PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU EXTENDS 2024 EAS TEST REPORTING SYSTEM (ETRS) FILING DEADLINE PS Docket Nos. 15-94 and 15-91
By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) announces the extension of the deadline for all EAS Participants1 to submit their ETRS Form One for calendar year 2024 in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test Reporting System (ETRS) to October 18, 2024.2 The Bureau extends the filing deadline, which was previously October 4, 2024, to reduce burdens on EAS Participants that are recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. EAS Participants that have already submitted their ETRS Form One for calendar year 2024 need not take any further action.
Filers can access ETRS by visiting the ETRS page of the Commission’s website at https://www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system. Filers must use their registered FCC Username (Username) that is associated with the FCC Registration Numbers (FRNs) for which they will file. Filers that have already created a Username for use with another FCC system may access the ETRS with that Username. Filers that do not remember the password that corresponds with their Username may reset it at https://apps2.fcc.gov/fccUserReg/pages/reset-passwd-identify.htm. Filers that have not previously created a Username may do so by visiting the User Registration System at https://apps2.fcc.gov/fccUserReg/pages/createAccount.htm. Filers can associate their Username to an FRN by logging in at https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do and clicking on the appropriate option. Additional information regarding creating and associating FRNs with a Username can be found on the CORES FAQs page at https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/publicHome.do?faq=true&csfrToken=.
I. FURTHER ASSISTANCE For further information, contact Leah Calvo, Attorney Advisor, Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 1-202-418-7833 or Leah.Calvo@fcc.gov. Filers may contact FCC Licensing Support for assistance with creating a Username or other CORES troubleshooting via the web at https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/availablesupport-services, or by telephone at 1-877-480-3201. The support hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). Filers may contact Bureau staff for assistance with ETRS filings via ETRS@fcc.gov. -FCC1
See 47 CFR §§ 11.2(b), 11.11(a) (defining EAS Participants as entities that are required to comply with the Commission’s EAS rules and identifying such entities to include analog radio and television stations, wired and wireless cable television systems, digital broadcast systems, digital television broadcast stations, Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, digital cable and digital audio broadcasting systems, and wireline video systems).
2 Pursuant to Section 11.61 of the Commission’s rules, EAS Participants must renew their identifying information required by the ETRS Form One on a yearly basis. See 47 CFR § 11.61(a)(3)(iv)(A).
WHAT YOU OWE – MEDIA SERVICES LICENSEES FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2024
On September 6, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) released Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2024; Review of the Commission's Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees, Report and Order, FCC 24-93 (FY 2024 Regulatory Fees Report and Order). This document is available for viewing at http://www.fcc.gov/regfees. Regulatory fee payments must be received by the Commission no later than 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time, on September 26, 2024.1 While FY 2024 regulatory fees will not become effective until the rulemaking is published in the Federal Register, regulatees, at their own discretion, may submit payments at any time before the FY 2024 regulatory fees due date.
Who Must Pay: Holders of LPTV licenses, TV translator licenses, and FM translator and booster licenses granted on or before October 1, 2023, even if the license expired after October 1, 2023.
Fee Requirement: Fees are owed on a per-license basis as follows:
Type of License Regulatory Fee Payment Type Code
Low Power Television Station, $245 2467
Class A, TV Translator
FM Translator/FM Booster $245 2468
DE MINIMIS REGULATORY FEE LEVEL
Regulatees whose total FY 2024 annual regulatory fee liability, including all categories of regulatory fees for which payment is due, is $1,000 or less are exempt from payment of FY 2024 regulatory fees. Thus, if the sum total of all annual FY 2024 regulatory fees is $1,000 or less, you are considered de minimis and do not have to pay FY 2024 regulatory fees. If you are de minimis, you will not need to report this exemption to the Commission.
FEE EXEMPTION CLAIMS
The Commission will no longer accept fee exemption claims at the website www.fccfees.com. Exempt facilities are required to submit to the Commission a copy of the documentation that proves their fee-exempt status. Acceptable documentation may include a copy of an IRS determination letter showing the IRS section 501(c) tax exemption status, state or government certifications, or proof of the station’s noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast status at the Commission. (If you have previously submitted this documentation to the Commission you do not need to do it again.)
For more information, check out the Fact Sheet.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU
Opens the EAS test reporting system (ETRS) for filings and ESTABLISHES OCTOBER 4, 2024 AS THE DEADLINE
FOR FILING ETRS FORM ONE
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the FCC, conduct nationwide tests of the of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts periodically.
While FEMA will not conduct a nationwide EAS test in 2024, EAS Participants are required to participate in the nationwide EAS test and are required to make their 2024 ETRS Form One filings on or before October 4, 2024.
Visit the FCC for complete information: https://www.fcc.gov/general/eas-test-reporting-system
PS Docket Nos.15-94 and 15-91
By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) announces that the Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test Reporting System (ETRS) is available for receipt of filings and directs EAS Participants[1] to submit their annual ETRS Form One for calendar year 2024 by no later than October 4, 2024.[2] ETRS
[1]See 47 CFR §§ 11.2(b), 11.11(a) (defining EAS Participants as entities that are required to comply with the Commission’s EAS rules and identifying such entities to include analog radio and television stations, wired and wireless cable television systems, digital broadcast systems, digital television broadcast stations, Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, digital cable and digital audio broadcasting systems, and wireline video systems).
[2] Pursuant to Section 11.61 of the Commission’s rules, EAS Participants must renew their identifying information required by the ETRS Form One on a yearly basis. See 47 CFR § 11.61(a)(3)(iv)(A).
Federal Communications Commission
News Media Information: 202-418-0500
Internet: www.fcc.gov TTY: 888-835-5322
DA 23-498
MEDIA BUREAU ANNOUNCES COMMENCMENT OF FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE CHANNEL CHANGE OPPORTUNITY FOR CLASS A TELEVISION, LPTV AND TV TRANSLATOR STATIONS BEGINNING ON AUGUST 20, 2024
This is an opportunity to file for a change of channel only. If you are in a situation where you need or want to change your station's channel, this applies to you. All other rules remain in effect and a station can only move within the 30 mile radius of the existing license.
There are numerous situations where TV Translators and LPTV stations may be stuck on a VHF channel after the "Repack" process. This will be the opportunity to file for a change to UHF. It is a rolling filing, so it's first come first severed beginning on August 20, 2024. If two stations file for the same channel on the same day, you will be given an opportunity to resolve the issue and file a modification. Any station subject to normal fees will have to pay an $865 fee unless you are fee exempt such as a television tax district.
COMPLETE TEXT: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-24-498A1.pdf
Federal Communications Commission
News Media Information: 202-418-0500
Internet: www.fcc.gov TTY: 888-835-5322
DA 23-984
Media Bureau Announces Revised Dates for LPFM New Station Application Filing Window
Window Open from December 6, 2023 to December 13, 2023 Existing LPFM and FM Translator Minor Modification Filing Freeze
Extended to December 13, 2023
RULE CHANGES REGARDING THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
There have been recent changes regarding the Emergency Alert System.
DA 23-1111 Amendments of Part II of Commission's Rules
This change only applies to stations that use Sage encoders and decoders
COMPLETE TEXT HERE
EAS Reporting System (ETRS) Filings
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the FCC, will conduct nationwide tests of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts on October 4, 2023. If conditions on that dater require the rescheduling of the tests, they will be conducted on October 11, 2023.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the FCC, will conduct nationwide tests of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts on October 4, 2023. If conditions on that dater require the rescheduling of the tests, they will be conducted on October 11, 2023.
All EAS Participants are required to participate in the nationwide EAS test and make required filings in the Commission’s ETRS EAS Participants were required to make their 2023 ETRS Form One filings on or before February 28, 2023.
EAS Participants must update ETRS Form One to ensure its accuracy by submitting an updated ETRS Form One on or before September 15, 2023. Examples of changes necessitating updates include transfers of control, updates to EAS equipment or software, or as required by any revision of its State EAS Plan filed pursuant to 47 CFR § 11.21.
All EAS Participants must file ETRS Form Two “day of test” data on or before October 5, 2023.
All EAS Participants must file ETRS Form Three detailed post-test data on or before November 20, 2023.
REMINDER: Translators are exempt from EAS reporting requirements. Form 1, for stations designated as LPTV, was or should have been filed on or before February 28, 2023.
Regulatory Fees Fact Sheet
Regulatory fee payments must be received by the Commission no later than 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time, on September 20, 2023.
Who Must Pay: Holders of LPTV licenses, TV translator licenses, and FM translator and booster licenses granted on before October 1, 2022, even if the license expired after October 1, 2022.
Fee Requirement: Fees are owed on a per-license basis as followsT:
Type of License Regulatory Fee Payment Type Code Low Power Television Station , Class A TV Translator $260 2367 FM Translator/FM Booster $260 2368
DE MINIMIS REGULATORY FEE LEVEL
Regulatees whose total FY 2023 annual regulatory fee liability, including all categories of regulatory fees for which payment is due, is $1,000 or less are exempt from payment of FY 2023 regulatory fees. Thus, if the sum total of all annual FY 2023 regulatory fees is $1,000 or less, you are considered de minimis and do not have to pay FY 2023 regulatory fees. If you are de minimis, you will not need to report this exemption to the Commission. The de minimis threshold applies only to filers of annual regulatory fees (not regulatory fees paid through multi-year wireless filings), and it is not a permanent exemption. Rather, each regulatee will need to re-evaluate and re-calculate its regulatory fee liability each year in order to determine whether they meet the de miminis exemption established by the Commission’s annual regulatory fee order. Regulatees are responsible for calculating their total fee obligation to determine whether they qualify for this de minimis exemption. The Commission reserves the right to request documentation that supports a de minimis exemption claim.
If you own 3 stations or less you are considered de miminis.
1 station = $260 2 stations = $520 3 stations = $780 4 stations = $1,040
FEE EXEMPTION CLAIMS
The Commission will no longer accept fee exemption claims at the website www.fccfees.com. Exempt facilities are required to submit to the Commission a copy of the documentation that proves their fee-exempt status. Acceptable documentation may include a copy of an IRS determination letter showing the IRS section 501(c) tax exemption status, state or government certifications, or proof of the station’s noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast status at the Commission. For additional information on exemptions, please see FY 2023 Regulatory Fees, General Exemptions at http://www.fcc.gov/regfees. Documentation must be received by the due date of September 20, 2023. To claim a fee exemption, email your documentation to the Commission at ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.
If you have previously submitted your documentation to the Commission you are not required to resubmit it every year.
Representation matters to us. It is a cornerstone of the NTA’s organizational mission and values. Your board has released the following responses to the FCC:
Read the complete filed NTA comment to the FCC on the proposed rule changes to the Commission's Rules Regarding the Emergency Alert System. Posted 5.17.2023
Comments of the National Television Association (NTA) on MIB Docket No 03-185 and 22-261
Consider becoming a Sustaining Member…
It’s budget time of the year for lot of us. Consider adding a membership upgrade for 2023 Your support as a Sustaining Member is needed and would be greatly appreciated. The increased revenue is necessary to help make it possible to improve your Board of Directors visibility in Washington. As a Sustaining Member we can increase our work more effectively to protect free-over-the air television. Help us preserve our valuable spectrum and provide the funds necessary to increase our presence in Washington, DC. Upgrade your membership today!
License Renewals are in progress be sure to check your dates:
EAS Alert System Handbook
FCC ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO USE ITS SPEED TEST APP TO MEASURE THEIR BROADBAND SPEEDS
FCC Modifies DTS Rules to Promote Expanded Use by Broadcasters Released 1/2021 FCC Document
Translator Operators: Please make sure you have updated your translator input signal to protect it from White Space Devices
