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Ongoing revisions of 47 CFR part 11 have been necessary to test the system, integrate new digital media into the system, and to accommodate the required adoption of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as a new technical requirement. In the First Report and Order in EB Docket No. 04-296, the Commission adopted rules that expanded the reach of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to cover digital communications services that Americans increasingly use to receive news and entertainment, namely, digital television and radio, digital cable, and satellite television and radio.

In the Second Report and Order in EB Docket No. 04-296, the Commission took various steps to increase the reliability, security, and efficacy of the Nation's EAS network, including: (1) requiring EAS participants to accept a message using Common Alerting Protocol v1.1 (CAP) no later than 180 days after FEMA publicly publishes its adoption of such standard; (2) requiring EAS participants to adopt Next Generation EAS delivery systems no later than 180 days after FEMA publicly releases standards for those systems; (3) preserving the current EAS network but enhanced its effectiveness, scope, and redundancy by enabling EAS delivery system upgrades and by including Wireline Video Providers in EAS; (4) requiring EAS participants to transmit State and local EAS alerts originated by governors or their designees no later than 180 days after FEMA publishes its adoption of the CAP standard, provided that the State has a Commission-approved EAS State plan that provides for delivery of such alerts; and (5) concurrently adopting a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) to explore certain EAS-related issues, including provision of EAS alerts to disabled Americans and to Americans who do not speak English.

In the Second FNPRM in EB Docket No. 04-296, the Commission sought comment on procedures and reporting requirements for implementing a nationwide test of the EAS. In the Third Report and Order in EB Docket No. 04-296, the Commission adopted rules governing the procedures and reporting requirements for implementing a nationwide test of the EAS. In the Third FNPRM in EB Docket No. 04-296, the Commission sought comment on tentative conclusions and proposed revisions to the Commission's part 11 rules to integrate into the part 11 rules that CAP-related mandates adopted in the Second Report and Order. In the Fourth Report and Order in EB Docket No. 04-296, the Commission addressed the single issue of establishing a new deadline of June 30, 2012, for meeting the CAP-related deadline imposed by the Commission's Second Report and Order. In the Fifth Report and Order in EB Docket No. 04-296, the Commission addressed the remainder of the issues raised in the third FNPRM by revising its part 11 EAS rules to specify the manner in which EAS participants must be able to receive alert messages formatted in the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and by streamlining the part 11 rules to enhance their effectiveness and clarity.

In the sixth NPRM, the Commission sought comment on whether to adopt a national location code; whether to adopt the National Periodic Test Code (NPT) as the next code to be used for national testing; whether to adopt an Electronic Test Reporting System (ETRS); and whether to adopt minimum accessibility requirements.