ABC admitted during the October 3, 2018 as part of a sketch they did in fact broadcast a EAS on the television program “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” a simulated EAS alert absent of an actual emergency or authorized EAS test.
The EAS is the national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television operators, wire line video service providers, satellite digital audio radio service providers, and direct broadcast satellite providers to supply the communications capability to the President of the United States to address the American public during a national emergency. 3 Federal, state, and local authorities may also use the EAS to deliver emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather information
targeted to specific areas.
To prevent people from becoming to comfortable with EAS tones and protect the unique purpose of the EAS Tones, the Commission enforces laws prohibiting the use of the tones, or simulations of them, except in actual emergencies, authorized tests of the EAS, or qualified PSAs
§ 11.45 Prohibition of false or deceptive EAS transmissions.
https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2001-title47-vol1/CFR-2001-title47-vol1-sec11-45
(a) No person may transmit or cause to transmit the EAS codes or Attention Signal, or a recording or simulation thereof, in any circumstance other than in an actual National, State or Local Area emergency or authorized test of the EAS; or as specified in §§ 10.520(d), 11.46, and 11.61 of this chapter.
As a result of the false transmission ABC must pay a total civil penalty to the United States Treasury in the amount of $395,000
