[BC] New FCC Rule could affect us all

[Mike Murrell]

My thanks to Gary for passing this on and Whit Adamson for sending it to me.
This is a rule change that could affect all of us.  Your thoughts?

Good reading

Mike

 

 

SECC Members Nationwide,

There is an item in the recently-released FCC EAS NPRM

(https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-14-93A1.pdf) that
directly affects all SECCs.

The FCC has for some time now been saying that it wants us to build data
tables showing the propagation of the EAN in our state from the PEP and/or
SP all the way down to each EAS Participant.  As this is a daunting task,
few of us have done it.  The FCC is now proposing a solution to have the EAS
Participants do it for us.

 

First, the FCC proposes an EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) which will work
the same as the three-form system used by EAS Participants in reporting
their results of the first Nationwide EAS Test.  The Commission recognized
that this database system could serve a dual purpose as the State EAS Plan
Monitoring Assignment (FCC Mapbook) data table as well, so that is what they
are proposing.  

 

See the NPRM Appendix D for screen shots of what the ETRS will ask EAS
Participants to fill in.

The Commission also asks if some of this info should be pre-populated from
other FCC databases, and if so, what data should pre-populate.

The FCC has proposed that the info entered by EAS Participants on Form One
be the basis for the Monitoring Assignment data table as well.

Form One has three parts and asks for:

- Legal Name of EAS Participant

- FCC Registration No.

- Broadcaster Facility ID and Station Call Sign, or Cable Operator CUID and
PSID

- Lat/Long of the facility

- EAS Designation

- Station you monitor for EAS identified by call sign

- Any alternate station you monitor identified by call sign

- Your EAS equipment manufacturer and model number/software version

 

I would suggest that to use this for State EAS Plan purposes that we would
need to add: City of License, State, and County.

I also think the last couple steps where the monitoring assignments get
filled in should say #1 and #2 - right now it sounds like #2 is optional.

 

This concept was a recommendation from CSRIC, which FCC is now considering.

However, CSRIC recommended that the SECCs fill in the monitoring
assignments.  The FCC has the EAS Participants doing it.

The new rules say the EAS Participant must complete Form One within 60 days
after the rule is adopted, and update it annually.

Do SECCs feel this will work to have EAS Participants filling in their own
monitoring assignments?

Should SECCs be given access to vet these entries or to otherwise control
this data?

If you have opinions or alternate ideas, be sure to comment, as this new
rule will surely affect you as an SECC member.

 

The ETRS is detailed in NPRM paragraphs 23-28, and the State Plan Data Table
is addressed in paragraph 29 and 30.

The actual rewritten rule in Part 11.21 addressing the Data Table is on NPRM
page 39.

 

Gary Timm, Broadcast Chair

Wisconsin SECC