FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
August 10.2011
I..!ULlUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable 130b Cork.:r
United States Senate
185 Dirksen Senate Ofliee Building
Washington. D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Corker:
Thank you for your letter regarding cable television systems and th.: I:mergene) Alert
System. I appreciate your bringing this matter to my attention and have directed the Chief of
Public Safety and Ilomcland S.:curity Bureau to respond. I mn pleased to provide the enclosed
letter addressing your concerns.
If you have any additional questions or need any furth.:r assistance. pleas.: do nol h.:silate
to contact me.
Julius Genachowski
/
Enclosure
445 12ni STREET S.W WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
August 10.2012
In Reply Refer To:
1200751
The Honorable Bob Corker
185 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Corker:
Thank you for your letter expressing concern about the manner in which cable television
systems comply with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Part II Emergency Alert
System (EAS) rules. As you correctly note, the Commission's EAS rules require that cable systems send
a visual alert and audio alert over all their channels. Cable systems generally achieve this by force-tuning
all viewers to a single cable channel, thus overriding all other programming, including that provided by
broadcasters. We are also aware that broadcasters have consistently objected to this practice, arguing that
it can deprive the public of more detailed alerts provided by broadcasters.
The Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) recently has been
reviewing the "mandatory override/force tuning" issue in light of consumer and industry concerns, and
those you express, including consideration of new technologies that may affect the manner in which cable
operators may provide EAS alerts to their customers. Thus, your suggestion of instituting a process to
engage stakeholders and revisit this issue is one we are embracing. While I cannot predict the outcome of
this review, I can assure you that the Commission remains committed to ensuring the public has access to
timely and accurate public safety information across all information and media platforms.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Please let me know if [ can be of any further
assistance.
111 ely,
L;dS;~j~
Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau