NAB Requests Software-Based EAS System

NAB has filed a petition for rulemaking with the FCC requesting a fundamental change in the approach to EAS.  It is proposing that EAS participants be allowed to use software-based EAS devices instead of the current hardware-based system.  According to the petition:

NAB followed three guiding principles in creating this proposal.  First, any products or systems used to implement this option must function seamlessly within the legacy EAS system, as well as existing broadcasting systems and equipment.  Second, baseline EAS functionality must not be impacted.  Finally, use of any resulting products or systems must not be mandatory, only voluntary, and only implemented pursuant to the good faith judgment of each EAS Participant.

NAB notes the urgency of its petition in part because of “[T]he recent decision of Sage Alerting Systems, one of the two remaining EAS device vendors, to cease production of its endec device due in large part to supply-chain problems acquiring legacy parts for original EAS hardware-only designs.”  It also noted that it first proposed a software-based system in 2022.

According to the FCC, comments on the NAB’s proposal are due May 2, 2025. 

You can see the NAB’s Petition for Rulemaking here.

The FCC’s Public Notice Soliciting Comments can be seen here.