[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 25 (Monday, February 8, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5950-5951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2863]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 11 and 76

[FO Docket No. 91-171, 91-301; FCC 98-329]


Emergency Alert System

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Termination of rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: In this Third Report and Order the FCC determined that cable 
systems should not be required to install channel override equipment in 
order to prevent EAS messages from appearing on specific channels on a 
cable system. In the Second Further Notice and Proposed Rule Making 63 
FR 29660, June 1, 1998, the Commission requested comment regarding the 
effectiveness of proposed rule amendments that would require cable 
systems to purchase and install equipment to prevent EAS messages from 
overriding broadcast stations programming carried on a cable system. 
Commission rules allow broadcast stations and cable system operators to 
enter into voluntary written agreements that prevent broadcast program 
interruption. After review of the record it was determined that the 
Commission should not mandate rules to require broadcast channel 
overrides.


[[Page 5951]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Lucia, Compliance and 
Information Bureau, (202) 418-1220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Commission's Third 
Report and Order in FO Dockets 91-171/91-301, adopted December 14, 
1998, and released December 23, 1998.
    The full text of this Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) 
Third Report and Order is available for inspection and copying during 
normal business hours in the FCC's Public Reference Center (Room 239), 
1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. The complete text may also 
be purchased from the Commission's duplication contractor, 
International Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, NW, 
Washington, D.C. 20336; phone: (202) 857-3800, facsimile: (202) 857-
3805.

Synopsis of Third Report and Order

    The FCC adopted a Third Report and Order which declined to mandate 
rules that require the installation of selective channel switching 
equipment at cable systems. This equipment prevents program 
interruption on broadcast channels carried on cable systems during 
cable initiated EAS activations. The FCC has not changed or amended the 
rules that provide for cable and broadcast stations entering into 
voluntary written agreements that prevent EAS interruption to a 
broadcast station. Finally, the Third Report and Order also rejected 
arguments to preempt provisions of local franchise agreements that 
require local emergency messages. The record indicates that many local 
municipalities use cable franchise agreements as a primary means of 
alerting residents to non-weather related local emergencies.

Background

    EAS replaced the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), and uses various 
communications technologies, such as broadcast stations and cable 
systems, to alert the public regarding national, state and local 
emergencies. EAS, compared to EBS, includes more sources capable of 
alerting the public and specifies new equipment standards and 
procedures to improve alerting capabilities.
    In 1994 the Commission issued a Report and Order and Further Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking 59 FR 67090, December 28, 1994. This proceeding 
directed broadcast stations and cable system participation in EAS. In 
our Memorandum Opinion and Order, 10 FCC Rcd 11494 (1995), we responded 
to petitions for reconsideration filed regarding the Report and Order 
and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We found no merit in 
arguments asserting that the statutory language exempts local broadcast 
station programming from interruption by cable system EAS requirements. 
The Memorandum Opinion and Order also rejected NAB's arguments that EAS 
interruptions violate provisions set forth in the Copyright Act and the 
Commissions must carry rules.
    The Second Report and Order, which was released in September of 
1997, modified some of the requirements in the Report and Order and 
addressed issues raised in the FNPRM that applied to wired and wireless 
cable systems. The Second Report and Order also declined to exercise 
preemption of local cable franchise agreements unless a jurisdiction 
takes action that interferes with the national warning functions of 
EAS.

Legal Basis

    Authority for issuance of this Third Report and Order is contained 
in Sections 4(i), 257, 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 309(j), and 332(a) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154(i), 
257, 303(b), 303(g), 303(r), 309(j), and 332(a).

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 11

    Emergency alert system.

47 CFR Part 76

    Cable television.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-2863 Filed 2-5-99; 8:45 am]
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