[Title 47 CFR B]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - October 1, 2004 Edition]
[Title 47 - TELECOMMUNICATION]
[Chapter I - FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION]
[Subchapter A - GENERAL]
[Part 15 - RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES]
[Subpart B - Unintentional Radiators]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
47TELECOMMUNICATION12004-10-012004-10-01falseUnintentional RadiatorsBSubpart BTELECOMMUNICATIONFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONGENERALRADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES
Subpart B_Unintentional Radiators
Sec. 15.101 Equipment authorization of unintentional radiators.
(a) Except as otherwise exempted in Sec. Sec. 15.23, 15.103, and
15.113, unintentional radiators shall be authorized prior to the
initiation of marketing, as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of device Equipment authorization required
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TV broadcast receiver.................. Verification.
FM broadcast receiver.................. Verification.
CB receiver............................ Declaration of Conformity or Certification.
Superregenerative receiver............. Declaration of Conformity or Certification.
Scanning receiver...................... Certification.
Radar detector......................... Certification.
All other receivers subject to part 15. Declaration of Conformity or Certification.
TV interface device.................... Declaration of Conformity or Certification.
Cable system terminal device........... Declaration of Conformity.
Stand-alone cable input selector switch Verification.
Class B personal computers and Declaration of Conformity or Certification.\1\
peripherals.
CPU boards and internal power supplies Declaration of Conformity or Certification.\1\
used with Class B personal computers.
Class B personal computers assembled Declaration of Conformity.
using authorized CPU boards or power
supplies.
Class B external switching power Verification.
supplies.
Other Class B digital devices and Verification.
peripherals.
Class A digital devices, peripherals Verification.
and external switching power supplies.
All other devices...................... Verification.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note to table: Where the above table indicates more than one category of authorization for a device, the party
responsible for compliance has the option to select the type of authorization.
[[Page 770]]
\1\ Applications for this equipment will no longer be accepted by the Commission once domestic Telecommunication
Certification Bodies are available to certificate the equipment. See Sec. 2.960 of this chapter.
(b) Only those receivers that operate (tune) within the frequency
range of 30-960 MHz, CB receivers and radar detectors are subject to the
authorizations shown in paragraph (a) of this section. However,
receivers indicated as being subject to Declaration of Conformity that
are contained within a transceiver, the transmitter portion of which is
subject to certification, shall be authorized under the verification
procedure. Receivers operating above 960 MHz or below 30 MHz, except for
radar detectors and CB receivers, are exempt from complying with the
technical provisions of this part but are subject to Sec. 15.5.
(c) Personal computers shall be authorized in accordance with one of
the following methods:
(1) The specific combination of CPU board, power supply and
enclosure is tested together and authorized under a Declaration of
Conformity or a grant of certification;
(2) The personal computer is authorized under a Declaration of
Conformity or a grant of certification, and the CPU board or power
supply in that computer is replaced with a CPU board or power supply
that has been separately authorized under a Declaration of Conformity or
a grant of certification; or
(3) The CPU board and power supply used in the assembly of a
personal computer have been separately authorized under a Declaration of
Conformity or a grant of certification; and
(4) Personal computers assembled using either of the methods
specified in paragraphs (c)(2) or (c)(3) of this section must, by
themselves, also be authorized under a Declaration of Conformity if they
are marketed. However, additional testing is not required for this
Declaration of Conformity, provided the procedures in Sec. 15.102(b)
are followed.
(d) Peripheral devices, as defined in Sec. 15.3(r), shall be
authorized under a Declaration of Conformity, or a grant of
certification, or verified, as appropriate, prior to marketing.
Regardless of the provisions of paragraphs (a) or (c) of this section,
if a CPU board, power supply, or peripheral device will always be
marketed with a specific personal computer, it is not necessary to
obtain a separate authorization for that product provided the specific
combination of personal computer, peripheral device, CPU board and power
supply has been authorized under a Declaration of Conformity or a grant
of certification as a personal computer.
(1) No authorization is required for a peripheral device or a
subassembly that is sold to an equipment manufacturer for further
fabrication; that manufacturer is responsible for obtaining the
necessary authorization prior to further marketing to a vendor or to a
user.
(2) Power supplies and CPU boards that have not been separately
authorized and are designed for use with personal computers may be
imported and marketed only to a personal computer equipment manufacturer
that has indicated, in writing, to the seller or importer that they will
obtain a Declaration of Conformity or a grant of certification for the
personal computer employing these components.
(e) Subassemblies to digital devices are not subject to the
technical standards in this part unless they are marketed as part of a
system in which case the resulting system must comply with the
applicable regulations. Subassemblies include:
(1) Devices that are enclosed solely within the enclosure housing
the digital device, except for: power supplies used in personal
computers; devices included under the definition of a peripheral device
in Sec. 15.3(r); and personal computer CPU boards, as defined in Sec.
15.3(bb);
(2) CPU boards, as defined in Sec. 15.3(bb), other than those used
in personal computers, that are marketed without an enclosure or power
supply; and
(3) Switching power supplies that are separately marketed and are
solely for use internal to a device other than a personal computer.
(f) The procedures for obtaining a grant of certification or
notification and for verification and a Declaration
[[Page 771]]
of Conformity are contained in subpart J of part 2 of this chapter.
[54 FR 17714, Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at 61 FR 31050, June 19, 1996;
63 FR 36602, July 7, 1998; 64 FR 4997, Feb. 2, 1999; 67 FR 48993, July
29, 2002]
Sec. 15.102 CPU boards and power supplies used in personal computers.
(a) Authorized CPU boards and power supplies that are sold as
separate components shall be supplied with complete installation
instructions. These instructions shall specify all of the installation
procedures that must be followed to ensure compliance with the
standards, including, if necessary, the type of enclosure, e.g., a metal
enclosure, proper grounding techniques, the use of shielded cables, the
addition of any needed components, and any necessary modifications to
additional components.
(1) Any additional parts needed to ensure compliance with the
standards, except for the enclosure, are considered to be special
accessories and, in accordance with Sec. 15.27, must be marketed with
the CPU board or power supply.
(2) Any modifications that must be made to a personal computer,
peripheral device, CPU board or power supply during installation of a
CPU board or power supply must be simple enough that they can be
performed by the average consumer. Parts requiring soldering,
disassembly of circuitry or other similar modifications are not
permitted.
(b) Assemblers of personal computer systems employing modular CPU
boards and/or power supplies are not required to test the resulting
system provided the following conditions are met:
(1) Each device used in the system has been authorized as required
under this part (according to Sec. 15.101(e), some subassemblies used
in a personal computer system may not require an authorization);
(2) The original label and identification on each piece of equipment
remain unchanged;
(3) Each responsible party's instructions to ensure compliance
(including, if necessary, the use of shielded cables or other
accessories or modifications) are followed when the system is assembled;
(4) If the system is marketed, the resulting equipment combination
is authorized under a Declaration of Conformity pursuant to Sec.
15.101(c)(4) and a compliance information statement, as described in
Sec. 2.1077(b), is supplied with the system. Marketed systems shall
also comply with the labelling requirements in Sec. 15.19 and must be
supplied with the information required under Sec. Sec. 15.21, 15.27 and
15.105; and
(5) The assembler of a personal computer system may be required to
test the system and/or make necessary modifications if a system is found
to cause harmful interference or to be noncompliant with the appropriate
standards in the configuration in which it is marketed (see Sec. Sec.
2.909, 15.1, 15.27(d) and 15.101(e)).
[61 FR 31050, June 19, 1996]
Sec. 15.103 Exempted devices.
The following devices are subject only to the general conditions of
operation in Sec. Sec. 15.5 and 15.29 and are exempt from the specific
technical standards and other requirements contained in this part. The
operator of the exempted device shall be required to stop operating the
device upon a finding by the Commission or its representative that the
device is causing harmful interference. Operation shall not resume until
the condition causing the harmful interference has been corrected.
Although not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that the manufacturer
of an exempted device endeavor to have the device meet the specific
technical standards in this part.
(a) A digital device utilized exclusively in any transportation
vehicle including motor vehicles and aircraft.
(b) A digital device used exclusively as an electronic control or
power system utilized by a public utility or in an industrial plant. The
term public utility includes equipment only to the extent that it is in
a dedicated building or large room owned or leased by the utility and
does not extend to equipment installed in a subscriber's facility.
(c) A digital device used exclusively as industrial, commercial, or
medical test equipment.
[[Page 772]]
(d) A digital device utilized exclusively in an appliance, e.g.,
microwave oven, dishwasher, clothes dryer, air conditioner (central or
window), etc.
(e) Specialized medical digital devices (generally used at the
direction of or under the supervision of a licensed health care
practitioner) whether used in a patient's home or a health care
facility. Non-specialized medical devices, i.e., devices marketed
through retail channels for use by the general public, are not exempted.
This exemption also does not apply to digital devices used for record
keeping or any purpose not directly connected with medical treatment.
(f) Digital devices that have a power consumption not exceeding 6
nW.
(g) Joystick controllers or similar devices, such as a mouse, used
with digital devices but which contain only non-digital circuitry or a
simple circuit to convert the signal to the format required (e.g., an
integrated circuit for analog to digital conversion) are viewed as
passive add-on devices, not themselves directly subject to the technical
standards or the equipment authorization requirements.
(h) Digital devices in which both the highest frequency generated
and the highest frequency used are less than 1.705 MHz and which do not
operate from the AC power lines or contain provisions for operation
while connected to the AC power lines. Digital devices that include, or
make provision for the use of, battery eliminators, AC adaptors or
battery chargers which permit operation while charging or that connect
to the AC power lines indirectly, obtaining their power through another
device which is connected to the AC power lines, do not fall under this
exemption.
(i) Responsible parties should note that equipment containing more
than one device is not exempt from the technical standards in this part
unless all of the devices in the equipment meet the criteria for
exemption. If only one of the included devices qualifies for exemption,
the remainder of the equipment must comply with any applicable
regulations. If a device performs more than one function and all of
those functions do not meet the criteria for exemption, the device does
not qualify for inclusion under the exemptions.
Sec. 15.105 Information to the user.
(a) For a Class A digital device or peripheral, the instructions
furnished the user shall include the following or similar statement,
placed in a prominent location in the text of the manual:
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is
likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be
required to correct the interference at his own expense.
(b) For a Class B digital device or peripheral, the instructions
furnished the user shall include the following or similar statement,
placed in a prominent location in the text of the manual:
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
--Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
--Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
--Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.
--Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
(c) The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section do not
apply to
[[Page 773]]
digital devices exempted from the technical standards under the
provisions of Sec. 15.103.
(d) For systems incorporating several digital devices, the statement
shown in paragraph (a) or (b) of this section needs to be contained only
in the instruction manual for the main control unit.
(e) In cases where the manual is provided only in a form other than
paper, such as on a computer disk or over the Internet, the information
required by this section may be included in the manual in that
alternative form, provided the user can reasonably be expected to have
the capability to access information in that form.
[54 FR 17714, Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at 68 FR 68546, Dec. 9, 2003]
Sec. 15.107 Conducted limits.
(a) Except for Class A digital devices, for equipment that is
designed to be connected to the public utility (AC) power line, the
radio frequency voltage that is conducted back onto the AC power line on
any frequency or frequencies within the band 150 kHz to 30 MHz shall not
exceed the limits in the following table, as measured using a 50 [mu]H/
50 ohms line impedance stabilization network (LISN). Compliance with the
provisions of this paragraph shall be based on the measurement of the
radio frequency voltage between each power line and ground at the power
terminal. The lower limit applies at the band edges.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conducted limit (dB[mu]V)
Frequency of emission (MHz) ----------------------------------------
Quasi-peak Average
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.15-0.5....................... 66 to 56*.......... 56 to 46*
0.5-5.......................... 56................. 46
5-30........................... 60................. 50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Decreases with the logarithm of the frequency.
(b) For a Class A digital device that is designed to be connected to
the public utility (AC) power line, the radio frequency voltage that is
conducted back onto the AC power line on any frequency or frequencies
within the band 150 kHz to 30 MHz shall not exceed the limits in the
following table, as measured using a 50 [mu]H/50 ohms LISN. Compliance
with the provisions of this paragraph shall be based on the measurement
of the radio frequency voltage between each power line and ground at the
power terminal. The lower limit applies at the boundary between the
frequency ranges.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conducted limit (dB[mu]V)
Frequency of emission (MHz) ----------------------------------------
Quasi-peak Average
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.15-0.5....................... 79................. 66
0.5-30......................... 73................. 60
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) The limits shown in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section shall
not apply to carrier current systems operating as unintentional
radiators on frequencies below 30 MHz. In lieu thereof, these carrier
current systems shall be subject to the following standards:
(1) For carrier current systems containing their fundamental
emission within the frequency band 535-1705 kHz and intended to be
received using a standard AM broadcast receiver: no limit on conducted
emissions.
(2) For all other carrier current systems: 1000 [mu]V within the
frequency band 535-1705 kHz, as measured using a 50 [mu]H/50 ohms LISN.
(3) Carrier current systems operating below 30 MHz are also subject
to the radiated emission limits in Sec. 15.109(e).
(d) Measurements to demonstrate compliance with the conducted limits
are not required for devices which only employ battery power for
operation and which do not operate from the AC power lines or contain
provisions for operation while connected to the AC power lines. Devices
that include, or make provision for, the use of battery chargers which
permit operating while charging, AC adaptors or battery eliminators or
that connect to the AC power lines indirectly, obtaining their power
through another device which is connected to the AC power lines, shall
be tested to demonstrate compliance with the conducted limits.
[54 FR 17714, Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at 57 FR 33448, July 29, 1992;
58 FR 51249, Oct. 1, 1993; 66 FR 19098, Apr. 13, 2001; 67 FR 45670, July
10, 2002]
Sec. 15.109 Radiated emission limits.
(a) Except for Class A digital devices, the field strength of
radiated emissions from unintentional radiators at a distance of 3
meters shall not exceed the following values:
[[Page 774]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field
strength
Frequency of emission (MHz) (microvolts/
meter)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
30-88..................................................... 100
88-216.................................................... 150
216-960................................................... 200
Above 960................................................. 500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) The field strength of radiated emissions from a Class A digital
device, as determined at a distance of 10 meters, shall not exceed the
following:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Field
strength
Frequency of emission (MHz) (microvolts/
meter)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
30-88..................................................... 90
88-216.................................................... 150
216-960................................................... 210
Above 960................................................. 300
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) In the emission tables above, the tighter limit applies at the
band edges. Sections 15.33 and 15.35 which specify the frequency range
over which radiated emissions are to be measured and the detector
functions and other measurement standards apply.
(d) For CB receivers, the field strength of radiated emissions
within the frequency range of 25-30 MHz shall not exceed 40 microvolts/
meter at a distance of 3 meters. The field strength of radiated
emissions above 30 MHz from such devices shall comply with the limits in
paragraph (a) of this section.
(e) Carrier current systems used as unintentional radiators or other
unintentional radiators that are designed to conduct their radio
frequency emissions via connecting wires or cables and that operate in
the frequency range of 9 kHz to 30 MHz, including devices that deliver
the radio frequency energy to transducers, such as ultrasonic devices
not covered under part 18 of this chapter, shall comply with the
radiated emission limits for intentional radiators provided in Sec.
15.209 for the frequency range of 9 kHz to 30 MHz. As an alternative,
carrier current systems used as unintentional radiators and operating in
the frequency range of 525 kHz to 1705 kHz may comply with the radiated
emission limits provided in Sec. 15.221(a). At frequencies above 30
MHz, the limits in paragraph (a), (b), or (g) of this section, as
appropriate, apply.
(f) For a receiver which employs terminals for the connection of an
external receiving antenna, the receiver shall be tested to demonstrate
compliance with the provisions of this section with an antenna connected
to the antenna terminals unless the antenna conducted power is measured
as specified in Sec. 15.111(a). If a permanently attached receiving
antenna is used, the receiver shall be tested to demonstrate compliance
with the provisions of this section.
(g) As an alternative to the radiated emission limits shown in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, digital devices may be shown to
comply with the standards contained in Third Edition of the
International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR), Pub. 22,
``Information Technology Equipment--Radio Disturbance Characteristics--
Limits and Methods of Measurement'' (incorporated by reference, see
Sec. 15.38). In addition:
(1) The test procedure and other requirements specified in this part
shall continue to apply to digital devices.
(2) If, in accordance with Sec. 15.33 of this part, measurements
must be performed above 1000 MHz, compliance above 1000 MHz shall be
demonstrated with the emission limit in paragraph (a) or (b) of this
section, as appropriate. Measurements above 1000 MHz may be performed at
the distance specified in the CISPR 22 publications for measurements
below 1000 MHz provided the limits in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
section are extrapolated to the new measurement distance using an
inverse linear distance extrapolation factor (20 dB/decade), e.g., the
radiated limit above 1000 MHz for a Class B digital device is 150 uV/m,
as measured at a distance of 10 meters.
(3) The measurement distances shown in CISPR Pub. 22, including
measurements made in accordance with this paragraph above 1000 MHz, are
considered, for the purpose of Sec. 15.31(f)(4) of this part, to be the
measurement distances specified in this part.
(4) If the radiated emissions are measured to demonstrate compliance
with the alternative standards in this paragraph, compliance must also
be demonstrated with the conducted limits shown in Sec. 15.107(e).
[[Page 775]]
(h) Radar detectors shall comply with the emission limits in
paragraph (a) of this section over the frequency range of 11.7-12.2 GHz.
[54 FR 17714, Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at 56 FR 373, Jan. 4, 1991; 58
FR 51249, Oct. 1, 1993; 66 FR 19098, Apr. 13, 2001; 67 FR 48993, July
29, 2002; 69 FR 2849, Jan. 21, 2004]
Sec. 15.111 Antenna power conduction limits for receivers.
(a) In addition to the radiated emission limits, receivers that
operate (tune) in the frequency range 30 to 960 MHz and CB receivers
that provide terminals for the connection of an external receiving
antenna may be tested to demonstrate compliance with the provisions of
Sec. 15.109 with the antenna terminals shielded and terminated with a
resistive termination equal to the impedance specified for the antenna,
provided these receivers also comply with the following: With the
receiver antenna terminal connected to a resistive termination equal to
the impedance specified or employed for the antenna, the power at the
antenna terminal at any frequency within the range of measurements
specified in Sec. 15.33 shall not exceed 2.0 nanowatts.
(b) CB receivers and receivers that operate (tune) in the frequency
range 30 to 960 MHz that are provided only with a permanently attached
antenna shall comply with the radiated emission limitations in this
part, as measured with the antenna attached.
Sec. 15.113 Power line carrier systems.
Power line carrier systems, as defined in Sec. 15.3(t), are subject
only to the following requirements:
(a) A power utility operating a power line carrier system shall
submit the details of all existing systems plus any proposed new systems
or changes to existing systems to an industry-operated entity as set
forth in Sec. 90.63(g) of this chapter. No notification to the FCC is
required.
(b) The operating parameters of a power line carrier system
(particularly the frequency) shall be selected to achieve the highest
practical degree of compatibility with authorized or licensed users of
the radio spectrum. The signals from this operation shall be contained
within the frequency band 9 kHz to 490 kHz. A power line carrier system
shall operate on an unprotected, non-interference basis in accordance
with Sec. 15.5 of this part. If harmful interference occurs, the
electric power utility shall discontinue use or adjust its power line
carrier operation, as required, to remedy the interference. Particular
attention should be paid to the possibility of interference to Loran C
operations at 100 kHz.
(c) Power line carrier system apparatus shall be operated with the
minimum power possible to accomplish the desired purpose. No equipment
authorization is required.
(d) The best engineering principles shall be used in the generation
of radio frequency currents by power line carrier systems to guard
against harmful interference to authorized radio users, particularly on
the fundamental and harmonic frequencies.
(e) Power line carrier system apparatus shall conform to such
engineering standards as may be promulgated by the Commission. In
addition, such systems should adhere to industry approved standards
designed to enhance the use of power line carrier systems.
(f) The provisions of this section apply only to systems operated by
a power utility for general supervision of the power system and do not
permit operation on electric lines which connect the distribution
substation to the customer or house wiring. Such operation can be
conducted under the other provisions of this part.
[54 FR 17714, Apr. 25, 1989; 54 FR 32339, Aug. 7, 1989]
Sec. 15.115 TV interface devices, including cable system terminal devices.
(a) Measurements of the radiated emissions of a TV interface device
shall be conducted with the output terminal(s) of the device terminated
by a resistance equal to the rated output impedance. The emanations of a
TV interface device incorporating an intentional radiator shall not
exceed the limits in Sec. 15.109 or subpart C of this part, whichever
is higher for each frequency. Where it is possible to determine which
portion of the device is contributing a particular radio frequency
emission, the emissions from the TV interface device portion shall
[[Page 776]]
comply with the emission limits in Sec. 15.109, and the emissions from
the intentional radiator shall comply with subpart C of this part.
(b) Output signal limits:
(1) At any RF output terminal, the maximum measured RMS voltage, in
microvolts, corresponding to the peak envelope power of the modulated
signal during maximum amplitude peaks across a resistance (R in ohms)
matching the rated output impedance of the TV interface device, shall
not exceed the following:
(i) For a cable system terminal device or a TV interface device used
with a master antenna, 692.8 times the square root of (R) for the video
signal and 155 times the square root of (R) for the audio signal.
(ii) For all other TV interface devices, 346.4 times the square root
of (R) for the video signal and 77.5 times the square root of (R) for
the audio signal.
(2) At any RF output terminal, the maximum measured RMS voltage, in
microvolts, corresponding to the peak envelope power of the modulated
signal during maximum amplitude peaks across a resistance (R in ohms)
matching the rated output impedance of the TV interface device, of any
emission appearing on frequencies removed by more than 4.6 MHz below or
7.4 MHz above the video carrier frequency on which the TV interface
device is operated shall not exceed the following:
(i) For a cable system terminal device or a TV interface device used
with a master antenna, 692.8 times the square root of (R).
(ii) For all other TV interface devices, 10.95 times the square root
of (R).
(3) The term master antenna used in this section refers to TV
interface devices employed for central distribution of television or
other video signals within a building. Such TV interface devices must be
designed to:
(i) Distribute multiple television signals at the same time;
(ii) Distribute such signals by cable to outlets or TV receivers in
multiple rooms in the building in which the TV interface devices are
installed; and,
(iii) Distribute all over-the-air or cable signals.
Note: Cable-ready video cassette recorders continue to be subject to
the provisions for general TV interface devices.
(c) A TV interface device shall be equipped with a transfer switch
for connecting the antenna terminals of a receiver selectively either to
the receiving antenna or to the radio frequency output of the TV
interface device, subject to the following:
(1) When measured in any of its set positions, transfer switches
shall comply with the following requirements:
(i) For a cable system terminal device or a TV interface device
equipped for use with a cable system or a master antenna, as defined in
paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the isolation between the antenna and
cable input terminals shall be at least 80 dB from 54 MHz to 216 MHz, at
least 60 dB from 216 MHz to 550 MHz and at least 55 dB from 550 MHz to
806 MHz. The 80 dB standard applies at 216 MHz and the 60 dB standard
applies at 550 MHz. In the case of a transfer switch requiring a power
source, the required isolation shall be maintained in the event the
device is not connected to a power source or power is interrupted. The
provisions of this paragraph regarding frequencies in the range 550 MHz
to 806 MHz are applicable as of June 30, 1997.
(ii) For all other TV interface devices, the maximum voltage,
corresponding to the peak envelope power of the modulated video signal
during maximum amplitude peaks, in microvolts, appearing at the
receiving antenna input terminals when terminated with a resistance (R
in ohms) matching the rated impedance of the antenna input of the
switch, shall not exceed 0.346 times the square root of (R).
(iii) Measurement to determine compliance with the transfer switch
limits shall be made using a connecting cable, where required, between
the TV interface device and the transfer switch of the type and length:
(A) Provided with the TV interface device,
(B) Recommended in the instruction manual, or
(C) Normally employed by the consumer.
(2) A TV interface device shall be designed and constructed, to the
extent
[[Page 777]]
practicable, so as to preclude the possibility that the consumer may
inadvertently attach the output of the device to the receiving antenna,
if any, without first going through the transfer switch.
(3) A transfer switch is not required for a TV interface device
that, when connected, results in the user no longer having any need to
receive standard over-the-air broadcast signals via a separate antenna.
A transfer switch is not required to be marketed with a cable system
terminal device unless that device provides for the connection of an
external antenna. A transfer switch is not required for a device that is
intended to be used as an accessory to an authorized TV interface
device.
(4) An actual transfer switch is not required for a TV interface
device, including a cable system terminal device, that has an antenna
input terminal(s); provided, the circuitry following the antenna input
terminal(s) has sufficient bandwidth to allow the reception of all TV
broadcast channels authorized under part 73 of this chapter and: For a
cable system terminal device that can alternate between the reception of
cable television service and an antenna, compliance with the isolation
requirement specified in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of this section can be
demonstrated; and, for all other TV interface devices, the maximum
voltage appearing at the antenna terminal(s) does not exceed the limit
in paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section.
(5) If a transfer switch is not required, the following label shall
be used in addition to the label shown in Sec. 15.19(a):
This device is intended to be attached to a receiver that is not
used to receive over-the-air broadcast signals. Connection of this
device in any other fashion may cause harmful interference to radio
communications and is in violation of the FCC Rules, part 15.
(d) A TV interface device, including a cable system terminal device,
shall incorporate circuitry to automatically prevent emanations from the
device from exceeding the technical specifications in this part. These
circuits shall be adequate to accomplish their functions when the TV
interface device is presented, if applicable, with video input signal
levels in the range of one to five volts; this requirement is not
applicable to a TV interface device that uses a built-in signal source
and has no provisions for the connection of an external signal source.
For devices that contain provisions for an external signal source but do
not contain provisions for the input of an external baseband signal,
e.g., some cable system terminal devices, compliance with the provisions
of this paragraph shall be demonstrated with a radio frequency input
signal of 0 to 25 dBmV.
(e) For cable system terminal devices and TV interface devices used
with a master antenna, as defined in paragraph (b)(3) of this section,
the holder of the grant of authorization shall specify in the
instruction manual or pamphlet, if a manual is not provided, the types
of wires or coaxial cables necessary to ensure that the unit complies
with the requirements of this part. The holder of the grant of
authorization must comply with the provisions of Sec. 15.27. For all
other TV interface devices, the wires or coaxial cables used to couple
the output signals to the TV receiver shall be provided by the
responsible party.
(f) A TV interface device which is submitted to the Commission as a
composite device in a single enclosure containing a RF modulator, video
source and other component devices shall be submitted on a single
application (FCC Form 731) and shall be authorized as a single device.
(g) An external device or accessory that is intended to be attached
to a TV interface device shall comply with the technical and
administrative requirements set out in the rules under which it
operates. For example, a personal computer must be certificated to show
compliance with the regulations for digital devices.
(h) Stand-alone switches used to alternate between cable service and
an antenna shall provide isolation between the antenna and cable input
terminals that is at least 80 dB from 54 MHz to 216 MHz, at least 60 dB
from 216 MHz to 550 MHz and at least 55 dB from 550 MHz to 806 MHz.The
80 dB standard applies at 216 MHz and the 60 dB standard applies at 550
MHz. In the case of stand-alone switches requiring a power source, the
required isolation shall be
[[Page 778]]
maintained in the event the device is not connected to a power source or
power is interrupted. The provisions of this paragraph are applicable as
of June 30, 1997.
(i) Switches and other devices intended to be used to by-pass the
processing circuitry of a cable system terminal device, whether internal
to such a terminal device or a stand-alone unit, shall not attenuate the
input signal more than 6 dB from 54 MHz to 550 MHz, or more than 8 dB
from 550 MHz to 804 MHz. The 6 dB standard applies at 550 MHz. The
provisions of this paragraph are applicable June 30, 1997.
[54 FR 17714, Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at 57 FR 33448, July 29, 1992;
59 FR 25341, May 16, 1994; 61 FR 18509, Apr. 26, 1996]
Sec. 15.117 TV broadcast receivers.
(a) All TV broadcast receivers shipped in interstate commerce or
imported into the United States, for sale or resale to the public, shall
comply with the provisions of this section, except that paragraphs (f)
and (g) of this section shall not apply to the features of such sets
that provide for reception of digital television signals. The reference
in this section to TV broadcast receivers also includes devices, such as
TV interface devices and set-top devices that are intended to provide
audio-video signals to a video monitor, that incorporate the tuner
portion of a TV broadcast receiver and that are equipped with an antenna
or antenna terminals that can be used for off-the-air reception of TV
broadcast signals, as authorized under part 73 of this chapter.
(b) TV broadcast receivers shall be capable of adequately receiving
all channels allocated by the Commission to the television broadcast
service.
(c) On a given receiver, use of the UHF and VHF tuning systems shall
provide approximately the same degree of tuning accuracy with
approximately the same expenditure of time and effort: Provided,
however, That this requirement will be considered to be met if the need
for routine fine tuning is eliminated on UHF channels.
(1) Basic tuning mechanism. If a TV broadcast receiver is equipped
to provide for repeated access to VHF television channels at discrete
tuning positions, that receiver shall be equipped to provide for
repeated access to a minimum of six UHF television channels at discrete
tuning positions. Unless a discrete tuning position is provided for each
channel allocated to UHF television, each position shall be readily
adjustable to a particular UHF channel by the user without the use of
tools. If 12 or fewer discrete tuning positions are provided, each
position shall be adjustable to receive any channel allocated to UHF
television.
Note: The combination of detented rotary switch and pushbutton
controls is acceptable, provided UHF channels, after their initial
selection, can be accurately tuned with an expenditure of time and
effort approximately the same as that used in accurately tuning VHF
channels. A UHF tuning system comprising five pushbuttons and a separate
manual tuning knob is considered to provide repeated access to six
channels at discrete tuning positions. A one-knob (VHF/UHF) tuning
system providing repeated access to 11 or more discrete tuning positions
is also acceptable, provided each of the tuning positions is readily
adjustable, without the use of tools, to receive any UHF channel.
(2) Tuning controls and channel readout. UHF tuning controls and
channel readout on a given receiver shall be comparable in size,
location, accessibility and legibility to VHF controls and readout on
that receiver.
Note: Differences between UHF and VHF channel readout that follow
directly from the larger number of UHF television channels available are
acceptable if it is clear that a good faith effort to comply with the
provisions of this section has been made.
(d) If equipment and controls that tend to simplify, expedite or
perfect the reception of television signals (e.g., AFC, visual aids,
remote control, or signal seeking capability referred to generally as
tuning aids) are incorporated into the VHF portion of a TV broadcast
receiver, tuning aids of the same type and comparable capability and
quality shall be provided for the UHF portion of that receiver.
(e) If a television receiver has an antenna affixed to the VHF
antenna terminals, it must have an antenna designed for and capable of
receiving all UHF television channels affixed to the UHF antenna
terminals. If a VHF antenna is provided with but not affixed
[[Page 779]]
to a receiver, a UHF antenna shall be provided with the receiver.
(f) The picture sensitivity of a TV broadcast receiver averaged for
all channels between 14 and 69 inclusive shall not be more than 8dB
larger than the peak picture sensitivity of that receiver averaged for
all channels between 2 and 13 inclusive.
(g) The noise figure for any television channel 14 to 69 inclusive
shall not exceed 14 dB. A TV receiver model is considered to comply with
this noise figure if the maximum noise figure for channels 14-69
inclusive of 97.5% of all receivers within that model does not exceed 14
dB.
(1) The responsible party shall measure the noise figure of a number
of UHF channels of the test sample to give reasonable assurance that the
UHF noise figure for each channel complies with the above limit.
(2) The responsible party shall insert in his files a statement
explaining the basis on which it will rely to ensure that at least 97.5%
of all production units of the test sample that are manufactured have a
noise figure of no greater than 14 dB.
(3) [Reserved]
(4) In the case of a TV tuner built-in as part of a video tape
recorder that uses a power splitter between the antenna terminals of the
video tape recorder and the input terminals of the TV tuner or a TV
broadcast receiver that uses a power splitter between the antenna
terminals of two or more UHF tuners contained within that receiver, 4 dB
may be subtracted from the noise figure measured at the antenna
terminals of the video tape recorder or TV broadcast receiver for
determining compliance of the UHF tuner(s) with the 14 dB noise figure
limit.
(h) Digital television reception capability. TV broadcast receivers
are required only to provide useable picture and sound commensurate with
their video and audio capabilities when receiving digital television
signals.
(i) Digital television reception capability implementation schedule.
(1) Responsible parties, as defined in Sec. 2.909 of this chapter, are
required to equip new TV broadcast receivers that are shipped in
interstate commerce or imported from any foreign country into the United
States and for which they are responsible to comply with the provisions
of this section in accordance with the following schedule:
--Receivers with screen sizes 36[min] and above--50% of all of a
responsible party's units must include DTV tuners effective July 1,
2004; 100% of such units must include DTV tuners effective July 1,
2005
--Receivers with screen sizes 25[min] to 36[min]--50% of all of a
responsible party's units must include DTV tuners effective July 1,
2005; 100% of such units must include DTV tuners effective July 1,
2006
--Receivers with screen sizes 13[min] to 24[min]--100% of all such units
must include DTV tuners effective July 1, 2007
--Other devices (videocassette recorders (VCRs), digital video disk and
digital versatile disk (DVD) players/recorders, etc.) that receive
television signals--100% of all such units must include DTV tuners
effective July 1, 2007.
(2) For purposes of this implementation schedule, screen sizes are
to be measured diagonally across the picture viewing area. The
requirement for equipping new TV broadcast receivers with DTV reception
capability does not apply to units with integrated tuners/displays that
have screen sizes measuring less than 7.8 inches vertically, i.e., the
vertical measurement of a screen in the 4:3 aspect ratio that measures
13[min] diagonally across the picture viewing area.
(3) Responsible parties may include combinations of DTV monitors and
set-top DTV tuners in meeting the required percentages of units with a
DTV tuner if such combinations are marketed together with a single
price.
(j) For a TV broadcast receiver equipped with a cable input selector
switch, the selector switch shall provide, in any of its set positions,
isolation between the antenna and cable input terminals of at least 80
dB from 54 MHz to 216 MHz, at least 60 dB from 216 MHz to 550 MHz and at
least 55 dB from 550 MHz to 806 MHz. The 80 dB standard applies at 216
MHz and the 60 dB standard applies at 550 MHz. In the case of a selector
switch requiring a power source, the required isolation shall be
maintained in the event the
[[Page 780]]
device is not connected to a power source or power is interrupted. An
actual switch that can alternate between reception of cable television
service and an antenna is not required for a TV broadcast receiver,
provided compliance with the isolation requirement specified in this
paragraph can be demonstrated and the circuitry following the antenna
input terminal(s) has sufficient band-width to allow the reception of
all TV broadcast channels authorized under this chapter. The provisions
of this paragraph regarding frequencies in the range 550 MHz to 806 MHz
are applicable as of June 30, 1997.
[54 FR 17714, Apr. 25, 1993, as amended at 59 FR 25341, May 16, 1994; 61
FR 30532, June 17, 1996; 67 FR 63294, Oct. 11, 2002]
Sec. 15.118 Cable ready consumer electronics equipment.
(a) All consumer electronics TV receiving equipment marketed in the
United States as cable ready or cable compatible shall comply with the
provisions of this section. Consumer electronics TV receiving equipment
that includes features intended for use with cable service but does not
fully comply with the provisions of this section are subject to the
labelling requirements of Sec. 15.19(d). Until such time as generally
accepted testing standards are developed, paragraphs (c) and (d) of this
section will apply only to the analog portion of covered consumer
electronics TV receiving equipment
(b) Cable ready consumer electronics equipment shall be capable of
receiving all NTSC or similar video channels on channels 1 through 125
of the channel allocation plan set forth in EIA IS-132: ``Cable
Television Channel Identification Plan'' (incorporated by reference, see
Sec. 15.38).
(c) Cable ready consumer electronics equipment must meet the
following technical performance requirements. Compliance with these
requirements shall be determined by performing measurements at the
unfiltered IF output port. Where appropriate, the Commission will
consider allowing alternative measurement methods.
(1) Adjacent channel interference. In the presence of a lower
adjacent channel CW signal that is 1.5 MHz below the desired visual
carrier in frequency and 10 dB below the desired visual carrier in
amplitude, spurious signals within the IF passband shall be attenuated
at least 55 dB below the visual carrier of the desired signal. The
desired input signal shall be an NTSC visual carrier modulated with a 10
IRE flat field with color burst and the aural carrier which is 10 dB
below the visual carrier should be unmodulated. Measurements are to be
performed for input signal levels of 0 dBmV and +15 dBmV, with the
receiver tuned to ten evenly spaced EIA IS-132 channels covering the
band 54 MHz to 804 MHz.
(2) Image channel interference. Image channel interference within
the IF passband shall be attenuated below the visual carrier of the
desired channel by at least 60 dB from 54 MHz to 714 MHz and 50 dB from
714 MHz to 804 MHz. The 60 dB standard applies at 714 MHz. In testing
for compliance with this standard, the desired input signal is to be an
NTSC signal on which the visual carrier is modulated with a 10 IRE flat
field with color burst and the aural carrier is unmodulated and 10 dB
below the visual carrier. The undesired test signal shall be a CW signal
equal in amplitude to the desired visual carrier and located 90 MHz
above the visual carrier frequency of the desired channel. Measurements
shall be performed for input signals of 0 dBmV and +15 dBmV, with the
receiver tuned to at least ten evenly spaced EIA IS-132 channels
covering the band 54 MHz to 804 MHz.
(3) Direct pickup interference. The direct pickup (DPU) of a co-
channel interfering ambient field by a cable ready device shall not
exceed the following criteria. The ratio of the desired to undesired
signal levels at the IF passband on each channel shall be at least 45
dB. The average ratio over the six channels shall be at least 50 dB. The
desired input signal shall be an NTSC signal having a visual carrier
level of 0 dBmV. The visual carrier is modulated with a 10 IRE flat
field with color burst, visual to aural carrier ratio of 10 dB, aural
carrier unmodulated. The equipment under test (EUT) shall be placed on a
rotatable table that is one meter in height. Any excess length of the
power cord and other connecting leads shall be coiled on the floor under
[[Page 781]]
the table. The EUT shall be immersed in a horizontally polarized uniform
CW field of 100 mV/m at a frequency 2.55 MHz above the visual carrier of
the EUT tuned channel. Measurements shall be made with the EUT tuned to
six EIA IS-132 channels, two each in the low VHF, high VHF and UHF
broadcast bands. On each channel, the levels at the IF passband due to
the desired and interfering signals are to be measured.
(4) Tuner overload. Spurious signals within the IF passband shall be
attenuated at least 55 dB below the visual carrier of the desired
channel using a comb-like spectrum input with each visual carrier signal
individually set at +15 dBmV from 54 to 550 MHz. The desired input
signal is to be an NTSC signal on which the visual carrier is modulated
with a 10 IRE flat field with color burst and the aural carrier is
unmodulated and 10 dB below the visual carrier. Measurements shall be
made with the receiver tuned to at least seven evenly spaced EIA IS-132
channels covering the band 54 MHz to 550 MHz. In addition, spurious
signals within the IF passband shall be attenuated at least 51 dB below
the visual carrier of the desired channel using a comb spectrum input
with each signal individually set at +15 dBmV from 550 to 804 MHz.
Measurements shall be made with the receiver tuned to at least three
evenly spaced EIA IS-132 channels covering the band 550 MHz to 804 MHz.
(5) Cable input conducted emissions. (i) Conducted spurious
emissions that appear at the cable input to the device must meet the
following criteria. The input shall be an NTSC video carrier modulated
with a 10 IRE flat field with color burst at a level of 0 dBmV and with
a visual to aural ratio of 10 dB. The aural carrier shall be
unmodulated. The peak level of the spurious signals will be measured
using a spectrum analyzer connected by a directional coupler to the
cable input of the equipment under test. Spurious signal levels must not
exceed the limits in the following table:
From 54 MHz up to and including 300 MHz-26 dBmV
From 300 MHz up to and including 450 MHz-20 dBmV
From 450 MHz up to and including 804 MHz-15 dBmV
(ii) The average of the measurements on multiple channels from 450
MHz up to and including 804 MHz shall be no greater than -20 dBmV.
Measurements shall be made with the receiver tuned to at least four EIA
IS-132 channels in each of the above bands. The test channels are to be
evenly distributed across each of the bands. Measurements for conducted
emissions caused by sources internal to the device are to be made in a
shielded room. Measurements for conducted emissions caused by external
signal sources shall be made in an ambient RF field whose field strength
is 100 mV/m, following the same test conditions as described in
paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
(d) The field strength of radiated emissions from cable ready
consumer electronics equipment shall not exceed the limits in Sec.
15.109(a) when measured in accordance with the applicable procedures
specified in Sec. Sec. 15.31 and 15.35 for unintentional radiators,
with the following modifications. During testing the NTSC input signal
level is to be +15 dBmV, with a visual to aural ratio of 10 dB. The
visual carrier is to be modulated by a 10 IRE flat field with color
burst; the aural carrier is to be unmodulated. Measurements are to be
taken on six EIA IS-132 channels evenly spaced across the required RF
input range of the equipment under test.
Note: The provisions of paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section
are applicable as of June 30, 1997.
[59 FR 25341, May 16, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 18509, Apr. 26, 1996; 65
FR 64391, Oct. 27, 2000; 68 FR 68546, Dec. 9, 2003; 69 FR 2849, Jan. 21,
2004]
Effective Date Note: At 69 FR 57861, Sept. 28, 2004, Sec. 15.118
was amended by revising paragraph (b), effective Oct. 28, 2004. For the
convenience of the user, the revised text is set forth as follows:
Sec. 15.118 Cable ready consumer electronics equipment.
* * * * *
(b) Cable ready consumer electronics equipment shall be capable of
receiving all NTSC or similar video channels on channels 1 through 125
of the channel allocation plan set forth in CEA-542-B: ``CEA Standard:
[[Page 782]]
Cable Television Channel Identification Plan,'' (incorporated by
reference, see Sec. 15.38).
* * * * *
Sec. 15.119 Closed caption decoder requirements for analog television
receivers.
(a) Effective July 1, 1993, all TV broadcast receivers with picture
screens 33 cm (13 in) or larger in diameter shipped in interstate
commerce, manufactured, assembled, or imported from any foreign country
into the United States shall comply with the provisions of this section.
Note: This paragraph places no restriction on the shipping or sale
of television receivers that were manufactured before July 1, 1993.
(b) Transmission format. Closed-caption information is transmitted
on line 21 of field 1 of the vertical blanking interval of television
signals, in accordance with Sec. 73.682(a)(22) of this chapter.
(c) Operating modes. The television receiver will employ customer-
selectable modes of operation for TV and Caption. A third mode of
operation, Text, may be included on an optional basis. The Caption and
Text Modes may contain data in either of two operating channels,
referred to in this document as C1 and C2. The television receiver must
decode both C1 and C2 captioning, and must display the captioning for
whichever channel the user selects. The TV Mode of operation allows the
video to be viewed in its original form. The Caption and Text Modes
define one or more areas (called ``boxes'') on the screen within which
caption or text characters are displayed.
Note: For more information regarding Text mode, see ``Television
Captioning for the Deaf: Signal and Display Specifications'',
Engineering Report No. E-7709-C, Public Broadcasting Service, dated May
1980, and ``TeleCaption II Decoder Module Performance Specification'',
National Captioning Institute, Inc., dated November 1985. These
documents are available, respectively, from the Public Broadcasting
Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314 and from the National
Captioning Institute, Inc., 5203 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.
(d) Screen format. The display area for captioning and text shall
fall approximately within the safe caption area as defined in paragraph
(n)(12) of this section. This display area will be further divided into
15 character rows of equal height and 32 columns of equal width, to
provide accurate placement of text on the screen. Vertically, the
display area begins on line 43 and is 195 lines high, ending on line 237
on an interlaced display. All captioning and text shall fall within
these established columns and rows. The characters must be displayed
clearly separated from the video over which they are placed. In
addition, the user must have the capability to select a black background
over which the captioned letters are displaced.
(1) Caption mode. In the Caption Mode, text can appear on up to 4
rows simultaneously anywhere on the screen within the defined display
area. In addition, a solid space equal to one column width may be placed
before the first character and after the last character of each row to
enhance legibility. The caption area will be transparent anywhere that
either:
(i) No standard space character or other character has been
addressed and no accompanying solid space is needed; or,
(ii) An accompanying solid space is used and a ``transparent space''
special character has been addressed which does not immediately precede
or follow a displayed character.
(2) [Reserved]
(e) Presentation format. In analyzing the presentation of
characters, it is convenient to think in terms of a non-visible cursor
which marks the screen position at which the next event in a given mode
and data channel will occur. The receiver remembers the cursor position
for each mode even when data are received for a different address in an
alternate mode or data channel.
(1) Screen addressing. Two kinds of control codes are used to move
the cursor to specific screen locations. In Caption Mode, these
addressing codes will affect both row and column positioning. In Text
Mode, the codes affect only column positioning. In both modes, the
addressing codes are optional. Default positions are defined for each
mode and style when no addressing code is provided.
[[Page 783]]
(i) The first type of addressing code is the Preamble Address Code
(PAC). It assigns a row number and one of eight ``indent'' figures. Each
successive indent moves the cursor four columns to the right (starting
from the left margin). Thus, an indent of 0 places the cursor at Column
1, an indent of 4 sets it at Column 5, etc. The PAC indent is non-
destructive to displayable characters. It will not affect the display to
the left of the new cursor position on the indicated row. Note that
Preamble Address Codes also set initial attributes for the displayable
characters which follow. See paragraph (h) of this section and the
Preamble Address Code table.
(ii) The second type of addressing code is the Tab Offset, which is
one of three Miscellaneous Control Codes. Tab Offset will move the
cursor one, two, or three columns to the right. The character cells
skipped over will be unaffected; displayable characters in these cells,
if any, will remain intact while empty cells will remain empty, in the
same manner that a PAC indent is non-destructive.
(2) [Reserved]
(f) Caption Mode. There are three styles of presenting text in
Caption Mode: roll-up, pop-on, and paint-on. Character display varies
significantly with the style used, but certain rules of character
erasure are common to all styles. A character can be erased by
addressing another character to the same screen location or by
backspacing over the character from a subsequent location on the same
row. The entire displayed memory will be erased instantly by receipt of
an Erase Displayed Memory command. Both displayed memory and non-
displayed memory will be entirely erased simultaneously by either: The
user switching receiver channels or data channels (C1/C2) or fields (F1/
F2) in decoders so equipped; the loss of valid data (see paragraph (j)
of this section); or selecting non-captioning receiver functions which
use the display memory of the decoder. Receipt of an End of Caption
command will cause a displayed caption to become non-displayed (and vice
versa) without being erased from memory. Changing the receiver to a non-
captioning mode which does not require use of the decoder's display
memory will leave that memory intact, and the decoder will continue to
process data as if the caption display were selected.
(1) Roll-up. Roll-up style captioning is initiated by receipt of one
of three Miscellaneous Control Codes that determine the maximum number
of rows displayed simultaneously, either 2, 3 or 4 contiguous rows.
These are the three Roll-Up Caption commands.
(i) The bottom row of the display is known as the ``base row''. The
cursor always remains on the base row. Rows of text roll upwards into
the contiguous rows immediately above the base row to create a
``window'' 2 to 4 rows high.
(ii) The Roll-Up command, in normal practice, will be followed (not
necessarily immediately) by a Preamble Address Code indicating the base
row and the horizontal indent position. If no Preamble Address Code is
received, the base row will default to Row 15 or, if a roll-up caption
is currently displayed, to the same base row last received, and the
cursor will be placed at Column 1. If the Preamble Address Code received
contains a different base row than that of a currently displayed
caption, the entire window will move intact (and without erasing) to the
new base row immediately.
(iii) Each time a Carriage Return is received, the text in the top
row of the window is erased from memory and from the display or scrolled
off the top of the window. The remaining rows of text are each rolled up
into the next highest row in the window, leaving the base row blank and
ready to accept new text. This roll-up must appear smooth to the user,
and must take no more than 0.433 second to complete. The cursor is
automatically placed at Column 1 (pending receipt of a Preamble Address
Code).
(iv) Increasing or decreasing the number of roll-up rows instantly
changes the size of the active display window, appropriately turning on
or off the display of the top one or two rows. A row which is turned off
should also be erased from memory.
(v) Characters are always displayed immediately when received by the
receiver. Once the cursor reaches the 32nd column position on any row,
all
[[Page 784]]
subsequent characters received prior to a Carriage Return, Preamble
Address Code, or Backspace will be displayed in that column replacing
any previous character occupying that address.
(vi) The cursor moves automatically one column to the right after
each character or Mid-Row Code received. A Backspace will move the
cursor one column to the left, erasing the character or Mid-Row Code
occupying that location. (A Backspace received when the cursor is in
Column 1 will be ignored.)
(vii) The Delete to End of Row command will erase from memory any
characters or control codes starting at the current cursor location and
in all columns to its right on the same row. If no displayable
characters remain on the row after the Delete to End of Row is acted
upon, the solid space (if any) for that row should also be erased to
conform with the following provisions.
(viii) If a solid space is used for legibility, it should appear
when the first displayable character (not a transparent space) or Mid-
Row Code is received on a row, not when the Preamble Address Code, if
any, is given. A row on which there are no displayable characters or
Mid-Row Codes will not display a solid space, even when rolled up
between two rows which do display a solid space.
(ix) If the reception of data for a row is interrupted by data for
the alternate data channel or for Text Mode, the display of caption text
will resume from the same cursor position if a Roll-Up Caption command
is received and no Preamble Address Code is given which would move the
cursor.
(x) A roll-up caption remains displayed until one of the standard
caption erasure techniques is applied. Receipt of a Resume Caption
Loading command (for pop-on style) or a Resume Direct Captioning command
(for paint-on style) will not affect a roll-up display. Receipt of a
Roll-Up Caption command will cause any pop-on or paint-on caption to be
erased from displayed memory and non-displayed memory.
(2) Pop-on. Pop-on style captioning is initiated by receipt of a
Resume Caption Loading command. Subsequent data are loaded into a non-
displayed memory and held there until an End of Caption command is
received, at which point the non-displayed memory becomes the displayed
memory and vice versa. (This process is often referred to as ``flipping
memories'' and does not automatically erase memory.) An End of Caption
command forces the receiver into pop-on style if no Resume Caption
Loading command has been received which would do so. The display will be
capable of 4 full rows, not necessarily contiguous, simultaneous
anywhere on the screen.
(i) Preamble Address Codes can be used to move the cursor around the
screen in random order to place captions on Rows 1 to 15. Carriage
Returns have no effect on cursor location during caption loading.
(ii) The cursor moves automatically one column to the right after
each character or Mid-Row Code received. Receipt of a Backspace will
move the cursor one column to the left, erasing the character or Mid-Row
Code occupying that location. (A Backspace received when the cursor is
in Column 1 will be ignored.) Once the cursor reaches the 32nd column
position on any row, all subsequent characters received prior to a
Backspace, an End of Caption, or a Preamble Address Code, will replace
any previous character at that location.
(iii) The Delete to End of Row command will erase from memory any
characters or control codes starting at the current cursor location and
in all columns to its right on the same row. If no displayable
characters remain on a row after the Delete to End of Row is acted upon,
the solid space (if any) for that element should also be erased.
(iv) If data reception is interrupted during caption loading by data
for the alternate caption channel or for Text Mode, caption loading will
resume at the same cursor position if a Resume Caption Loading command
is received and no Preamble Address Code is given that would move the
cursor.
(v) Characters remain in non-displayed memory until an End of
Caption command flips memories. The caption will be erased without being
displayed upon receipt of an Erase Non-Displayed Memory command, a Roll-
Up Caption
[[Page 785]]
command, or if the user switches receiver channels, data channels or
fields, or upon the loss of valid data (see paragraph (j) of this
section).
(vi) A pop-on caption, once displayed, remains displayed until one
of the standard caption erasure techniques is applied or until a Roll-Up
Caption command is received. Characters within a displayed pop-on
caption will be replaced by receipt of the Resume Direct Captioning
command and paint-on style techniques (see below).
(3) Paint-on. Paint-on style captioning is initiated by receipt of a
Resume Direct Captioning command. Subsequent data are addressed
immediately to displayed memory without need for an End of Caption
command.
(i) Preamble Address Codes can be used to move the cursor around the
screen in random order to display captions on Rows 1 to 15. Carriage
Returns have no affect on cursor location during direct captioning. The
cursor moves automatically one column to the right after each character
or Mid-Row Code is received. Receipt of a Backspace will move the cursor
one column to the left, erasing the character or Mid-Row Code occupying
that location. (A Backspace received when the cursor is in Column 1 will
be ignored.) Once the cursor reaches the 32nd column position on any
row, all subsequent characters received prior to a Preamble Address Code
or Backspace will be displayed in that column replacing any previous
character occupying that location.
(ii) The Delete to End of Row command will erase from memory any
characters or control codes starting at the current cursor location and
in all columns to its right on the same row. If no displayable
characters remain on the row after the Delete to End of Row is acted
upon, the solid space (if any) for that element should also be erased.
(iii) If the reception of data is interrupted during the direct
captioning by data for the alternate caption channel or for Text Mode,
the display of caption text will resume at the same cursor position if a
Resume Direct Captioning command is received and no Preamble Address
Code is given which would move the cursor.
(iv) Characters remain displayed until one of the standard caption
erasure techniques is applied or until a Roll-Up Caption command is
received. An End of Caption command leaves a paint-on caption fully
intact in non-displayed memory. In other words, a paint-on style caption
behaves precisely like a pop-on style caption which has been displayed.
(g) Character format. Characters are to be displayed on the screen
within a character ``cell'' which is the height and width of a single
row and column. The following codes define the displayable character
set. Television receivers manufactured prior to January 1, 1996 and
having a character resolution of 5 x 7 dots, or less, may display the
allowable alternate characters in the character table. A statement must
be in a prominent location on the box or other package in which the
receiver is to be marketed, and information must be in the owner's
manual, indicating the receiver displays closed captioning in upper case
only.
Character Set Table
Special Characters
These require two bytes for each symbol. Each hex code as shown will
be preceded by a 11h for data channel 1 or by a 19h for data channel 2.
For example: 19h 37h will place a musical note in data channel 2.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEX Example Alternate Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 [reg] See note\1\ Registered mark symbol
31 [deg] ............ Degree sign
32 \1/2\ ............ \1/2\
33 ............ Inverse query
34 TM See note\1\ Trademark symbol
35 [cent] ............ Cents sign
36 [pound] ............ Pounds Sterling sign
37 X ............ Music note
38 a A Lower-case a with grave accent
39 ............ Transparent space
3A e E Lower-case e with grave accent
3B a A Lower-case a with circumflex
3C e E Lower-case e with circumflex
3D i I Lower-case i with circumflex
3E o O Lower-case o with circumflex
3F u U Lower-case u with circumflex
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Note: The registered and trademark symbols are used to satisfy
certain legal requirements. There are various legal ways in which
these symbols may be drawn or displayed. For example, the trademark
symbol may be drawn with the ``T'' next to the ``M'' or over the
``M''. It is preferred that the trademark symbol be superscripted,
i.e., XYZTM. It is left to each individual manufacturer to interpret
these symbols in any way that meets the legal needs of the user.
[[Page 786]]
Standard characters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEX Example Alternate Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 .......... Standard space
21 ! .......... Exclamation mark
22 `` .......... Quotation mark
23 .......... Pounds (number) sign
24 $ .......... Dollar sign
25 % .......... Percentage sign
26 & .......... Ampersand
27 ' .......... Apostrophe
28 ( .......... Open parentheses
29 ) .......... Close parentheses
2A a A Lower-case a with acute accent
2B + .......... Plus sign
2C , .......... Comma
2D - .......... Minus (hyphen) sign
2E . .......... Period
2F / .......... Slash
30 0 .......... Zero
31 1 .......... One
32 2 .......... Two
33 3 .......... Three
34 4 .......... Four
35 5 .......... Five
36 6 .......... Six
37 7 .......... Seven
38 8 .......... Eight
39 9 .......... Nine
3A : .......... Colon
3B ; .......... Semi-colon
3C < .......... Less than sign
3D = .......... Equal sign
3E
Sec. 15.120 Program blocking technology requirements for television
receivers.
(a) Effective July 1, 1999, manufacturers of television broadcast
receivers as defined in section 15.3(w) of this chapter, including
personal computer systems meeting that definition, must ensure that one-
half of their product models with picture screens 33 cm (13 in) or
larger in diameter shipped in interstate commerce or manufactured in the
United States comply with the
[[Page 792]]
provisions of paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this section.
Note: This paragraph places no restrictions on the shipping or sale
of television receivers that were manufactured before July 1999.
(b) Effective January 1, 2000, all TV broadcast receivers as defined
in section 15.3(w) of this chapter, including personal computer systems
meeting that definition, with picture screens 33 cm (13 in) or larger in
diameter shipped in interstate commerce or manufactured in the United
States shall comply with the provisions of paragraphs (c), (d), and (e)
of this section.
(c) Transmission format. (1) Analog television program rating
information shall be transmitted on line 21 of field 2 of the vertical
blanking interval of television signals, in accordance with Sec.
73.682(a)(22) of this chapter.
(2) [Reserved]
(d) Operation. (1) Analog television receivers will receive program
ratings transmitted pursuant to EIA-744: ``Transport of Content Advisory
Information Using Extended Data Service (XDS)'' (incorporated by
reference, see Sec. 15.38) and EIA-608: ``Recommended Practice for Line
21 Data Service'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38). Blocking
of programs shall occur when a program rating is received that meets the
pre-determined user requirements.
(2) Digital television receivers shall react in a similar manner as
analog televisions when programmed to block specific rating categories.
(e) All television receivers as described in paragraph (a) of this
section shall block programming as follows:
(1) Channel Blocking. Channel Blocking should occur as soon as a
program rating packet with the appropriate Content Advisory or MPAA
rating level is received. Program blocking is described as a receiver
performing all of the following:
Muting the program audio.
Rendering the video black or otherwise
indecipherable.
Eliminating program-related captions.
(2) Default State. The default state of a receiver (i.e., as
provided to the consumer) should not block unrated programs. However, it
is permissible to include features that allow the user to reprogram the
receiver to block programs that are not rated.
(3) Picture-In-Picture (PIP). If a receiver has the ability to
decode program-related rating information for the Picture-In-Picture
(PIP) video signal, then it should block the PIP channel in the same
manner as the main channel. If the receiver does not have the ability to
decode PIP program-related rating information, then it should block or
otherwise disable the PIP if the viewer has enabled program blocking.
(4) Selection of Ratings. Each television receiver, in accordance
with user input, shall block programming based on the age based ratings,
the content based ratings, or a combination of the two.
(i) If the user chooses to block programming according to its age
based rating level, the receiver must have the ability to automatically
block programs with a more restrictive age based rating. For example, if
all shows with an age-based rating of TV-PG have been selected for
blocking, the user should be able to automatically block programs with
the more restrictive ratings of TV-14 and TV-MA.
(ii) If the user chooses to block programming according to a
combination of age based and content based ratings the receiver must
have the ability to automatically block programming with a more
restrictive age rating but a similar content rating. For example, if all
shows rated TV-PG-V have been selected for blocking, the user should be
able to block automatically shows with the more restrictive ratings of
TV-14-V and TV-MA-V.
(iii) The user should have the capability of overriding the
automatic blocking described in paragraphs (e)(4)(i) and (4)(ii) of this
section.
[63 FR 20133, Apr. 23, 1998, as amended at 68 FR 68546, Dec. 9, 2003; 69
FR 2849, Jan. 21, 2004]
Sec. 15.121 Scanning receivers and frequency converters used with scanning
receivers.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, scanning
receivers and frequency converters designed or
[[Page 793]]
marketed for use with scanning receivers, shall:
(1) Be incapable of operating (tuning), or readily being altered by
the user to operate, within the frequency bands allocated to the
Cellular Radiotelephone Service in part 22 of this chapter (cellular
telephone bands). Scanning receivers capable of ``readily being altered
by the user'' include, but are not limited to, those for which the
ability to receive transmissions in the cellular telephone bands can be
added by clipping the leads of, or installing, a simple component such
as a diode, resistor or jumper wire; replacing a plug-in semiconductor
chip; or programming a semiconductor chip using special access codes or
an external device, such as a personal computer. Scanning receivers, and
frequency converters designed for use with scanning receivers, also
shall be incapable of converting digital cellular communication
transmissions to analog voice audio.
(2) Be designed so that the tuning, control and filtering circuitry
is inaccessible. The design must be such that any attempts to modify the
equipment to receive transmissions from the Cellular Radiotelephone
Service likely will render the receiver inoperable.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, scanning
receivers shall reject any signals from the Cellular Radiotelephone
Service frequency bands that are 38 dB or lower based upon a 12 dB SINAD
measurement, which is considered the threshold where a signal can be
clearly discerned from any interference that may be present.
(c) Scanning receivers and frequency converters designed or marketed
for use with scanning receivers, are not subject to the requirements of
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section provided that they are
manufactured exclusively for, and marketed exclusively to, entities
described in 18 U.S.C. 2512(2), or are marketed exclusively as test
equipment pursuant to Sec. 15.3(dd).
(d) Modification of a scanning receiver to receive transmissions
from Cellular Radiotelephone Service frequency bands will be considered
to constitute manufacture of such equipment. This includes any
individual, individuals, entity or organization that modifies one or
more scanners. Any modification to a scanning receiver to receive
transmissions from the Cellular Radiotelephone Service frequency bands
voids the certification of the scanning receiver, regardless of the date
of manufacture of the original unit. In addition, the provisions of
Sec. 15.23 shall not be interpreted as permitting modification of a
scanning receiver to receiver Cellular Radiotelephone Service
transmissions.
(e) Scanning receivers and frequency converters designed for use
with scanning receivers shall not be assembled from kits or marketed in
kit form unless they comply with the requirements in paragraph (a)
through (c) of this section.
(f) Scanning receivers shall have a label permanently affixed to the
product, and this label shall be readily visible to the purchaser at the
time of purchase. The label shall read as follows: WARNING: MODIFICATION
OF THIS DEVICE TO RECEIVE CELLULAR RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE SIGNALS IS
PROHIBITED UNDER FCC RULES AND FEDERAL LAW.
(1) ``Permanently affixed'' means that the label is etched,
engraved, stamped, silkscreened, indelible printed or otherwise
permanently marked on a permanently attached part of the equipment or on
a nameplate of metal, plastic or other material fastened to the
equipment by welding, riveting, or permanent adhesive. The label shall
be designed to last the expected lifetime of the equipment in the
environment in which the equipment may be operated and must not be
readily detachable. The label shall not be a stick-on, paper label.
(2) When the device is so small that it is not practicable to place
the warning label on it, the information required by this paragraph
shall be placed in a prominent location in the instruction manual or
pamphlet supplied to the user and shall also be placed on the container
in which the device is marketed. However, the FCC identifier must be
displayed on the device.
[64 FR 22561, Apr. 27, 1999, as amended at 66 FR 32582, June 15, 2001]
[[Page 794]]
Sec. 15.122 Closed caption decoder requirements for digital television
receivers and converter boxes.
(a)(1) Effective July 1, 2002, all digital television receivers with
picture screens in the 4:3 aspect ratio with picture screens measuring
13 inches or larger diagonally, all digital television receivers with
picture screens in the 16:9 aspect ratio measuring 7.8 inches or larger
vertically and all separately sold DTV tuners shipped in interstate
commerce or manufactured in the United States shall comply with the
provisions of this section.
Note to paragraph (a)(1):
This paragraph places no restrictions on the shipping or sale of
digital television receivers that were manufactured before July 1, 2002.
(2) Effective July 1, 2002, DTV converter boxes that allow digitally
transmitted television signals to be displayed on analog receivers shall
pass available analog caption information to the attached receiver in a
form recognizable by that receiver's built-in caption decoder circuitry.
Note to paragraph (a)(2):
This paragraph places no restrictions on the shipping or sale of DTV
converter boxes that were manufactured before July 1, 2002.
(b) Digital television receivers and tuners must be capable of
decoding closed captioning information that is delivered pursuant to
EIA-708-B: ``Digital Television (DTV) Closed Captioning'' (incorporated
by reference, see Sec. 15.38).
(c) Services. (1) Decoders must be capable of decoding and
processing data for the six standard services, Caption Service
1 through Caption Service 6.
(2) Decoders that rely on Program and System Information Protocol
data to implement closed captioning functions must be capable of
decoding and processing the Caption Service Directory data. Such
decoders must be capable of decoding all Caption Channel Block Headers
consisting of Standard Service Headers, Extended Service Block Headers,
and Null Block headers. However, decoding of the data is required only
for Standard Service Blocks (Service IDs <-6), and then only if the
characters for the corresponding language are supported. The decoders
must be able to display the directory for services 1 through 6.
(d) Code space organization. (1) Decoders must support Code Space
C0, G0, C1, and G1 in their entirety.
[[Page 795]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR29SE00.000
(2) The following characters within code space G2 must be supported:
(i) Transparent space (TSP).
(ii) Non-breaking transparent space (NBTSP).
(iii) Solid block ( ).
(iv) Trademark symbol (\TM\).
(v) Latin-1 characters [Scaron], [OElig], [scaron], [oelig], [Yuml].
(3) The substitutions in Table 2 are to be made if a decoder does
not support the remaining G2 characters.
Table 2--G2 Character Substitution Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G2 Character Substitute with
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open single quote (`), G2 char G0 single quote (`), char code 0x27
code 0x31.
Close single quote ('), G2 char G0 single quote ('), char code 0x27
code 0x32.
Open double quote (``), G2 char G0 double quote (``), char code 0x22
code 0x33.
Close double quote (''), G2 char G0 double quote (''), char code 0x22
code 0x34.
Bold bullet (), G1 bullet (), char
G2 char code 0x35. code 0xB7
Elipsis (. . .), G2 char code G0 underscore (--), char code 0x5F
0x25.
One-eighth (\1/8\), G2 char code G0 percent sign (%), char code 0x25
0x76.
Three-eighths (\3/8\), G2 char G0 percent sign (%), char code 0x25
code 0x77.
Five-eighths (\5/8\), G2 char G0 percent sign (%), char code 0x25
code 0x78.
Seven-eighths (\7/8\), G2 char G0 percent sign (%), char code 0x25
code 0x79.
[[Page 796]]
Vertical border ([verbar]), G2 G0 stroke ([verbar]), char code 0x7C
char code 0x7A.
Upper-right border ([), G2 char G0 dash (-), char code 0x2D
code 0x7B.
Lower-left border (), G2 G0 dash (-), char code 0x2D
char code 0x7C.
Horizontal border (--), G2 char G0 dash (-), char code 0x2D
code 0x7D.
Lower-right border (]), G2 char G0 dash (-), char code 0x2D
code 0x7E.
Upper-left border (), G2 G0 dash (-), char code 0x2D
char code 0x7F.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Support for code spaces C2, C3, and G3 is optional. All
unsupported graphic symbols in the G3 code space are to be substituted
with the G0 underscore character (--), char code 0x5F.
(e) Screen coordinates. Table 3 specifies the screen coordinate
resolutions and limits for anchor point positioning in 4:3 and 16:9
display formats, and the number of characters per row.
Table 3--Screen Coordinate Resolutions and Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Maximum
Screen aspect ratio Maximum anchor position Minimum anchor position displayed characters
resolution resolution rows per row
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4:3.......................... 75v x 160h................. 15v x 32h.................. 4 32
16:9......................... 75v x 210h................. 15v x 42h.................. 4 42
Other........................ 75v x (5 x H).............. 15v x H*................... 4 \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\H = 32 x (the width of the screen in relation to a 4:3 display). For example, the 16:9 format is \1/3\ wider
than a 4:3 display; thus, H = 32 * \4/3\ = 42.667, or 42.
(1) This means that the minimum grid resolution for a 4:3 aspect
ratio instrument is 15 vertical positions x 32 horizontal positions.
This minimum grid resolution for 16:9 ratio instrument is 15 vertical
positions x 42 horizontal positions. These minimum grid sizes are to
cover the entire safe-title area of the corresponding screen.
(2) The minimum coordinates equate to a \1/5\ reduction in the
maximum horizontal and vertical grid resolution coordinates. Caption
providers are to use the maximum coordinate system values when
specifying anchor point positions. Decoders using the minimum resolution
are to divide the provided horizontal and vertical screen coordinates by
5 to derive the equivalent minimum coordinates.
(3) Any caption targeted for both 4:3 and 16:9 instruments is
limited to 32 contiguous characters per row. If a caption is received by
a 4:3 instrument that is targeted for a 16:9 display only, or requires a
window width greater than 32 characters, then the caption may be
completely disregarded by the decoder. 16:9 instruments should be able
to process and display captions intended for 4:3 displays, providing all
other minimum recommendations are met.
(4) If the resulting size of any window is larger than the safe
title area for the corresponding display's aspect ratio, then this
window will be completely disregarded.
(f) Caption windows. (1) Decoders need to display no more than 4
rows of captions on the screen at any given time, regardless of the
number of windows displayed. This implies that no more than 4 windows
can be displayed at any given time (with each having only one caption
row). However, decoders should maintain storage to support a minimum
total of 8 rows of captions. This storage is needed for the worst-case
support of a displayed window with 4 rows of captioning and a non-
displayed window which is buffering the incoming rows for the next 4-row
caption. As implied above, the maximum number of windows that may be
displayed at any one time by a minimum decoder implementation is 4. If
more than 4 windows are defined in the caption stream, the decoder may
disregard the youngest and lowest priority window definition(s). Caption
providers must be aware of this limitation, and either restrict the
total number of windows used or accept that some windows will not be
displayed.
[[Page 797]]
(2) Decoders do not need to support overlapped windows. If a window
overlaps another window, the overlapped window need not be displayed by
the decoder.
(3) At a minimum, decoders will assume that all windows have rows
and columns ``locked''. This implies that if a decoder implements the
SMALL pen-size, then word-``un''wrapping, when shrinking captions, need
not be implemented. Also, if a decoder implements the LARGE pen size,
then word wrapping (when enlarging captions) need not be implemented.
(4) Whenever possible, the receiver should render embedded carriage
returns as line breaks, since these carriage returns indicate an
important aspect of the caption's formatting as determined by the
service provider. However, it may sometimes be necessary for the
receiver to ignore embedded line breaks. For example, if a caption is to
appear in a larger font, and if its window's rows and/or columns are
unlocked, the rows of text may need to become longer or shorter to fit
within the allocated space. Such automatic reformatting of a caption is
known as ``word wrap.'' If decoders support word-wrapping, it must be
implemented as follows:
(i) The receiver should follow standard typographic practice when
implementing word wrap. Potential breaking points (word-wrapping points)
are indicated by the space character (20h) and by the hyphen character
(2Dh).
(ii) If a row is to be broken at a space, the receiver should remove
the space from the caption display. If a row is to be broken after a
hyphen, the hyphen should be retained.
(iii) If an embedded return is to be removed, it should usually be
replaced with a space. However, if the character to the left of the
embedded return is a hyphen, the embedded return should be removed but
NOT replaced with a space.
(iv) This specification does not include optional hyphens, nor does
it provide for any form of automatic hyphenation. No non-breaking hyphen
is defined. The non-breaking space (A0h in the G1 code set) and the non-
breaking transparent space (21h in the G2 code set) should not be
considered as potential line breaks.
(v) If a single word exceeds the length of a row, the word should be
placed at the start of a new row, broken at the character following the
last character that fits on the row, and continued with further breaks
if needed.
(g) Window text painting. (1) All decoders should implement
``left'', ``right'', and ``center'' caption-text justification.
Implementation of ``full'' justification is optional. If ``full''
justification is not implemented, fully justified captions should be
treated as though they are ``left'' justified.
(i) For ``left'' justification, decoders should display any portion
of a received row of text when it is received. For ``center'',
``right'', and ``full'' justification, decoders may display any portion
of a received row of text when it is received, or may delay display of a
received row of text until reception of a row completion indicator. A
row completion indicator is defined as receipt of a CR, ETX or any other
command, except SetPenColor, SetPenAttributes, or SetPenLocation where
the pen relocation is within the same row.
(ii) Receipt of a character for a displayed row which already
contains text with ``center'', ``right'' or ``full'' justification will
cause the row to be cleared prior to the display of the newly received
character and any subsequent characters. Receipt of a justification
command which changes the last received justification for a given window
will cause the window to be cleared.
(2) At a minimum, decoders must support LEFT--TO--RIGHT printing.
(3) At a minimum, decoders must support BOTTOM--TO--TOP scrolling.
For windows sharing the same horizontal scan lines on the display,
scrolling may be disabled.
(4) At a minimum, decoders must support the same recommended
practices for scroll rate as is provided for NTSC closed-captioning.
(5) At a minimum, decoders must support the same recommended
practices for smooth scrolling as is provided for NTSC closed-
captioning.
[[Page 798]]
(6) At a minimum, decoders must implement the ``snap'' window
display effect. If the window ``fade'' and ``wipe'' effects are not
implemented, then the decoder will ``snap'' all windows when they are to
be displayed, and the ``effect speed'' parameter is ignored.
(h) Window colors and borders. At a minimum, decoders must implement
borderless windows with solid, black backgrounds (i.e., border type =
NONE, fill color = (0,0,0), fill opacity = SOLID), and borderless
transparent windows (i.e., border type = NONE, fill opacity =
TRANSPARENT).
(i) Predefined window and pen styles. Predefined Window Style and
Pen Style ID's may be provided in the DefineWindow command. At a
minimum, decoders should implement Predefined Window Attribute Style 1
and Predefined Pen Attribute Style 1, as shown in Table 4 and Table 5,
respectively.
[[Page 799]]
Table 4--Predefined Window Style ID's
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Print Scroll Word Display Effect Effect Fill Border
Style ID Justify direction direction wrap effect direction speed Fill color opacity Border type color Usage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................ Left........ Left-to-right Bottom-to-top No..... Snap........ n/a......... n/a........ (0,0,0) Solid...... None....... n/a........ NTSC Style
Black. PopUp
Captions
2............................ Left........ Left-to-right Bottom-to-top No..... Snap........ n/a......... n/a........ n/a......... Transparent None....... n/a........ PopUp Captions
w/o Black
Background
3............................ Cntr........ Left-to-right Bottom-to-top No..... Snap........ n/a......... n/a........ (0,0,0) Solid...... None....... n/a........ NTSC Style
Black. Centered
PopUp
Captions
4............................ Left........ Left-to-right Bottom-to-top Yes.... Snap........ n/a......... n/a........ (0,0,0) Solid...... None....... n/a........ NTSC Style
Black. RollUp
Captions
5............................ Left........ Left-to-right Bottom-to-top Yes.... Snap........ n/a......... n/a........ n/a......... Transparent None....... n/a........ RollUp
Captions w/o
Black
Background
6............................ Cntr........ Left-to-right Bottom-to-top Yes.... Snap........ n/a......... n/a........ (0,0,0) Solid...... None....... n/a........ NTSC Style
Black. Centered
RollUp
Captions
7............................ Left........ Top-to-bottom Right-to-left No..... Snap........ n/a......... n/a........ (0,0,0) Solid...... None....... n/a........ Ticker Tape
Black.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 5--Predefined Pen Style ID's
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foregrnd Foregrnd Backgrnd Backgrnd
Predefined style ID Pen size Font style Offset Italics Underline Edge type color opacity color opacity Edge color Usage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................. Stndr........ 0............ Normal....... No....... No.......... None....... (2,2,2) Solid...... (0,0,0) Solid...... n/a........ Default NTSC
White. Black. Style*
[[Page 800]]
2............................. Stndr........ 1............ Normal....... No....... No.......... None....... (2,2,2).... Solid...... (0,0,0) Solid...... n/a........ NTSC Style*
White. Mono w/
Serif
3............................. Stndr........ 2............ Normal....... No....... No.......... None....... (2,2,2) Solid...... (0,0,0) Solid...... n/a........ NTSC Style*
White. Black. Prop w/
Serif
4............................. Stndr........ 3............ Normal....... No....... No.......... None....... (2,2,2) Solid...... (0,0,0) Solid...... n/a........ NTSC Style*
White. Black. Mono w/o
Serif
5............................. Stndr........ 4............ Normal....... No....... No.......... None....... (2,2,2) Solid...... (0,0,0) Solid...... n/a........ NTSC Style*
White. Black. Prop w/o
Serif
6............................. Stndr........ 3............ Normal....... No....... No.......... Unifrm..... (2,2,2) Solid...... n/a........ Transparent (0,0,0) Mono w/o
White. Black. Serif,
Bordered
Text, No BG
7............................. Stndr........ 4............ Normal....... No....... No.......... Unifrm..... (2,2,2) Solid...... n/a........ Transparent (0,0,0) Prop. w/o
White. Black. Serif,
Bordered
Text, No BG
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*``NTSC Style''--White Text on Black Background
[[Page 801]]
(j) Pen size. (1) Decoders must support the standard, large, and
small pen sizes and must allow the caption provider to choose a pen size
and allow the viewer to choose an alternative size. The STANDARD pen
size should be implemented such that the height of the tallest character
in any implemented font is no taller than \1/15\ of the height of the
safe-title area, and the width of the widest character is no wider than
\1/32\ of the width of the safe-title area for 4:3 displays and \1/42\
of the safe-title area width for 16:9 displays.
(2) The LARGE pen size should be implemented such that the width of
the widest character in any implemented font is no wider than \1/32\ of
the safe-title area for 16:9 displays. This recommendation allows for
captions to grow to a LARGE pen size without having to reformat the
caption since no caption will have more than 32 characters per row.
(k) Font styles. (1) Decoders must support the eight fonts listed
below. Caption providers may specify 1 of these 8 font styles to be used
to write caption text. The styles specified in the ``font style''
parameter of the SetPenAttributes command are numbered from 0 through 7.
The following is a list of the 8 required font styles. For information
purposes only, each font style references one or more popular fonts
which embody the characteristics of the style:
(i) 0--Default (undefined)
(ii) 1--Monospaced with serifs (similar to Courier)
(iii) 2--Proportionally spaced with serifs (similar to Times New
Roman)
(iv) 3--Monospaced without serifs (similar to Helvetica Monospaced)
(v) 4--Proportionally spaced without serifs (similar to Arial and
Swiss)
(vi) 5--Casual font type (similar to Dom and Impress)
(vii) 6--Cursive font type (similar to Coronet and Marigold)
(viii) 7--Small capitals (similar to Engravers Gothic)
(2) Font styles may be implemented in any typeface which the decoder
manufacturer deems to be a readable rendition of the font style, and
need not be in the exact typefaces given in the example above. Decoders
must include the ability for consumers to choose among the eight fonts.
The decoder must display the font chosen by the caption provider unless
the viewer chooses a different font.
(l) Character offsetting. Decoders need not implement the character
offsetting (i.e., subscript and superscript) pen attributes.
(m) Pen styles. At a minimum, decoders must implement normal,
italic, and underline pen styles.
(n) Foreground color and opacity. (1) At a minimum, decoders must
implement transparent, translucent, solid and flashing character
foreground type attributes.
(2) At a minimum, decoders must implement the following character
foreground colors: white, black, red, green, blue, yellow, magenta and
cyan.
(3) Caption providers may specify the color/opacity. Decoders must
include the ability for consumers to choose among the color/opacity
options. The decoder must display the color/opacity chosen by the
caption provider unless the viewer chooses otherwise.
(o) Background color and opacity. (1) Decoders must implement the
following background colors: white, black, red, green, blue, yellow,
magenta and cyan. It is recommended that this background is extended
beyond the character foreground to a degree that the foreground is
separated from the underlying video by a sufficient number of background
pixels to insure the foreground is separated from the background.
(2) Decoders must implement transparent, translucent, solid and
flashing background type attributes. Caption providers may specify the
color/opacity. Decoders must include the ability for consumers to choose
among the color/opacity options. The decoder must display the color/
opacity chosen by the caption provider unless the viewer chooses
otherwise.
(p) Character edges. Decoders must implement separate edge color and
type attribute control.
(q) Color representation. (1) At a minimum, decoders must support
the 8 colors listed in Table 6.
[[Page 802]]
Table 6--Minimum Color List Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Color Red Green Blue
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black........................................ 0 0 0
White........................................ 2 2 2
Red.......................................... 2 0 0
Green........................................ 0 2 0
Blue......................................... 0 0 2
Yellow....................................... 2 2 0
Magenta...................................... 2 0 2
Cyan......................................... 0 2 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)(i) When a decoder supporting this Minimum Color List receives an
RGB value not in the list, it will map the received value to one of the
values in the list via the following algorithm:
(A) All one (1) values are to be changed to 0.
(B) All two (2) values are to remain unchanged.
(C) All three (3) values are to be changed to 2.
(ii) For example, the RGB value (1,2,3) will be mapped to (0,2,2),
(3,3,3) will be mapped to (2,2,2) and (1,1,1) will be mapped to (0,0,0).
(3) Table 7 is an alternative minimum color list table supporting 22
colors.
Table 7--Alternative Minimum Color List Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Color Red Green Blue
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Black........................................ 0 0 0
Gray......................................... 1 1 1
White........................................ 2 2 2
Bright White................................. 3 3 3
Dark Red..................................... 1 0 0
Red.......................................... 2 0 0
Bright Red................................... 3 0 0
Dark Green................................... 0 1 0
Green........................................ 0 2 0
Bright Green................................. 0 3 0
Dark Blue.................................... 0 0 1
Blue......................................... 0 0 2
Bright Blue.................................. 0 0 3
Dark Yellow.................................. 1 1 0
Yellow....................................... 2 2 0
Bright Yellow................................ 3 3 0
Dark Magenta................................. 1 0 1
Magenta...................................... 2 0 2
Bright Magenta............................... 3 0 3
Dark Cyan.................................... 0 1 1
Cyan......................................... 0 2 2
Bright Cyan.................................. 0 3 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) When a decoder supporting the Alternative Minimum Color List in
Table 7 receives an RGB value not in the list (i.e., an RGB value whose
non-zero elements are not the same value), it will map the received
value to one of the values in the list via the following algorithm:
(A) For RGB values with all elements non-zero and different--e.g.,
(1,2,3), (3,2,1), and (2,1,3), the 1 value will be changed to 0, the 2
value will remain unchanged, and the 3 value will be changed to 2.
(B) For RGB values with all elements non-zero and with two common
elements--e.g. (3,1,3), (2,1,2), and (2,2,3), if the common elements are
3 and the uncommon one is 1, then the 1 elements is changed to 0; e.g.
(3,1,3) [rarr] (3,0,3). If the common elements are 1 and the uncommon
element is 3, then the 1 elements are changed to 0, and the 3 element is
changed to 2; e.g. (1,3,1) [rarr] (0,2,0). In all other cases, the
uncommon element is changed to the common value; e.g., (2,2,3) [rarr]
(2,2,2), (1,2,1) [rarr] (1,1,1), and (3,2,3) [rarr] (3,3,3).
(ii) All decoders not supporting either one of the two color lists
described above, must support the full 64 possible RGB color value
combinations.
(r) Character rendition considerations. In NTSC Closed Captioning,
decoders were required to insert leading and trailing spaces on each
caption row. There were two reasons for this requirement:
(1) To provide a buffer so that the first and last characters of a
caption row do not fall outside the safe title area, and
(2) To provide a black border on each side of a character so that
the ``white'' leading pixels of the first character on a row and the
trailing ``white'' pixels of the last character on a row do not bleed
into the underlying video.
(i) Since caption windows are required to reside in the safe title
area of the DTV screen, reason 1 (above) is not applicable to DTVCC
captions.
(ii) The attributes available in the SetPenAttributes command for
character rendition (e.g., character background and edge attributes)
provide unlimited flexibility to the caption provider when describing
caption text in an ideal decoder implementation. However, manufacturers
need not implement all pen attributes. Thus it is recommended that no
matter what the level of implementation, decoder manufacturers should
take into account the readability of all caption text against a variety
of all video backgrounds, and should implement some
[[Page 803]]
automatic character delineation when the individual control of character
foreground, background and edge is not supported.
(s) Service synchronization. Service Input Buffers must be at least
128 bytes in size. Caption providers must keep this lower limit in mind
when following Delay commands with other commands and window text. In
other words, no more than 128 bytes of DTVCC commands and text should be
transmitted (encoded) before a pending Delay command's delay interval
expires.
(t) Settings. Decoders must include an option that permits a viewer
to choose a setting that will display captions as intended by the
caption provider (a default). Decoders must also include an option that
allows a viewer's chosen settings to remain until the viewer chooses to
alter these settings, including periods when the television is turned
off.
[65 FR 58471, Sept. 29, 2000, as amended at 69 FR 2849, Jan. 21, 2004]
Sec. 15.123 Labeling of digital cable ready products.
(a) The requirements of this section shall apply to unidirectional
digital cable products. Unidirectional digital cable products are one-
way devices that accept a Point of Deployment module (POD) and which
include, but are not limited to televisions, set-top-boxes and recording
devices connected to digital cable systems. Unidirectional digital cable
products do not include interactive two-way digital television products.
(b) A unidirectional digital cable product may not be labeled with
or marketed using the term ``digital cable ready,'' or other terminology
that describes the device as ``cable ready'' or ``cable compatible,'' or
otherwise indicates that the device accepts a POD or conveys the
impression that the device is compatible with digital cable service
unless it implements at a minimum the following features:
(1) Tunes NTSC analog channels transmitted in-the-clear.
(2) Tunes digital channels that are transmitted in compliance with
SCTE 40 2003 (formerly DVS 313): ``Digital Cable Network Interface
Standard'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38), provided,
however, that with respect to Table B.11 of that standard, the phase
noise requirement shall be -86 dB/Hz including both in-the-clear
channels and channels that are subject to conditional access.
(3) Allows navigation of channels based on channel information
(virtual channel map and source names) provided through the cable system
in compliance with ANSI/SCTE 65 2002 (formerly DVS 234): ``Service
Information Delivered Out-of-Band for Digital Cable Television''
(incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38), and/or PSIP-enabled
navigation (ANSI/SCTE 54 2003 (formerly DVS 241): ``Digital Video
Service Multiplex and Transport System Standard for Cable Television''
(incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38)).
(4) Includes the POD-Host Interface specified in SCTE 28 2003
(formerly DVS 295): ``Host-POD Interface Standard'' (incorporated by
reference, see Sec. 15.38), and SCTE 41 2003 (formerly DVS 301): ``POD
Copy Protection System'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38),
or implementation of a more advanced POD-Host Interface based on
successor standards. Support for Internet protocol flows is not
required.
(5) Responds to emergency alerts that are transmitted in compliance
with ANSI/SCTE 54 2003 (formerly DVS 241): ``Digital Video Service
Multiplex and Transport System Standard for Cable Television''
(incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38).
(6) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) through (5)
of this section, a unidirectional digital cable television may not be
labeled or marketed as digital cable ready or with other terminology as
described in paragraph (b) of this section, unless it includes a DTV
broadcast tuner as set forth in Sec. 15.117(i) and employs at least one
specified interface in accordance with the following schedule:
(i) For 480p grade unidirectional digital cable televisions, either
a DVI/HDCP, HDMI/HDCP, or 480p Y,Pb,Pr interface:
(A) Models with screen sizes 36 inches and above: 50% of a
manufacturer's or importer's models manufactured or imported after July
1, 2004; 100% of such
[[Page 804]]
models manufactured or imported after July 1, 2005.
(B) Models with screen sizes 32 to 35 inches: 50% of a
manufacturer's or importer's models manufactured or imported after July
1, 2005; 100% of such models manufactured or imported after July 1,
2006.
(ii) For 720p/1080i grade unidirectional digital cable televisions,
either a DVI/HDCP or HDMI/HDCP interface:
(A) Models with screen sizes 36 inches and above: 50% of a
manufacturer's or importer's models manufactured or imported after July
1, 2004; 100% of such models manufactured or imported after July 1,
2005.
(B) Models with screen sizes 25 to 35 inches: 50% of a
manufacturer's or importer's models manufactured or imported after July
1, 2005; 100% of such models manufactured or imported after July l,
2006.
(C) Models with screen sizes 13 to 24 inches: 100% of a
manufacturer's or importer's models manufactured or imported after July
1, 2007.
(c) Before a manufacturer's or importer's first unidirectional
digital cable product may be labeled or marketed as digital cable ready
or with other terminology as described in paragraph (b) of this section,
the manufacturer or importer shall verify the device as follows:
(1) The manufacturer or importer shall have a sample of its first
model of a unidirectional digital cable product tested to show
compliance with the procedures set forth in Uni-Dir-PICS-I01-030903:
``Uni-Directional Receiving Device: Conformance Checklist: PICS
Proforma'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38) at a qualified
test facility. The manufacturer or importer shall have any modifications
to the product to correct failures of the procedures in Uni-Dir-PICS-
I01-030903: ``Uni-Directional Receiving Device: Conformance Checklist:
PICS Proforma'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38) retested at
a qualified test facility.
(2) A qualified test facility is a facility representing cable
television system operators serving a majority of the cable television
subscribers in the United States or an independent laboratory with
personnel knowledgeable with respect to the standards referenced in
paragraph (b) of this section concerning the procedures set forth in
Uni-Dir-PICS-I01-030903: ``Uni-Directional Receiving Device: Conformance
Checklist: PICS Proforma'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38).
(3) Subsequent to the testing of its initial unidirectional digital
cable product model, a manufacturer or importer is not required to have
other models of unidirectional digital cable products tested at a
qualified test facility for compliance with the procedures of Uni-Dir-
PICS-I01-030903: ``Uni-Directional Receiving Device: Conformance
Checklist: PICS Proforma'' (incorporated by reference, see Sec. 15.38).
However, the manufacturer or importer shall ensure that all subsequent
models of unidirectional digital cable products comply with the
procedures in the Uni-Dir-PICS-I01-030903: ``Uni-Directional Receiving
Device: Conformance Checklist: PICS Proforma'' (incorporated by
reference, see Sec. 15.38) and all other applicable rules and
standards. The manufacturer or importer shall maintain records
indicating such compliance in accordance with the verification procedure
requirements in part 2, subpart J of this chapter. The manufacturer or
importer shall further submit documentation verifying compliance with
the procedures in the Uni-Dir-PICS-I01-030903: ``Uni-Directional
Receiving Device: Conformance Checklist: PICS Proforma'' (incorporated
by reference, see Sec. 15.38) to a facility representing cable
television system operators serving a majority of the cable television
subscribers in the United States.
(d) Manufacturers and importers shall provide in appropriate post-
sale material that describes the features and functionality of the
product, such as the owner's guide, the following language: ``This
digital television is capable of receiving analog basic, digital basic
and digital premium cable television programming by direct connection to
a cable system providing such programming. A security card provided by
your cable operator is required to view encrypted digital programming.
[[Page 805]]
Certain advanced and interactive digital cable services such as video-
on-demand, a cable operator's enhanced program guide and data-enhanced
television services may require the use of a set-top box. For more
information call your local cable operator.''
[68 FR 66733, Nov. 28, 2003]