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Don’t
Forget the Basic EAS Rules
 Last
week, on June 13, the FCC issued forfeiture orders to two broadcast
stations for violating the current EAS Rules. In each case the
violations were based on the fact that neither station had its
EAS encoder/decoder properly installed and operational. In one
instance the station’s encoder/decoder was installed but
it was not functioning properly. In the other instance the station
did not own an encoder/decoder because it was co-located with
another station and they shared the EAS equipment. However, the
stations were not co-owned and the Rules allow co-located stations
to share equipment only when the stations are co-owned.
The
Emergency Alert System now falls under the Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau of the FCC. It is important to remember that,
even though the FCC is considering a new Next Generation Emergency
Alert System, broadcasters must comply with all the existing regulations
contained in Part 11 of the Commission’s Rules until such
time as the FCC adopts new Rules.
Below
are some of the key EAS rules:
- EAS
Participants are responsible for ensuring that EAS Encoders,
EAS Decoders and Attention Signal generating and receiving
equipment used as part of the EAS are installed so that the
monitoring and transmitting functions are available during
the times the stations and systems are in operation.
- If the
EAS Encoder or EAS Decoder becomes defective, the EAS Participant
may operate without the defective equipment pending its repair
or replacement for 60 days without further FCC authority.
Entries shall be made in the broadcast station log showing
the date and time the equipment was removed and restored to
service. For personnel training purposes, the required monthly
test script must still be transmitted even though the equipment
for generating the EAS message codes, Attention Signal and
EOM (end of message) code is not functioning.
- If repair
or replacement of defective equipment is not completed within
60 days, an informal request shall be submitted to the District
Director of the FCC field office serving the area in which
the EAS Participant is located for additional time to repair
the defective equipment. This request must explain what steps
have been taken to repair or replace the defective equipment,
the alternative procedures being used while the defective
equipment is out of service, and when the defective equipment
will be repaired or replaced.
- Required
monthly tests originate from Local or State Primary sources.
The time and script content will be developed by State Emergency
Communications Committees in cooperation with affected EAS
Participants. Monthly tests must be retransmitted within 60
minutes of receipt by EAS Participants.
- Analog
and digital AM, FM, and TV broadcast stations must conduct
tests of the EAS header and EOM codes at least once a week
at random days and times. Effective December 31, 2006, DAB
stations must conduct these tests on all audio streams. Effective
December 31, 2006, DTV stations must conduct these tests on
all program streams.
- EAS
Participants must determine the cause of any failure to receive
the required tests or activations and appropriate entries
indicating reasons why any tests were not received must be
made in the broadcast station log for all broadcast streams.
- Automatic
interrupt of programming and transmission of EAS messages
are required when facilities are unattended.
EAS Participants must determine the cause of any failure to receive
the required tests or activations and appropriate entries indicating
reasons why any tests were not received must be made in the broadcast
station log for all broadcast streams.
Automatic interrupt of programming and transmission of EAS messages
are required when facilities are unattended.
Broadcast
personnel should review the EAS Rules to insure that your station
is operating in compliance with the EAS regulations. A complete
list of the Part 11 Rules can be found here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_07/47cfr11_07.html.
 NAB
AM Antenna
Computer Modeling Seminar
November 20-21, 2008
NAB Headquarters
Washington, DC
Don’t miss this opportunity for broadcast engineers to learn
the basics needed to utilize modeling software such as MININEC
and
nodal analysis for designing performance-optimized AM directional
antenna phasing and coupling systems and proving the performance
of directional antenna patterns.
You
will learn about:
- Moment
Method Modeling Basics
- DA Proofing
Using Moment Method Modeling
- Overcoming
Limitations of Using Field Strength Measurements for DA Proofs
- State
of the Art in Phasing System Design Nodal Analysis of AM DA
Phasing and Coupling Systems
- Pattern
Design Considerations for Optimum Performance
AM
antenna experts Ron Rackley and Ben Dawson, along with antenna
modeling software specialist Jerry Westberg, will lead the seminar
demonstrating how moment method modeling makes analysis of actual
tower current distributions possible and how a model can be used
to proof an array provided the proper criteria are considered.
All instructors are well known in the radio industry as experts
in the field of directional antenna design and maintenance. Their
decades of experience offer station engineers an opportunity to
learn techniques, tips and tricks that can be immediately useful.
Seminar
fee: $395.00 (NAB members) and $495.00 (non-members). For
more information on the curriculum, how to register or housing
go to AM
Antenna Computer Modeling Seminar on the NAB Web site or call
Sharon Devine at (202)-429-5338. Register now for the NAB AM Antenna
Computer Modeling Seminar!
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Radio
TechCheck
will Not be published on July 7 but will return on July
14
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The June 30, 2008 Radio TechCheck is also available
in an Adobe Acrobat file.
Please
click
here to read the Adobe Acrobat version of Radio TechCheck.
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