[Federal Register: December 7, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 236)]
[Notices]
[Page 63544]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07de01-33]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[EB 01-66; DA 01-2775]
Emergency Alert Systems
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Commission has received an ex parte submission from the
Media AccessProject regarding the use of Emergency Alert System (EAS)
decoders at low power FM broadcast stations. The Commission also
received an ex parte submission jointly filed by the National Cable &
Telecommunications Association, the National Association of the Deaf
and the Telecommunications for the Deaf regarding the use of EAS
decoders at small cable television systems. The Commission requests
specific information regarding these requests to assist it in reaching
an informed decision.
DATES: Comments are due on or before December 24, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary,
TW-A325, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Dillon of the Enforcement
Bureau at (202) 418-1215 or by e-mail at gdillon@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Media Access Project (MAP) submitted an
ex parte presentation regarding the use of certified Emergency Alert
System (EAS) decoders at low power FM broadcast stations. The National
Cable & Telecommunications Association, the Telecommunications for the
Deaf, Inc. and the National Association of the Deaf (NCTA/NAD)
submitted an ex parte presentation regarding the use of Emergency Alert
System (EAS) decoders in connection with the Commission's Notice of
Proposed Rule Making, Amendment of Part 11 of the Commission's Rules
Regarding the Emergency Alert System, EB Docket No. 01-66.
MAP notes that the Commission adopted rules in the Low Power FM
proceeding that recognized the budgetary constraints under which low
power FM stations would operate and permitted low power FM station to
install a FCC certified EAS decoder in lieu of an EAS encoder/decoder.
MAP states that when the Commission adopted this requirement it
recognized that FCC certified EAS decoders were not available, but
expected certified decoders to become available at a cost similar to
non-certified decoders. MAP states that there are no certified EAS
decoders available and that it does not believe that they will become
available at a reasonable price. In this regard, MAP indicates that the
cost of a certified decoder would likely be at or near the cost of a
certified EAS encoder/decoder. MAP requests that the FCC consider
alternatives to the EAS requirement for Low Power FM stations, such as
temporarily exempting low power FM stations from the requirement to
install EAS decoders.
NCTA/NAD filed a joint ex parte submission requesting that the
Commission permit small cable systems to use EAS decoders rather than
an EAS encoder/decoder. NCTA/NAD state that the use of an EAS decoder
could serve as an alternative to the Commission's EAS rules for cable
systems that serve fewer than 5,000 subscribers and will meet the
``best practices'' procedures that the Commission agreed to consider in
the Second Report and Order amending the EAS rules.
We seek to supplement the record in this docket with respect to
MAP's request for alternative arrangements for EAS alerting and NCTA/
NAD's request that small cable systems be permitted to install an EAS
decoder as an alternative to the requirements of section 11.11 of the
Commission's rules for small cable systems. We also seek specific
comment from EAS manufacturers about the likelihood that they will
manufacture and certify an EAS decoder. The date by which a FCC
certified decoder would likely be available for purchase and the cost
of any such decoder.
We note that small cable systems are required to install EAS
encoder/decoders by October 1, 2002. This request for supplemental
comment on the NCTA/NAD ex parte submission does not alter that
requirement.
Interested parties may file comments concerning this matter on or
before December 24, 2001. All filings must reference EB Docket No. 01-
66 and should be sent to Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, TW-A325, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20554. Two copies should also be sent to the Technical and Public
Safety Division, 445 12th Street, SW., Suite 7-C802, Washington, DC,
20554. Comments may also be filed using the Commission's Electronic
Comment Filing System (ECFS). Comments filed through the ECFS can be
sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-
file/ecfs.html. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission
must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, electronic filers
should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the
applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an
electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To receive filing instructions
for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov,
and should include the following words in the body of the message,
``get form your e-mail address>.'' A sample form and directions will be
sent in reply. This is a ``permit but disclose'' proceeding pursuant to
section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules. Presentations to or from
Commission decision-making personnel are permissible provided that ex
parte presentations are disclosed pursuant to section 1.1206(b) of the
Commission's rules.
The full text of the comments is available for public inspection
and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257,
Washington, DC, 20554. The documents may also be purchased from the
Commission's duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II,
445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone
202-863-2893, facsimile 202-863-2898, or via e-mail qualexint@aol.com.
A copy of the requests from MAP and NCTA/NAD may also be viewed online
at the FCC's E-filing System located at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/cgi-
bin/ws.exe/prod/ecfs/comsrchv.hts by typing EB 01-66 in the Proceeding
Block and clicking on Retrieve Document.
Federal Communications Commission.
David H. Solomon,
Chief, Enforcement Bureau.
[FR Doc. 01-30341 Filed 12-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P