WASHINGTON, D.C.—Responding to a joint request filed by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and REC Networks (REC) on November 14, 2023 to delay implementation of new Emergency Alert rules, the FCC has granted some broadcasters a 90 day extension to comply with the requirement that an Emergency Alert System (EAS) Participant prioritize the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-formatted version of an EAS message.
The FCC has earlier issued an Report and Order directing EAS participants to transmit certain messages in an IP-based format rather than the versions in the legacy EAS format, which usually convey less information. It also required EAS participants to replace the jargon that now automatically appears in the text of certain messages, including EAS test announcements, with plain language that will be more easily understood by the public and provide more accurate information for individuals who cannot access the audio message, the FCC said.
