US Regulatory Process FCC Equipment Authorization Program

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US Regulatory ProcessFCC Equipment Authorization
Program

• Karen Rackley
• Chief, Technical Rules Branch
• Federal Communications Commission
• Office of Engineering and Technology
• Policy and Rules Division

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About the FCC

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an
  independent United States government agency,
  directly responsible to Congress.
• The FCC was established by the Communications Act
  of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate
  and international communications by radio,
  television, wire, satellite and cable.
• The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the
  District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.

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Organization

• The FCC is directed by five Commissioners
  appointed by the President and confirmed by the
  Senate for 5-year terms, except when filling an
  unexpired term.
• The President designates one of the Commissioners
  to serve as Chairperson.
• None of the Commissioners can have a financial
  interest in any Commission-related business.

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Office of Engineering and Technology

• OETs Mission
• Manage the spectrum and provide technical
  leadership to create new opportunities for
  innovative, competitive technologies and services
  for the American public

FCC Laboratory Columbia, MD (40 km NE of DC)
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OETs Principal Functions

• Spectrum Management
• Technical Research and Analysis
• Network Reliability and Technology
• Authorization of Service
• Equipment Authorization
• Experimental Licensing
• Technical Education

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Federal Communications Commission

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates
  the private sector telecommunications industry,
  in the public interest
• Establishes technical regulations for
  transmitters and other equipment to minimize
  their potential for causing interference to radio
  services.
• Administers an authorization program to ensure
  that equipment reaching the market complies with
  the technical requirements.

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FCC Regulations

• Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations
• Transmitter specifications
• Radio Services
• EMC specifications
• Telephone Terminal Equipment
• Test Methods
• Equipment Authorization Requirement
• Marketing and Importation Rules

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How are regulations made?

• Administrative Procedures Act (APA- 5 USC 553)
• Requires all US government agencies to give the
  public the opportunity to comment on any
  regulations that will affect them.

FCC Rule Making Process
Proposal
Comments and Reply Comments
Final Rule (Report Order)
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Standards for RF Equipment

• Incidental Radiator
• Unintentional Radiator
• Intentional Radiator
• Licensed Transmitters

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Incidental Radiators

• Generate radio frequency energy during the course
  of its operation although the device is not
  intentionally designed to generate or emit radio
  frequency energy. (15.13)
• Manufacturers of these devices must employ good
  engineering practices to minimize the risk of
  harmful interference.
• Examples
• DC motors
• mechanical light switches

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Unintentional Radiators

• Part 15, Subpart B Any device that
  intentionally generates RF energy, but does not
  intentionally radiate that energy
• Examples
• Digital devices (computers, data processing
  equipment, etc.),
• Radio receivers that tune between 30-890 MHz,
• TV interface devices (VCRs, cable terminal
  devices, etc.)

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Intentional Radiators

• Part 15, Subpart C Lists frequency bands and
  types of operation permitted.
• Examples
• Cordless Telephones
• Remote Switches, door controls, alarms
• Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

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Licensed Radio Services

• Transmitters that require either an individual
  license or a blanket authorization are subject to
  requirements of a specific radio service.
• General Mobile Radio Services (non-cellular)
• Personal Mobile Services
• Broadcast Radio Services
• Microwave Radio Services
• Maritime and Aviation Radio Services

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Telephone Terminal Regulations

• 47 CFR Part 68 Telephone Terminal Equipment
  (TTE)
• Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
• Private Line Interfaces
• Analog Interfaces
• Digital Interfaces

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Example Spread Spectrum

• A number of telecom products, such as cordless
  telephones, have taken advantage of Spread
  Spectrum
• Spread spectrum technology was originally
  developed for military applications
• FCC first established provisions for Part 15
  unlicensed spread spectrum devices in 1985
• Little activity in first few years
• Then it started to grow!

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Equipment Authorization Program

• The FCC currently has four equipment approval
  programs
• Verification
• Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) (Part
  68)
• Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
• Certification
• The product approval requirement is specified in
  the rule part under which equipment operates
• All four programs involve the use of the private
  sector to varying degrees

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Equipment Authorization Program
Certification (Approved by FCC or TCB)
Maximum
The type of approval is specified in the
rules for the particular type of device
DoC (Self-approval using an accredited lab)
SDoC (Part 68) (Self-approval Database by ACTA)
Verification (Self-approval)
Minimum
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Why Use the Private Sector?

• Speed at which technology is changing and shorter
  product life cycles require faster product
  approvals
• The private sector has the technical expertise
  and ability to certify equipment.
• Increase the resources performing conformity
  assessment
• Efficiencies in designing and approving product
  in the same geographic location
• Reduce uncertainty and delay in obtaining
  certification

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What is a TCB?

• A Telecommunication Certification Body is a
  Certification Body that has been accredited to
  ISO/IEC Guide 65 by a recognized Accrediting
  Organization and designated by the FCC to approve
  equipment subject to certification.
• A TCB has certain rights and responsibilities
  (equitable treatment of applicants, audit through
  sampling of equipment on market)
• Foreign entities may become a TCB in accordance
  with the terms of a government-to-government
  Mutual Recognition Agreement/Arrangement.

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Certification Options
F C C G R A N T
Label Product and Instructions in User Manual
Prepare Test Report and Application
Market Product
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Equipment Authorization Application Trend
Private Certification Bodies
FCC
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What is an MRA?

• Mutual Recognition Agreement/Arrangement (MRA)
• Mutually agree to accept
• test results and
• product approvals
• Use of harmonized technical standards is not part
  of an MRA

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United States and MRAs

• The US Government has agreed to participate in
  three separate MRAs
• European Union MRA
• Asian Pacific Economic Co-operation Tel MRA
  (APEC)
• Inter-American Commission for Telecommunications
  (CITEL MRA)

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Identification of Players
Regulatory Authority (RA) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) www.fcc.gov
Designating Authority (DA) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) www.nist.gov
Accreditation Body (Phase 1) National Voluntary Lab Accreditation Program (NVLAP) American Association of Lab Accreditation (A2LA) www.nist.gov www.a2la.org
AB (Phase 2) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) www.ansi.org
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Summary

• Rulemaking process is open to all interested
  parties
• Opportunity to appeal decisions made by the
  regulatory authority
• Decisions are made by a five member independent
  Commission
• Rules provide for flexibility and innovation
• Use of the private sector
• Development of technical standards
• Development of measurement procedures
• Conformity Assessment

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Information On Line
OET Info on line (Orders, Public Notices,
etc.) http//www.fcc.gov/oet/info/ http//www.fcc.
gov/oet/info/documents/ FCC Rules and Regulations
http//www.fcc.gov/oet/info/rules/ General FCC
Information http//www.fcc.gov
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Questions and Answers
Thanks!