NEWS News media Information 202 / 418-0500Fax-On-Demand   202 / 418-2830 TTY 202/418-2555Internet: http://www.fcc.govftp.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th 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).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
February 3, 2011  Robert Kenny: 202-418-0506
Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov
FCC ACTION PAVES WAY FOR FIRST-EVER PRESIDENTIAL ALERT TO BE AIRED ACROSS 
U.S. ON NATION’S EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
Washington D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today took action to help pave the way for the 
first-ever Presidential alert to be aired across the United States on the Nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS).  
The national test will help determine the reliability of the EAS system and its effectiveness in notifying the 
public of emergencies and potential danger nationwide and regionally.
The FCC voted unanimously to adopt a Third Report and Order that sets forth rules that will facilitate the 
federal government’s efforts to conduct a national EAS test by transmitting a Presidential Alert from 
Washington, D.C. to television and radio broadcasters, cable systems and satellite service providers who will 
then deliver the alert to the American public.
The test will assist the FCC, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), with assessing the current system and 
better determining what improvements need to be made to further strengthen the Nation’s EAS, particularly as 
broadband technologies continue to emerge. Although the date for the National EAS test has yet to be 
determined, establishing the rules is an important first step in the process. 
As Next Generation EAS systems become operational over the next few years, they will complement other 
public alert and warning systems now being developed, including FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning 
System (IPAWS) and the Commercial Mobile Alert System that will enable consumers to receive alerts through 
a variety of multi-media platforms on their smart-phones, blackberries and other mobile broadband devices.
The national test will require EAS participants to be part of the exercise and to receive and transmit a live code 
that includes a Presidential alert message to their respective viewers and listeners. The FCC, FEMA and NWS, 
in coordination with EAS participants, will work together to launch a nationwide EAS Public Education and 
Awareness Campaign that will include press statements, workshops, regional outreach, and television and radio 
public service announcements targeted to consumers in general, and more specifically persons with disabilities 
and seniors, as well as first responders and state, local and tribal governments. The outreach will help ensure 
that the American public is aware that the national test will be conducted and the benefits of these kinds of 
public alerts in a real emergency.  
Action by the Commission, February 3, 2011, by Third Report and Order (FCC 11-12). Chairman 
Genachowski, and Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker. EB Docket No. 04-296.
For additional information about the Third Report and Order please contact Lisa Fowlkes, Deputy Chief of the 
FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), at 202-418-7452 or via email: 
lisa.fowlkes@fcc.gov; or Gregory Cooke, Associate Chief, Policy Division, PSHSB, at 202-418-2351 or via 
email: gregory.cooke@fcc.gov.  
-FCC-
News and other information about the FCC is available at www.fcc.gov