The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) reminds analog and digital television broadcast stations, analog and digital cable systems, wireless cable systems, wireline video systems, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers of the requirement to provide accessible EAS alerts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the FCC, will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on August 7, 2019, at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), with a backup date of August 21, 2019. The 2019 nationwide test will only be disseminated using the hierarchical, broadcast-based distribution “daisy chain” system.
EAS Participants should take necessary steps, in compliance with the Section 11.51 of the Commission’s rules, to ensure that individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and individuals who are blind or visually impaired have full access to EAS messages. Section 11.51 requires analog and digital television broadcast stations, analog and digital cable systems, wireless cable systems, wireline video systems, and DBS providers to broadcast national-level alerts in a manner that allows individuals with and without disabilities to access the full content.
