Two broadcast groups have received waivers from the Federal Communications Commission allowing them to temporarily take their Emergency Alert System equipment offline while relocating studios. The decision clarifies how stations should handle compliance when moving functional EAS gear, as opposed to repairing broken units.
Fort Myers Broadcasting and Sun Broadcasting requested the waivers to move their shared studio operations to a new facility. The companies noted that the move would require disconnecting their EAS monitoring and transmitting equipment for a short period, rendering them non-compliant with rules requiring continuous availability.
While FCC rules allow stations to operate without EAS gear for up to 60 days if the equipment is defective and being repaired, the agency clarified that this exemption does not apply to moving equipment that is working properly. However, the commission granted the waivers, accepting the broadcasters’ explanation that the outage would be brief—potentially just a few hours—and that the new facility would offer better protection against flood risks.
The agency noted that the stations had minimized the risk to the public, as no other stations relied on their signals for EAS monitoring, and they agreed not to proceed with the move if severe weather was imminent. The ruling serves as a reminder to engineers that relocating a studio requires specific FCC permission if it involves interrupting EAS monitoring.