Last week NAB submitted reply comments to the FCC in response to the agency’s call for input on how to improve its Part 11 rules governing the Emergency Alert System (EAS), to accommodate a new common alerting protocol (CAP) under development by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). NAB supported the majority of parties who favor extension of the current rule requiring that broadcasters be able to accept CAP-based alerts within 180 days after FEMA adopts the technical standards for CAP. NAB also encouraged the FCC to expand the EAS training of local emergency personnel, to help fully realize the benefits of broadcasters’ investment and involvement in distributing CAP-based alerts.

NAB further asked the FCC to clarify how EAS alerts triggered by state governors will be handled. Finally, NAB requested that the FCC resolve the cable override problem, which occurs when a cable operator’s EAS alert disrupts the EAS and in-depth emergency news coverage broadcast on local television stations. NAB asked the FCC to ensure that cable operators will not override television stations that request an exemption, and to explore ways of transitioning out any cable equipment that is incapable of exempting individual channels from EAS overrides.