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FEMA Adopts New
Digital Message Format for Next Generation EAS Adoption Triggers March 29, 2011 Compliance Deadline for
Broadcasters |
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The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (“FEMA”) recently adopted a new digital message format for
the next generation Emergency Alert System (“EAS”). The new digital message
format, the Common Alert Protocol (“CAP”) v1.2 standard, furthers FEMA’s
deployment of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (“IPAWS”), which
is intended to expand the current EAS system beyond radio and television
stations and cable systems to include mobile phones, personal computers and
other communication devices. The
adoption and release of the new CAP standard means that all EAS participants,
including radio and television stations, must certify to the FCC within 180
days (i.e., by March 29, 2011) that their EAS equipment has been
updated to receive CAP-formatted messages. Several parties have argued
in the ongoing proceeding to update the FCC’s EAS rules to reflect a
CAP-based EAS system that the 180-day compliance deadline does not provide
EAS participants sufficient time to update their equipment and that the
deadline should be extended. The FCC is considering those extension
requests but has not yet acted on them. We
will notify you if the FCC extends the March 29, 2011 CAP certification
deadline. In the interim, however, broadcasters should begin planning
to ensure that their EAS equipment will be capable of receiving CAP-formatted
messages by March 29, 2011. Should
you have any questions concerning the new CAP standard, please contact your
primary attorney in this office. October 18, 2010 |
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This memorandum is intended only as a general discussion of these issues and should not be regarded as legal advice. We would be pleased to provide additional details or advice about specific situations if desired. Copyright © 2010, Lerman Senter PLLC 2000 K Street NW,
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