On September 1, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), in conjunction with the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations (NASBA), held a webinar to give an overview of the FCC’s new rules regarding broadcast station cybersecurity. Representatives of Digital Alert Systems and Sage Alerting participated.
The new rules include requirements for 15-character passwords, firewalls, network segmentation, and prompt installation of security patches and updates. Determining how to implement the new safeguards may be complex and costly for some stations. They go into effect on September 29, 2026.
[From SBE National] The FCC released new rules intended to increase security against cyberattacks on broadcast program streams. Broadcasters must comply with the new FCC rules by September 29, 2026. The new rules establish three requirements designed to increase cybersecurity, and will apply to any device in the signal chain that is connected to the internet, which includes EAS, automation systems, processors, STL, RDS encoders, and transmitters:
specified password hygiene measures;
prompt testing and installation of security patches and upgrades; and
limiting remote access via network firewalls or “comparable network segmentation.”
The FCC order states that default passwords for devices must be changed before any use that broadcasts to the public. Passwords used must employ a minimum of 15 characters, must not use dictionary words, and must not be reused for other accounts, equipment, applications, and services that the station uses. Passwords must also be changed whenever a station “has reason to believe that the password has been compromised.”
According to the Washington, DC EAS mailing list, SiriusXM has discontinued its Regular Weekly EAS Test (RWT). The SiriusXM free promotional “barker” channel 01 has been a satellite-based Primary Entry Point (PEP) for remote radio transmission sites that may have difficulty receiving broadcast PEP stations. PEPs relay national emergency messages and NPT tests. According to William Fawcett of Virginia, SiriusXM will continue to broadcast Regular Monthly Tests that should be logged by the same remote radio stations that may have few options for relaying national tests, though only the NPTs are required to be logged. Fawcett says that Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services (SDARS) are specifically exempted from transmitting RWTs.
Paul Kriegler says there haven’t been radios, in the traditional sense, on the dashboard for well over a decade. New developments like DTS Autostage have changed the game for streaming as well as FM—on the automotive dash. Find out how to best process your FM over-the-air signal and stream to sound their best on today’s new digital dashboards. You’ll also hear from team Omnia on where we are with the OmniaXII.
Join us via Zoom on May 19th at 11:30 AM PT. This meeting organized by SBE Chapter 47, Los Angeles.
About Paul
Paul Kriegler gained experience as OM, GM, and PD in markets large and small. He joined Telos Alliance in 2017 working with Frank Foti and Team Omnia to make AM FM HD and streaming audio sound better, while sharing good engineering practice and advice along the way.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially announced plans to conduct an auction for FM radio construction permits beginning in February 2027. Designated as Auction 114, the event is designed to expand opportunities for new voices in the media industry and ensure that broadcast spectrum is utilized effectively.
The upcoming auction will offer a total of 132 construction permits in the FM broadcast service. Notably, nearly 100 of these permits have never been offered to the public, marking a significant milestone in radio spectrum availability. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the auction is a key component of the agency’s strategy to strengthen competition in the radio marketplace while modernizing outdated regulations.
