FCC Warns Broadcasters on Cybersecurity After Radio Hacks
The FCC Public Safety Bureau has issued a public notice reminding broadcasters that they're responsible for securing their networks against cyberattacks after a series of hacking incidents led to “obscene materials” and EAS tones being broadcast by stations in Texas and Virginia. WVTF Roanoke said its feed was hacked Nov. 19, broadcasting music with obscene, racist phrases to listeners in Richmond. “We had some dead-air that triggered the switch to back-up audio where an unauthorized audio loop was placed by the hacker,” said the station. In Mont Belvieu, Texas, KFNC's feed was reportedly hacked to play a loop of EAS tones during an NFL broadcast.
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“It appears that these recent hacks were caused by a compromised studio-transmitter link (STL) -- the broadcast equipment that carries program content from the studio to remote transmitters,” said the PN. Broadcasters should install software security patches as soon as they become available, replace default passwords and regularly change them, install equipment behind firewalls, and follow the list of data security best practices issued by the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council, the PN said.