Lawmakers Want the Emergency Alert System on Satellite Radio
Satellite radio licensees should comply with FCC Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules, 21 House lawmakers, including Majority Whip Blunt (R-Mo.), said in a letter to FCC Chmn. Martin and Comrs. Abernathy, Copps and Adelstein. As the FCC considers its order to modify EAS rules, it should require satellite radio providers to comply with EAS rules that apply to terrestrial radio, TV broadcast and cable systems, the letter said. The FCC should require satellite radio to participate in national EAS just as it required VoIP services to comply with E-911 obligations, it said.
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An EAS order is said to be circulating on the 8th floor, possibly for the next Commission meeting. The FCC has been reviewing the EAS rules since issuing an Aug. 2004 NPRM on the matter (EB 04-296). Recent discussions with satellite radio, DBS firms and satellite operators have focused on the technical feasibility of emergency alerts over satellite radio and TV, as well as weighing the burdens and benefits of extending EAS obligations to satellite (CD Aug 18 p2).
“Just because the provider is a new competitive entrant offering a new service or using a new technology, that should not absolve service providers from upholding certain public obligations, especially those involving safety of life,” the letter said. The fact that satellite radio isn’t required to transmit EAS alerts, means “millions of consumers could potentially be left in the dark,” it said. XM said it hit the 5 million subscriber mark 2 weeks ago, and Sirius’s tally is 2.2 million. Both subscription services have channels dedicated to broadcasting emergency information and news, but no EAS alerts.
A statement from a Sirius spokesman said Sirius “is excited and eager to be part of the improved EAS, and we look forward to working closely with the FCC on this issue.” XM also said it would welcome EAS rules. “XM has been unambiguously supportive of the EAS system, and we've wanted to participate in the EAS system for over a year now,” said an XM spokesman: “We deliver more emergency information than any local radio station that I'm aware of, and we expect to be a leader in emergency information delivery.”