[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62159-62161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29784]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 15 and 18
[ET Docket No. 98-80; FCC 99-296]
Conducted Emission Limits
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to revise the limits on the amount of
radio frequency energy that is permitted to be conducted onto the AC
power lines. The purpose of these limits is to protect radio services
operating below 30 MHz from interference. This proposal would harmonize
the standards on conducted emissions with the international standards
developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC),
International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR). Such
harmonization will facilitate a global marketplace to the benefit of
manufacturers and consumers.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 31, 2000, and
reply comments on or before February 29, 2000.
ADDRESSES: All filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary,
Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Reed, Office of Engineering
and Technology, (202) 418-2455.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice
of Proposed Rule Making in ET Docket No. 98-80, adopted October 13,
1999, and released October 18, 1999. The full text of this Commission
decision is available for inspection and copying during normal business
hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-A257), 445 12th Street, SW,
Washington, DC, and also may be purchased from the Commission's copy
contractor, International Transcription Services, Inc., (202) 857-3800,
1231 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Summary of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making
1. In the Notice of Proposed Rule Making, the Commission proposes
to amend parts 15 and 18 of its rules regarding the limits on the
amount of radio frequency (RF) energy that is permitted to be conducted
onto the AC power lines. The devices regulated under parts 15 and 18
include personal computers, TV and FM receivers, RF lighting devices,
microwave ovens, induction cooking ranges and ultrasonic equipment. The
conducted RF energy can cause interference to radio communications via
two possible paths. First, the RF energy may be carried along the
electrical wiring to another device that is also connected to the
electrical wiring. Second, at frequencies below 30 MHz where
wavelengths are greater than 10 meters, the long stretches of
electrical wiring can act as very efficient antennas permitting the RF
energy to be radiated over the airwaves.
2. Under parts 15 and 18 of the rules, the potential for
interference below 30 MHz is controlled by limiting the levels of RF
energy that may be conducted onto the AC power lines. The current
standards are based largely on limits that were developed in the late
1970s for digital devices. Accordingly, on May 29, 1998, the Commission
adopted a Notice of Inquiry (``NOI''), 63 FR 34618, June 25, 1998, in
this proceeding to review the conducted emission limits applicable to
equipment operating under parts 15 and 18 of its rules. In the NOI, the
Commission designated this proceeding as parts of its 1998 biennial
review of regulations pursuant to section 11 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended. Section 11 requires the Commission to review all
of its regulations applicable to providers of telecommunications
services and determine whether any rule is no longer in the public
interest as a result of meaningful economic competition between
providers of telecommunications services. While a review of the
regulations regarding conducted emission limits for products subject to
parts 15 and 18 of the rules is not specifically encompassed by section
11 of the Communications Act of 1934, this review is consistent with
the objectives and spirit of section 11. As part of our biennial
review, the Commission stated that its goal in this proceeding, among
other things, was to examine whether the regulations on conducted
emission limits continue to be necessary. It also sought information on
the costs of complying with these
[[Page 62160]]
regulations and whether these regulations impede new technologies.
3. Based on the comments filed in response to the NOI, the
Commission is proposing a number of changes to its rules to reduce the
burden of these regulations. Specifically, it is proposing to amend the
conducted emission limits to make them generally consistent with
international standards developed by the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC), International Special Committee on Radio Interference
(CISPR). The specific proposals are shown below. Consistency with the
international standards will promote a global marketplace that will
reduce costs for manufacturers and consumers. The Commission is
proposing to adopt conducted emission limits for part 18 consumer
products, such as microwave ovens, that currently are subject only to
radiated emission limits. The Commission also proposes an alternative
measurement procedure for part 15 transmitters operating below 30 MHz
where the responsible party may demonstrate that the total radiated
emissions from the device, including emissions at the fundamental
frequency that are conducted onto, and radiated from, the AC power
lines, do not exceed the radiated emission limits; such transmitters
would not be required to demonstrate compliance with the AC power line
conducted limits at the fundamental frequency.
4. Comments are invited on the proposed standards, as well as the
expansion of the frequency ranges over which conducted emissions are
applied. Comments are also invited on whether these standards will
adequately protect communications services against interference and on
how compliance with international standards may affect product costs.
5. Comments are also sought on whether a limit on power line
conducted emissions could be used by carrier current systems as an
optional alternative method of demonstrating compliance with the
radiated emission limits outside of the AM broadcast band. In addition,
comments are sought on the proposal to clarify when radiated emission
measurements below 30 MHz are required for unintentional radiators
operating under part 15 of the rules.
6. The Commission proposes that the regulations contained in the
Notice of Proposed Rule Making become effective for all part 15 and 18
products subsequently authorized under a grant of certification, a
Declaration of Conformity, or verification one year or more from the
date of publication of the resulting Report and Order in the Federal
Register. It also proposes that all products comply with these
standards if they are imported or manufactured on or after three years
from the date of publication of the Report and Order in the Federal
Register.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
7. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA),\1\ the
Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact on small entities by
the policies and rules proposed in this Notice of Proposed Rule Making
(Notice). Written public comments are requested on the IRFA. Comments
must be identified as responses to the IRFA and must be filed by the
deadlines for comments on the Notice. The Commission will send a copy
of this Notice, including the IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy
of the Small Business Administration. See 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
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\1\ 1 See 5 U.S.C. 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq., has
been amended by the Contract With America Advancement Act of 1996,
Public Law 104-121, 110 Stat. 847 (1996) (CWAAA). Title II of the
CWAAA is the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996 (SBREFA).
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Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rule
8. This rule making proposal is initiated to obtain comments
regarding proposed changes to the regulations for radio frequency
devices that do not require a license to operate. The Commission seeks
to determine if its standards regarding the amount of radio frequency
energy permitted to be conducted onto the AC power lines should be
amended.
Legal Basis
9. The proposed action is taken pursuant to sections 4(i), 301,
302, 303(e), 303(f), and 303(r) of the Communications Act 10 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f), and 303(r).
Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the
Proposed Rules Will Apply
10. For purposes of this Notice, the RFA defines a ``small
business'' to be the same as a ``small business concern'' under the
Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632, unless the Commission has developed
one or more definitions that are appropriate to its activities.\2\
Under the Small Business Act, a ``small business concern'' is one that:
(1) is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its
field of operations; and (3) meets any additional criteria established
by the Small Business Administration (SBA).\3\ SBA has defined a small
business for Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) category 4812
(Radiotelephone Communications) to be small entities when they have
fewer than 1500 employees.\4\ Given this definition, nearly all such
companies are considered small.
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\2\ See 5 U.S.C. 601(3) incorporating by reference the
definition of ``small business concern'' in 5 U.S.C. 632.
\3\ See 15 U.S.C. 632.
\4\ See 13 CFR 121.201.
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Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance
Requirements
11. Part 15 and part 18 radio frequency devices are already
required to be authorized under the Commission's certification,
Declaration of Conformity, or verification procedures as a prerequisite
to marketing and importation. The reporting and recordkeeping
requirements associated with these equipment authorizations would not
be changed by the proposals contained in the Notice. While most part 15
devices already are subject to standards on the amount of radio
frequency energy that can be placed on the AC power lines, different
limits are being proposed in the Notice. In most cases, depending on
the bandwidth of the emission placed on the AC power lines, the
emission limits are being relaxed from the current standards. Most part
18 products, such as microwave ovens, are not currently subject to
limits on the amount of radio frequency energy that can be placed on
the AC power lines. The limits proposed in this Notice would be new
requirements. To reduce any perceived burden of compliance with the
proposed standards, the Commission is proposing to adopt
internationally-recognized standards that currently are specified in
the European Union and other countries. This will permit manufacturers
of all sizes to market their equipment globally.
Significant Alternatives to Proposed Rules Which Minimize Significant
Economic Impact on Small Entities and Accomplish Stated Objectives
12. None.
Federal Rules that May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict with the
Proposed Rule
13. None.
[[Page 62161]]
Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-29784 Filed 11-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P