In a significant development, Paramount Global, the parent company of one of the nation's major broadcast television networks, has resolved multiple violations concerning the Emergency Alert System (EAS) through a Consent Decree. This agreement brings closure to an investigation into CBS News & Stations and establishes a record of non-compliance with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The resolution involves a substantial civil penalty, underscoring the seriousness of the infractions.

Fine Imposed on CBS for EAS Violations

The Consent Decree was signed by Peter S. Hyun, Acting Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, and Caryn Groce, Executive Vice President and Acting General Counsel of Paramount Global. As part of this agreement, Paramount will pay $244,952 to the U.S. Treasury as a civil penalty. This payment erases all matters that could have resulted in a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and officially records CBS's non-compliance with FCC regulations.

The investigation uncovered three separate incidents where EAS alert tones were improperly used during regular programming. On May 18, 2023, an episode of Young Sheldon featured an EAS tone in a scene depicting severe weather conditions. Then, on October 25, 2023, an episode of Entertainment Tonight, distributed via syndication, aired a 1-second "attention signal" indistinguishable from an actual EAS tone. Lastly, on June 6, 2024, CBS News Radio inadvertently broadcast three seconds of an EAS tone during a top-of-the-hour news story about an event at Universal Studios. In this case, a single employee misidentified the EAS Attention Signal, and no other staff reviewed the clip before its broadcast.

These incidents highlight the importance of stringent protocols and thorough review processes within media organizations to prevent such breaches of public safety systems.

From a journalistic perspective, this case serves as a stark reminder of the critical role broadcasters play in maintaining the integrity of emergency communication channels. It underscores the need for robust training and oversight to ensure that vital public safety measures are not compromised by human error or procedural lapses. The financial penalty imposed also signals the FCC's commitment to enforcing strict adherence to EAS guidelines, safeguarding the effectiveness of these systems when they are needed most.