FCC Proposes Fine Against ESPN for EAS Violations

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a fine of $146,976 against ESPN for allegedly violating Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules during promotional segments for the 2023-2024 NBA season. ESPN is accused of transmitting EAS tones six times between October 20-24, 2023, without any actual emergency, authorized test, or public service announcement. This misuse of EAS tones can cause public confusion and interfere with legitimate emergency alerts. This is not the first time ESPN has faced such allegations, having been fined in 2015 and 2021 for similar violations. ESPN has yet to comment, but it will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations before the FCC makes a final decision. The fine reflects the FCC's commitment to ensuring that emergency communication channels are used appropriately.