The Federal Communications Commission has updated its rules so that Americans can receive more specific – and potentially life-saving – warnings through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) before extreme weather strikes. The amended rules add three new “event codes” to signify an “Extreme Wind Warning,” “Storm Surge Watch,” and “Storm Surge Warning” – so that communities can receive more specific and relevant alerts during hurricanes or other severe weather.
Month: July 2016
Expanded Opportunities for Radio Experimentation for RF-based medical devices
The FCC proposed to modify its Part 5 experimental licensing rules to permit program experimental radio licensees (program licensees) to operate on the restricted bands of operation listed in Section 15.205(a)of its rules. More specifically, the FCC proposed to permit program licensees to experiment on those frequencies with RF-based medical devices, if the device being tested is designed to comply with all applicable service rules in Part 18 (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment); Part 95 (Personal Radio Services), Subpart H (Wireless Medical Telemetry Service); or Part 95, Subpart I (Medical Device Radiocommunication Service, or MedRadio). They adopted this proposal, which facilitates access to spectrum that can be used under a program experimental radio license (program license), to improve the utility of this type of licensing scheme for those entities experimenting with RF-based medical devices, and thereby help to advance innovation in this area.
AM and FM Lab and Testbed Now Available
Cavell, Mertz & Associates is pleased to announce the RF Testbed we designed and constructed for the NAB Labs/PILOT test series is now available in our suburban Washington, DC location on a limited rental basis for individuals and organizations interested in experimenting with digital and analog AM and FM band radio systems. Continue reading “AM and FM Lab and Testbed Now Available”
New FCC filing deadline for all broadcast licensees that participate in the EAS
In order for the FCC to more readily receive feedback on the effectiveness of its nationwide EAS tests, it is now requiring all EAS participants to register in their new “EAS Test Reporting System” (or “ETRS”) by August 26, 2016. This is being required in anticipation of the FCC’s next Nationwide test (“NPT”), which will be held on September 28. Continue reading “New FCC filing deadline for all broadcast licensees that participate in the EAS”