FCC Extends Common Alert
Protocol
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The FCC recently extended
the deadline by which all EAS participants must have the capability to
receive Common Alerting Protocol (“CAP”)-formatted messages until September
30, 2011. As we noted in an October 2010 Client Alert, the adoption and
release by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) of the new CAP
standard on September 30, 2010 triggered the 180-day period for
implementation of the CAP reception requirement under the FCC’s rules. The new CAP digital message
format 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 FCC elected to extend
the CAP implementation deadline in response to concerns that EAS participants
had not budgeted for the costs of purchasing and installing the new equipment
and that the initial 180-day implementation deadline was insufficient to allow
for the manufacturing, acquisition and testing of the EAS
encoders/decoders. Although the FCC does not anticipate any further
extensions of the CAP implementation deadline, it noted that it intends to
conduct a comprehensive review of the impact of CAP on its Part 11 EAS
rules in an upcoming rulemaking proceeding, where it will seek comment on
whether the extension of the deadline until September 30, 2011 is sufficient. Should you have any
questions concerning the new CAP standard, please contact your primary
attorney in this office. December 6, 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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