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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  November  3,  2005  Janice  Wise  at  (202)  418-  8165 
 COMMISSION  AMENDS  EMERGENCY  ALERT  SYSTEM  (EAS)  RULES  TO  INCLUDE  DIGITAL  MEDIA  TECHNOLOGIES  AND  SEEKS  FURTHER  COMMENTS 
 ON  EAS  SYSTEM 
 Washington,  D.  C.  -  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  today  issued  a  First  Report  and  Order  to  help  ensure  that  consumers  using  digital  broadcast  and  subscription 
 television  and  radio  services  have  access  to  emergency  alert  and  warning  information.  Noting  the  ever-  increasing  use  of  digital  technologies  by  Americans,  the  First  Report  and  Order  expands 
 the  Commission’s  current  EAS  rules  to  include  providers  of  digital  broadcast  and  cable  TV,  digital  audio  broadcasting,  satellite  radio,  and  direct  broadcast  satellite  services.  With  the 
 exception  of  Direct  Broadcast  Satellite  (DBS)  service,  all  affected  entities  must  comply  with  these  new  requirements  by  December  31,  2006.  DBS  services  must  comply  no  later  than  May 
 31,  2007. 
 The  Commission  also  adopted  a  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  that  seeks  comment  on  how  the  Commission  can  best  help  develop  a  next-  generation  alert  and  warning  system  that  takes 
 full  advantage  of  digital  media’s  potential.  The  Commission  seeks  comment  on  the  type  of  system  architecture  and  common  protocols  that  would  be  required  in  such  a  system.  The 
 Commission  also  asks  questions  regarding  specific  technologies,  particularly,  how  the  Commission  could  facilitate  the  effective  integration  of  wireless  technologies  into  a  next 
 generation  alert  and  warning  system,  and  whether  traditional  telephone  companies  that  plan  to  provide  high  definition  digital  content  to  customers’  homes  through  fiber  optic  connections 
 should  have  public  alert  and  warning  responsibilities.  In  addition,  the  Further  Notice  seeks  comment  on  issues  relating  to  the  participation  of  state  and  local  authorities  in  the  EAS  system. 


 The  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  also  asks  how  a  next  generation  EAS  can  more  effectively  reach  individuals  with  hearing  and  vision  disabilities.  Finally,  the  Commission  seeks 
 comment  on  how  the  EAS  rules  should  be  revised  to  more  effectively  reach  non-  English  speaking  individuals. 


 Action  by  the  Commission,  November  3,  2005,  First  Report  and  Order  and  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  (FCC  05-  191).  Chairman  Martin,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  and 
 Adelstein.  Separate  statements  issued  by  Chairman  Martin,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps,  and  Adelstein. 


 Enforcement  Bureau  Contact:  Janice  Wise  (202)  418-  8165 
 -FCC- 
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