This is an Emergency Action Notification requested by the

White House. All broadcast stations will follow activation

procedures in the EAS Operating Handbook for a national

level emergency. The President of the United States or his

representative will shortly deliver a message over the Emer-

gency Alert System.

You will see the words "Emergency Action Notification"on the broadcast station EAS decoder display.You will hear the following Emergency Action NotificationMessage from the EAS decoder.

1 Receivethe EmergencyAction NotificationMessage (EAN)

National Activation Procedures

Automatic and Manual Operation


This announcement may be made in the primarylanguage of the station.

Broadcast this Announcement

For manual operation


Discontinuenormalprogramming

3 Transmit thisannouncement:

2 Cease all programming and prepare to transmit thefollowing announcement


We interrupt our programming; this is a national emergency.

Important instructions will follow.


Participating Stations

Non-Participating Stations

lFor automatic operation EAS equipment will retransmitheader codes and the attention signal.

Use the EAS encoder to retransmit the header codes and the attention signal .

lFor manual operation


4 TV Stations must visually and aurally transmitheader code data.

Go to Step 10 of the

National Level EAS Activation Procedures.

Go to Step 5 of theNational Level EAS Activation Procedures

Transmitthe EAS headercodes followedby the attentionsignal.


èInclude thisannouncement:

State Relay orState PrimaryStations

Broadcast this AnnouncementParticipatingStationsFor manual operation


5

We will also be serving as a message distribution andrelay source to other broadcast stations

This is an Emergency Action Notification. All broadcaststations and cable systems shall transmit this EmergencyAction Notification Message. This station has interruptedits regular programming at the request of the White Houseto participate in the Emergency Alert System.

During this emergency, most stations will remain on the air provid-ing news and information to the public in assigned areas. This is(station call name). We will continue to serve the (EAS Local Areaname) area. If you are not in this Local Area, you should tune tostations providing news and information for your Local Area. Youare listening to the Emergency Alert System serving the (EAS LocalArea name) area.

Do not use your telephone. The telephone lines should be kept openfor emergency use. The Emergency Alert System has been activated


Select your monitoring source in the following order.

1 Local Primary Source (LP)

SR source for theState EAS Relay Network.

LP-1 and LP-2of your EAS Local Area

3(Next)

(If unavailable)

2 State Relay Source (SR)

l Any other broadcast stationl Any other available source


Monitorthe following sources forfurtherinstructions

6


National InformationCenter (NIC) messages

n First -

n Second-

n Third -

n Fourth -

Presidential messagesmust be carried live

Local Area messages

State messages


The priorities for EAS messages are:7 Transmitemergencymessages assoon as theyare available


“We interrupt our programming at the request of the White

House. This is the Emergency Alert System. All normal

programming has been discontinued during this emergency.

This is (station call). This station will continue furnishing

news, official information and instructions for the (EAS Lo-

cal Area name) area.

If you are not in (EAS Local Area name) area, you should

tune to stations providing news and information for your area.

It is important that you listen carefully to announcements from

the station in your local area. REPEAT AS NEEDED

Manual OperationTransmitthis standbyscript untilemergencymessages areavailable


8Broadcast this Announcement


3 When the Emergency Action Termination messageis received on the EAS decoder, follow theNational Level Termination procedures included inthis Handbook.

For automatic operationThe EAS encoder is programmed to automatically transmitthe End of Message (EOM) code.

1

Monitor Your EAS Source for the Emergency Action Termination Message

2

For manual operation Manually transmit the End of Message (EOM) code with the EAS encoder.

Log the time and date the EmergencyAction Notification is received at your station


After the Presidential message:

Transmit theEnd ofMessage Code

Log

Monitor

9


For manual operation transmit the following :



This is an Emergency Action Notification. This station has inter-rupted its regular programming at the request of the White Houseto participate in the Emergency Alert System.

During this emergency, most stations will remain on the air pro-viding news and information to the public in assigned areas.

This is (station call). We will be discontinuing programming. Youshould now tune to stations providing news and information foryour Local Area.

This station will be discontinuing programming.

Do not use your telephone. The telephone lines should be keptopen for emergency use. The Emergency Alert System has beenactivated to keep you informed...

OnlyNon -ParticipatingNational Stations

This Annoucementshould be pre-recordedif automatic operationis used

10 Transmit thisAnnouncement

Repeat Announcement


Log the time and date the EmergencyAction Notification is received at your station

For automatic operation

2

Monitor

1

When the Emergency Action Termination message is receivedon the EAS decoder, follow the National Level Terminationprocedures included in this Handbook.

Monitor Your EAS Source for the Emergency Action Termination Message

Log

The EAS encoder is programmed to automatically transmitthe End of Message (EOM) code and may remove the carrierfrom the air.

For manual operationl Manually transmit the End of Message (EOM) code with the EAS encoder.l Sign Offl Remove the carrier from the air

Only Non -Participating National Stations


11 Transmit theEnd ofMessage Code


Non-Participating Stations return carrier to air and Go to Step 2.

Emergency Action Termination Message

Automatic and Manual Operation

This concludes operations under the Emer-gency Alert System. All broadcast stationsmay now resume normal programming opera-tions.

You will hear the following Emergency Action Termination Message from the EAS decoder.

You will see the words "Emergency Action Termination" on the broadcast station EAS decoder display.

National Level Termination Procedures

1 ReceiveEmergencyActionTermination


Termination Procedures

ATTENTION SIGNAL

EAS HEADER CODES

TV Stations must visually and aurally transmit header code data.

automatic operation



The EAS encoder will automatically transmit your EAS header codeand attention signal.

Use your EAS encoder to transmit the EAS header code.

Use your EAS encoder to transmit the EAS attention signal.

2 Transmit EASheader codes andattention signal



Use the EAS encoder to transmit this announcement


Repeat Announcement

This concludes operations under the Emergency AlertSystem. All broadcast stations may now resume nor-mal programming operations.


Transmitthisannouncement

3


Record the time the Emergency Action TerminationNotice was received in records/logs.

The EAS encoder will automatically transmit the end of message code.


4 Transmitthe Endof Message Code

Resume Normal Programming


Log Receipt of Emergency Message

ResumeProgramming5

Log6

For manual operationUse the EAS encoder to transmit the end

of message code.


Station Notes


The EAS may be activated atmanagement’s discretion inconnection with day-to-dayemergency situations posinga threat to life and property.These activations may be per-formed at the State or LocalArea level by any AM, FM,TV station or cable system.

State and Local Area emergencymessages may be transmitted byusing EAS Header and End ofMessage Codes. If this optionis used by a TV broadcast sta-tion, the FCC recommends thatthe codes be preceded by anannouncement that informs lis-teners that an EAS transmissionwill occur.

EMERGENCY:A situation posing an extraordinary threat to the safety of life and property.Examples are, but not limited to natural situations such as: tornadoes, flashfloods, icing conditions, heavy snows, fires and man-made situations suchas: discharge of hazardous materials, power failures, industrial explosions,civil disorders and nuclear incidents.

SEVERE WEATHER WATCH:A severe weather WATCH indicates that the probabilities of a particularsevere weather storm are high, and is an alert to the public of such severeweather conditions.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING:A severe weather WARNING indicates that a particular severe weather stormhas actually been sighted in an area or indicated by radar, and serves noticeto the public that severe weather conditions are almost certain to occur.

State and Local Activation Procedures


National Weather Service, NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA Weather Wire

These sources do not require authentication.


Authenticate the request for activation according to the EAS Stateor Local Area plan.

2

1 Receiverequests forEAS activationby any ofthese methods:

Authenticate EAS Message

State Primary or theLocal Primary Sources

EAS DECODER DISPLAY. You will see the Emergency Message on the decoder display.

STATE LEVEL OFFICIAL: A request for activation may be directed tothe State Primary (SP) source by the Governor, his designated representative,the National Weather Service, or the State Office of Emergency Services.Other designated government officials may be found in your State EAS Plan.

LOCAL LEVEL OFFICIAL: A request for activation may be directed tothe Local Primary (LP) source by the National Weather Service, Local Emer-gency Management or Public Safety Officials. Other designated governmentofficials may be found in your Local EAS Plan.





We Interrupt this program because of a(State or Local) emergency. Importantinformation will follow.

Programming may be interrupted shortly after you hear the incoming message. Procedures may vary according to Station policy.

Record or store the message unless programming is interrupted to allow the emergency message to be transmitted live.

TransmitState/LocalEASopening message

3

State & Local Activation Procedures


Go to Step13

TV Stations must visually and aurally transmit header code data.

lFor automatic operation

lFor automatic operation


If the emergency is continuing, advise your audience to stay tuned formore messages

EAS equipment will retransmitheader codes and the attentionsignal.

EAS equipment will transmit theemergency message

Use the EAS encoder to retransmit the header codes and the attentionsignal

Transmit the emergency message(live or from storage) over the air.

State & Local Activation Procedures

4 Transmitthe EASheader codesfollowed by theattention signal

Transmitthe EmergencyMessage

5




The EAS equipment will switch to normal programming when the EOM is received.

For manual operation Transmit the EOM and Follow station procedures to resume normal programming.

6


Transmitthe End ofMessageCode (EOM)

&Resume regularprogramming


Station Notes


Weekly Tests Weekly tests consist of transmitting the EAS digitalheader codes and end of message codes once each week.

Is substituted for one weekly test.In odd months monthly tests must be conducted in daylight hours (8:30AM to sunset )

In even months monthly tests must be conducted at night (sunset to 8:30 AM)

Must be retransmitted within 15 minutes of receipt.Can be scheduled by State/Local Plan.

EAS Tests Are Required By FCC Regulations

Consist of transmitting:n the EAS digital header codes,n the two-tone attention signal,n a brief test script and end of message code.n a visual display of header code data.

Weekly tests must be conducted:n On different daysn At different times

Monthly and Weekly Tests

Monthly Tests


n Determine why no test was received.l Check your station equipmentl Call your monitoring source(s).

n Document your findings in the station logs.

n Take appropriate corrective action.


NO WEEKL Y TEST IS NECESSARY during a weekwhen the monthly test is conducted or when there is an EAS activationfor a State or Local emergency.

NO MONTHLY TEST IS NECESSARY during a monthwhen there is an EAS activation that includes a two-tone alertsignal, a video and an audio message.

Substitution ofWeekly andMonthly Tests

Failure to receivean EAS test

IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A TEST EACH WEEKfrom your two assigned monitoring sources take the following actions.


Weekly tests must be conducted on different days andat different times. Weekly tests do not have to betransmitted upon receipt.

Receive and Log the weekly test from your EASMonitoring Assignments

This is a test of the Emergency Alert System.

Sample Audio Message

l Transmit Weekly Test Codesl Transmit End of Message Codes

Resume Normal Programming andLog receipt and transmission of the test

Resume NormalProgrammingand Log

You may wish to notify your listening audience that you are performing a test of the EAS equipment.

Weekly Digital TestMonthly and Weekly Tests

2

4

1 Receive Test

TransmitWeekly Test

3 Discontinuenormalprogramming

Use the station EAS encoder to transmit the EAS header code and the EOM code.


You may wish to notify your listening audience thatyou are performing a test of the EAS equipment.


Use the EAS encoder to re-transmit the header codesand attention signal within 15 minutes of receipt.



TV Stations must visually and aurally transmitheader code data

Monthly Test


2

1

3

4

Discontinuenormalprogramming

Re-transmit

Transmitthis optionalannouncement

Receive the testfrom your EASMonitoringAssignment



This is a coordinated monthly test of thebroadcast stations of your area. Equipmentthat can quickly warn you duringemergencies is being tested. If this had beenan actual emergency such as (insert types ofemergencies that may occur in thegeographic area), official messages wouldhave followed the alert tone.

This concludes this test of the EmergencyAlert System.

Sample Test Script

Monthly TestMonthly Test

Retransmitthe monthlytest script asreceivedfrom yoursource

5


Resume Normal Programming andLog receipt and transmission of the test



Transmit the Endof Message(EOM) Codes

6

7

Monthly Test

Steps 3 through 7 of the monthly tests may be performed automatically.

Use the station EAS encoder to transmit the EOMcode.

Resume NormalProgramming and Log

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