FCC
rules require that all wired cable systems
that serve 10,000 or more subscribers
install EAS equipment and provide EAS
audio and video messages on all channels
by December 31,1998.
Wired
cable systems with between 5,000 and
9,999 subscribers must meet this same
requirement by October 1, 2002.
Wired
cable systems with fewer than 5,000
subscribers are to either provide national
level EAS message on all programmed
channels (including the required testing),
or to install EAS equipment and provide
a video interrupt and audio alert on
all programmed channels and EAS audio
and video messages on at least one programmed
channel by October 1, 2002.
Current
copies of the following documents must
be located in all cable system headends
that have operational EAS installations:
-
CFR
47 Part 11 – FCC Rules on Emergency
Alert Systems (These can be downloaded
from the FCC’s web site, or purchased
from a government book store)
-
EAS
Cable Handbook (This can be downloaded
from the FCC’s web site).
-
State
EAS Plan (This can be obtained from
the Washington State Emergency Communications
Committee - WSECC).
-
Local
Area EAS Plan - If not incorporated
into State Plan (This can be obtained
from the WSECC, or your Local Area
Emergency Communications Committee
– LAECC – See tabs 1 & 2).
All
EAS control personnel are required to
know EAS responsibilities, for their
respective cable system, as outlined
in each of the listed documents.
Schedules
for Required Monthly Tests, along with
information on who will originate each
test, are established in the Fall of
each year for the upcoming calendar
year. Cable industry preferences for
RMT schedule times should be submitted
to the WSECC as early as possible each
year, which will be considered in concert
with Broadcast preferences in setting
the upcoming year’s scheduled. RMT schedules
can be obtained from the WSECC, or from
the Washington State Cable Industry
Chair (see Tab 1).
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