The Emergency Alert System: Origin, Evolution, and Implementation in the Cable Industry

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Executive Summary

This whitepaper provides a comprehensive overview of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), tracing its origins, evolution, and current implementation in the cable industry. It explores the system’s crucial role in public safety, its technological underpinnings, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for cable operators. Glossary of terms is included at the end of this paper.

1. Introduction

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to offer to the President the communications capability to address the American public during a national emergency. The system may also be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to specific areas.

2. Historical Context and Origin

2.1 CONELRAD (1951-1963)

The roots of the EAS can be traced back to the Cold War era with the establishment of CONELRAD (Control of Electromagnetic Radiation) in 1951. This system was designed to alert the public about potential enemy attacks and to prevent enemy aircraft from using radio stations as navigational beacons.

2.2 Emergency Broadcast System (1963-1997)

In 1963, CONELRAD was replaced by the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). The EBS expanded the system’s capabilities beyond enemy attack warnings to include local emergency alerts such as severe weather warnings.

2.3 Emergency Alert System (1997-Present)

The EAS, which replaced the EBS in 1997, represented a significant technological leap forward. It introduced digital technology, allowing for more efficient and versatile alert dissemination.

3. EAS Architecture and Functionality

3.1 System Components

The EAS consists of several key components:

  1. EAS Encoders/Decoders
  2. Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations
  3. State Primary stations
  4. Local Primary stations
  5. Participating National stations

3.2 Alert Protocol

The EAS uses a protocol called the Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) to encode alert information. SAME includes:

  • Event codes
  • Location codes (FIPS codes)
  • Valid time periods
  • Originator codes

3.3 Alert Dissemination

Alerts follow a hierarchical structure:

  1. National level (via PEP stations)
  2. State level
  3. Local level

4. Implementation in the Cable Industry

4.1 Legal Requirements

The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 required cable operators to participate in the EAS. The FCC’s Part 11 rules detail the specific requirements for cable systems.

4.2 Technical Implementation

4.2.1 EAS Equipment

Cable operators are required to install and maintain FCC-certified EAS equipment at the headend of their systems.

4.2.2 Signal Insertion

EAS messages must be inserted into all programmed channels, including:

  • Analog channels
  • Digital channels
  • High-definition channels
  • On-demand platforms

4.2.3 Automated Operation

Most cable systems use automated EAS equipment that monitors specified radio frequencies for alerts and automatically interrupts programming when necessary.

4.3 Testing Requirements

Cable operators must conduct regular tests of their EAS equipment:

  • Weekly tests (Required Weekly Test – RWT)
  • Monthly tests (Required Monthly Test – RMT)
  • Annual nationwide tests

4.4 Quick-Reference Guide for Cable Operators

4.4.1. Equipment Requirements

  • FCC-certified EAS encoder/decoder
  • Ability to monitor at least two EAS sources
  • Equipment must be functional 24/7

4.4.2. Monitoring Requirements

  • Monitor at least two EAS sources:
    • One must be a Local Primary (LP) source
    • The other can be another LP, or a State Primary (SP) or National Primary (NP) source

4.4.3. Testing Schedule

  • Weekly Tests (RWT):
    • Conduct or receive once a week
    • No specific day/time requirement
  • Monthly Tests (RMT):
    • Must be conducted within 60 minutes of scheduled time
    • Scheduled by State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC)

4.4.4. Types of Alerts to Air

  • National Level:
    • Emergency Action Notifications (EAN)
    • National Periodic Tests (NPT)
    • Required Monthly Tests (RMT)
  • State and Local Level:
    • As agreed upon in your State EAS Plan

4.4.5. Logging Requirements

  • Maintain logs of all received and transmitted EAS messages
  • Retain logs for two years
  • Logs must include:
    • Date and time of message receipt
    • Originator of the message
    • Event code
    • Who initiated transmission of the message at the cable facility

4.4.6. EAS Event Codes to Know

  • EAN: Emergency Action Notification (National only)
  • NPT: National Periodic Test
  • RMT: Required Monthly Test
  • RWT: Required Weekly Test

4.4.7. Message Formatting

  • Messages should follow the SAME protocol:
    • ZCZC-ORG-EEE-PSSCCC+TTTT-JJJHHMM-LLLLLLLL-

Where:

  • ORG: Originator (e.g., PEP, WXR, CIV)
  • EEE: Event code
  • PSSCCC: Location codes
  • TTTT: Valid time period of message
  • JJJHHMM: Julian date and time
  • LLLLLLLL: Eight-letter identification of the broadcast station, cable system, etc.

4.4.8. Compliance Checklist

  • EAS equipment installed and operational
  • Monitoring correct EAS sources
  • Conducting/receiving weekly tests
  • Participating in monthly tests
  • Logging all EAS activity
  • Staff trained on EAS procedures
  • EAS internal operating handbook readily available

4.4.9. Key Contacts

  • FCC Operations Center: 202-418-1122
  • FEMA IPAWS Program Office: ipaws@fema.dhs.gov
  • Your State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC)

5. Challenges and Opportunities

5.1 Challenges

  1. Multilingual Alerts: Ensuring alerts reach non-English speaking populations.
  2. Over-alerting: Balancing the need for public safety with the risk of alert fatigue.
  3. System Security: Protecting against false alerts and system hacking.
  4. Integration with New Technologies: Adapting to streaming services and mobile platforms.

5.2 Opportunities

  1. Enhanced Geo-targeting: Improving the precision of alert areas.
  2. Rich Media Integration: Incorporating images, videos, and interactive maps into alerts.
  3. personalized Alerts: Tailoring alerts based on user preferences and location.
  4. Integration with Smart Home Devices: Expanding alert reception to IoT devices.

6. Future Directions

6.1 Next Generation EAS

The industry is moving towards a more advanced system, often referred to as Next Generation EAS or EAS-CAP (EAS-Common Alerting Protocol). This system aims to:

  • Improve interoperability between different alert systems
  • Enhance the multimedia capabilities of alerts
  • Increase the system’s resilience and reliability

6.2 Integration with ATSC 3.0

The new broadcast standard ATSC 3.0 offers opportunities for enhanced emergency alerting, including wake-up functionality and improved geo-targeting.

7. Conclusion

The Emergency Alert System plays a crucial role in public safety, and its implementation in the cable industry is a critical component of its effectiveness. As technology evolves, so too will the EAS, presenting both challenges and opportunities for cable operators. Staying abreast of these developments and actively participating in the system’s evolution will be key for industry stakeholders.

8. References

  1. Federal Communications Commission. (2021). Emergency Alert System (EAS).
  2. FEMA. (2021). Integrated Public Alert & Warning System.
  3. Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers. (2020). Emergency Alert System and Cable Systems.
  4. Monroe Electronics. (2019). Cable Television and the Emergency Alert System.
  5. Congress.gov. (1992). Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act.

Glossary of Emergency Alert System (EAS) Terms

A

AMBER Alert: America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. An alert system for child abduction cases.

ATSC 3.0: Advanced Television Systems Committee 3.0, a new broadcast standard that offers enhanced emergency alerting capabilities.

C

CAP (Common Alerting Protocol): A digital format for exchanging emergency alerts allowing a consistent alert message to be disseminated simultaneously over many different communications systems.

CONELRAD: Control of Electromagnetic Radiation, the predecessor to EBS, used from 1951 to 1963.

E

EAS (Emergency Alert System): The current national warning system in the United States, requiring broadcasters to provide the President with a communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency.

EAS-CAP: The implementation of the Common Alerting Protocol with the Emergency Alert System.

EAS Decoder: Equipment required to receive EAS messages.

EAS Encoder: Equipment used to generate EAS messages.

EBS (Emergency Broadcast System): The national warning system used from 1963 to 1997, replaced by EAS.

EAN (Emergency Action Notification): The notice to broadcasters that the President of the United States will deliver a message over the EAS.

F

FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency, which partners with the FCC in implementing and overseeing the EAS.

FIPS Code: Federal Information Processing Standards code, used in EAS to specify geographic areas.

I

IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System): An internet-based capability for federal, state, and local authorities to alert and warn their respective communities via multiple communication methods.

L

LP (Local Primary): A source of EAS local area alerts.

N

NOAA Weather Radio: A nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office.

P

PEP (Primary Entry Point): A private or commercial radio broadcast station that cooperatively participates with FEMA to provide emergency alert and warning information to the public before, during, and after incidents and disasters.

R

RMT (Required Monthly Test): A monthly test of the EAS system required for all participants.

RWT (Required Weekly Test): A weekly test of EAS tone generators and decoders, required for all participants.

S

SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding): The protocol used to encode EAS messages with information about the originator of the message, the event, the location(s) affected, and the valid time period of the message.

SP (State Primary): A source of EAS state-level alerts.

W

WEA (Wireless Emergency Alerts): A system that allows customers who own certain wireless phones and other enabled mobile devices to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area.

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