Wireless
RF Product Modifications May Be Eligible for an FCC Permissive Change
When an RF product is revised due to obsolete parts, cost cutting, or product improvements, how does the engineer know what the FCC requirements are for the altered product? Will it require a new FCC filing and ID number or will a Permissive Change be allowed? To allow products to be modified without requiring a... Read More
How to Request FCC Confidentiality for Proprietary Product Information
On October 16, 2014 the FCC published 726920 D01 Confidentiality Request Procedures, a new document that details the steps required to ensure proprietary information about your device will be held confidential. To be granted confidentiality, your application must include a reference to 0.457(d) and 0.459 of the FCC Rules, the reason why the information should... Read More
New EMC Directive 2014/30/EU Will Soon Replace 2004/108/EU
The European Union EMC Directive 2004/108/EU has been revised to the new Directive 2014/30/EU. After April 2016, the new directive will be required for all applicable electrical products being sold in the European Union. Requirements listed in Annex I of the directive remain the same. But 4 key changes have been made: The directive now... Read More
FCC Part 15 DFS Testing Requirements Change for U-NII Devices
To accommodate changes in the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Docket 13-49, the Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) test procedure document KDB 905462 D02 UNII DFS Compliance Procedures New Rules has been issued. The document describes the compliance measurement procedures for performing DFS tests under FCC Part 15 Subpart E Rules required for U-NII (Unlicensed –National Information... Read More
FCC Issues Guidance on New E-Labeling
On July 11, 2014, the FCC’s Office of Engineering & Technology (OET) released new guidance giving some consumer electronics manufacturers more flexibility in digitally labeling (e-labeling) their products. The guidance advises that all devices with an integral (non-removable) screen can now display that label digitally on that screen, and up to three steps deep into... Read More
Some Electronic Devices Are Exempt from FCC EMC Testing
Most electronic devices destined for sale in the U.S. fall under Part 15 (CFR 47) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules for limits to the unintentional and intentional emission of radiation. However, there are some exemptions that you may be able to take advantage of, depending on the nature of your product. You can... Read More
Radio Equipment Directive (RED) Replacing R&TTE Directive, is Published in OJ
The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) – 2014/53/EU – has been published in the Official Journal. This Directive is replacing the RTTE Directive (1999/5/EC). You can read more about the changes in the new RED in a previous Compliance Today post. Timetable May 22, 2014 – Publication in OJ June 12, 2014 – Entry in force... Read More
Wireless & Radio Regulations Changing for FCC & RE Directive
At last week’s TCB Council Workshop in Baltimore, TCBs – including MET Labs – were given an update on upcoming wireless regulatory and compliance changes. Here are the most notable. The FCC released a First Report and Order (ET Docket No. 13-49) on April 1, 2014 allowing devices in the U-NII-1 band to operate with... Read More
New Radio Equipment Directive Adopted by EU, Awaits Publication in OJ
The new Radio Equipment Directive (RED) was adopted by the Members of the EU Parliament (MEPs) on March 13, 2014 by 550 votes to 12. It is now awaiting approval by the EU Council and then publication in the Official Journal (OJ) of the European Union. Member states will have two years to transpose the... Read More
FCC Equipment Enforcement Focuses on HAC, U-NII & Digital Devices
The FCC took 20 enforcement actions in 2013 against RF equipment manufacturers and vendors for violations of the FCC’s marketing rules and technical standards. These actions include enforcement of Rule Parts 2, 15, 18, 22, 24, 27, 90, and 95. Fish & Richardson P.C. summarizes FCC Equipment Manufacturer Violations from 2006-2013 here. Four of the... Read More