PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 17-767 Released: August 14, 2017 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU REMINDS EAS PARTICIPANTS OF UPCOMING DATES AND DEADLINES RELATED TO THE 2017 NATIONWIDE EAS TEST PS Docket No. 15-94 The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) reminds all Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participants that, as the Bureau announced on July 24, 2017, 1 they are required to participate in a nationwide test of the EAS that is scheduled for September 27, 2017, at 2:20 p.m. EDT. 2 The Bureau also reminds all EAS Participants that they must register with the EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) and file Form One on or before August 28, 2017. 3 EAS Participants shall file ETRS Form Two at or before 11:59 p.m. EDT on September 27, 2017, 4 and shall file ETRS Form Three on or before November 13, 2017. 5 Additional information, including instructional videos and answers to frequently asked questions about entering data into the ETRS forms, can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system. The 2017 nationwide test will assess the reliability and effectiveness of the EAS, with a particular emphasis on testing FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the integrated gateway through which common alerting protocol-based (CAP-based) EAS alerts are disseminated to EAS Participants. The test message will clearly state that the alert is only a test of the EAS. FEMA’s alert will be transmitted in English and Spanish and include both audio and the text of the test message, which can be used to populate an accessible video crawl. The primary test date is scheduled for 1 Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System on September 27, 2017, Opens the EAS Test Reporting System for 2017 Filings, and Releases EAS Operating Handbook, Public Notice, PS Docket No. 15-94, DA 17-708 (PSHSB July 24, 2017) (Test Announcement Public Notice). 2 47 CFR § 11.61(a)(3)(i). EAS Participants are those entities that are required to comply with the Commission’s EAS rules, including analog radio and television stations, wired and wireless cable television systems, digital broadcast systems, digital television broadcast stations, Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, digital cable and digital audio broadcasting systems, and wireline video systems. 47 CFR § 11.2(d). 3 47 CFR § 11.61(a)(3)(iv)(A). EAS Participants have until September 27, 2017, to update information or correct any errors in their initial Form One filings. Test Announcement Public Notice at 3. 4 EAS Participants are required to file “day of test” data within 24 hours of any nationwide EAS test or as otherwise required by the Bureau. 47 CFR § 11.61(a)(3)(iv)(B). 5 EAS Participants are required to file detailed post-test data within 45 days following a nationwide EAS test. 47 CFR § 11.61(a)(3)(iv)(C). 2September 27, 2017, at 2:20 p.m. EDT. If conditions on the day of the test require the rescheduling of the test, a secondary test date is scheduled for October 4, 2017 at the same time of day. EAS Participants are reminded that the visual message portion of an EAS alert, whether video crawl or block text, must be displayed: (1) at the top of the television screen or where it will not interfere with other visual messages; (2) in a manner (i.e., font size, color, contrast, location, and speed) that is readily readable and understandable, (3) in a manner that does not contain overlapping lines of EAS text or extend beyond the viewable display (except for video crawls that intentionally scroll on and off of the screen); and (4) in full at least once during any EAS message. 6 EAS Participants are also reminded that the audio portion of an EAS message must play in full at least once during any EAS message. 7 For further information regarding the nationwide EAS test, contact Austin Randazzo, Attorney Advisor, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-1462 or austin.randazzo@fcc.gov, or Gregory Cooke, Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-2351 or gregory.cooke@fcc.gov. -FCC- 6 47 CFR § 11.51(d)(1). 7 47 CFR § 11.51(d)(2).