EAS Compliance Options

EAS Compliance Options

As most of us know, the compliance deadline for installation of EAS systems is fast approaching. Cable Systems with fewer than 10,000 customers must comply no later than October 1, 2002.

There are several ways that a cable system may comply, depending on how many subscribers the system serves.

Method 1

Installation of appropriate EAS Equipment. The type of equipment required is dependant on customer preference and to some degree the size of the system. Systems serving under 5,000 customers from a single headend may elect to provide Video/Audio messaging on a single channel with video interrupt and audio messages on all other downstream video channels. Systems that serve 5,000 customers or more from a single headend, must provide EAS information on all downstream video channels.

Method 2

Request non-participating status. All broadcast stations and cable companies may request non-participating status. (See Section 11.19 of the Part 11 EAS Rules.) Non-participating systems must agree to go "off the air" during a national emergency. The EAS office of the FCC does point out that non-participating systems must announce their sign-off prior to doing so and must participate in tests. Therefore, non-participating systems would have to acquire the same EAS equipment as if Method 1 were elected.

Method 3

Without EAS equipment installed. Cable systems that serve fewer than 5,000 customers may elect to provide National Warning Messages including required testing, by depending on their programming sources to send the necessary messages. If all of your program sources including satellite channels and locally initiated channels provide National Warning Messages and the required testing, the cable system would not have to install equipment. There is no satellite programmer that currently provides both testing and National Warning Messages, so this option is not currently available.

Method 4

By Waiver. Cable systems may petition the FCC for a waiver from compliance with the EAS rules. Waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis. If granted, waivers are typically for a finite period of time. If not granted by the compliance deadline, the cable company applying is considered in violation as of October 1, 2002. While the FCC does grant exemption from compliance from any regulation from time to time, the 5-year extension for systems under 10,000 subscribers granted in 1997 and the post 9-11 political climate would mitigate against the granting of waivers from EAS rules. It should be further noted that virtually all broadcast stations including the very smallest, excluding low power FM, have had to comply.

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