The FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) today released the 2007 Emergency Alert System (EAS) Handbooks for EAS participants.

This year’s handbooks include newly developed guidance for satellite digital audio radio, direct broadcast satellite and wireline video service providers.  In addition, the existing handbooks have been updated for analog and digital television and radio stations, as well as cable systems. 

The handbooks provide guidance and instructions for national, state and local EAS activations and highlight appropriate testing procedures. The materials also include sample scripts that may be used by broadcasters and other participants during EAS activations and tests.

The commission’s rules require that copies of the handbooks be located at “normal duty positions or EAS equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty and be immediately available to staff responsible for authenticating messages and initiating actions.”

The EAS is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, as well as wireline video, satellite digital audio radio and direct broadcast satellite service providers to make their communications facilities available to the President during a National emergency.

The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information such as AMBER alerts and severe weather warnings targeted to specific geographical areas or regions.