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FCC BBS text files - 5/7
NOTICE: TO ALL CONCERNED Certain text files and messages contained on this site deal with activities and devices which would be in violation of various Federal, State, and local laws if actually carried out or constructed. The webmasters of this site do not advocate the breaking of any law. Our text files and message bases are for informational purposes only. We recommend that you contact your local law enforcement officials before undertaking any project based upon any information obtained from this or any other web site. We do not guarantee that any of the information contained on this system is correct, workable, or factual. We are not responsible for, nor do we assume any liability for, damages resulting from the use of any information on this site.
SUBMISSION OF MODIFIED COMPUTING DEVICES AND PERIPHERALS
On August 17, 1988, a public notice was issued by the Commission concerning
submission of modified computing devices and peripherals in connection with
applications for certification.
The Commission's Laboratory dismissed applications for computing devices filed
by Toshiba Corporation, Heath Company, Well Join Ind Co., Inc., Everex
Systems, Inc., and Genstar Systems, Inc. As part of its pre-grant sampling
program, the companies were requested to submit samples of personal computers
(and associated peripheral devices) that were the subject of applications for
equipment authorization. Examination of the equipment submitted in each case
revealed that the computers and/or peripheral devices had been modified.
Applications for certification must contain the information and documentation
required by Sections 2.909, 15.34, 15.45 and 15.46 of the Rules. Without
documentation, unnecessary burdens are placed on the Laboratory staff and
questions may arise concerning the application for certification. A sample
of a device submitted for testing must not differ from the device described
in the application.
Computers must be tested with associated peripheral devices. Unless they are
intended to be marketed as part of the computer system, peripherals used to
test personal computers for compliance with the rules must themselves be
certified. In a public notice dated September 18, 1986, the Commission stated
that, "applications for certification of a personal computer or peripheral
must show that it has been tested with the accessories with which it is
normally going to be used." The use of a modified device to provide the
Commission with test data is misleading and calls into question the validity
of the application.
The discovery of undocumented modifications or modifications to previously
certificated devices by staff during the pre-grant sampling of computing
devices will result in dismissal of the application. In addition, the
Commission may retain the equipment pending further investigation and
appropriate enforcement action.
For further information, please contact Phillip Inglis at (301) 725-1585.
-FCC-
PROPOSAL TO REVISE MP-4 (FCC COMPUTING DEVICE TEST PROCEDURE)
On March 7, 1989, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) in General Docket 89-44, (FCC 89-53) to revise MP-4, the FCC's
procedure for testing computing devices.
Copies of the NPRM, which contains the proposed test procedure, may be
obtained from the Commission's duplicating contractor, International
Transcription Services, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037,
(202) 857-3800.
Inquiries concerning the NPRM may be directed to Richard Fabina at (301)
725-1585.
Note: The time to file comments and reply comments in the above NPRM has
been extended until June 7 and July 7, 1989, respectively.
See ORDER EXTENDING TIME TO FILE COMMENTS released April 26, 1989.
4/19/89
On February 8, 1990, the Commission issued a public notice, No. 1712,
permitting ferrite beads on computer video cables as special accessories for
compliance with Part 15, under certain conditions. The text of the notice
follows:
Digital devices, such as personal computers, are required to meet radio noise
suppression limits in Part 15 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Part 15.
Under these rules, digital devices must be capable of compliance in the
configuration in which the equipment is marketed. The rules also permit
compliance to be achieved through use of special accessories, such as shielded
cables and/or special connectors, provided those special accessories are
marketed with the equipment. Ref. 47 CFR Section 15.27. In response to a
recent request for interpretation of the rules, it was found permissible to
supply the purchaser with ferrite beads for use with off-the-shelf video
monitor cables for Class B personal computers instead of supplying ferrite
loaded cables.
The Commission has in the past certificated Class B personal computers and
video interface cards with the condition that a ferrite loaded video cable
be supplied where such a cable is needed to meet the radio noise suppression
limits. However, video monitors are generally provided with their own cable.
This results in waste and inefficiency because the user cannot employ two
monitor cables. Moreover, since the monitor-supplied cable often is
non-detachable, it is not possible to use the computer-supplied ferrite loaded
cable. This calls into doubt whether the computer as configured by the end
user will still satisfy the FCC emissions limits.
As a solution to this situation, the Commission will permit ferrite beads to
be supplied with host computers or video interface cards instead of ferrite
loaded video cables, subject to the following conditions. First, a showing
must be made that the computer complies with the rules when connected to an
off-the-shelf video monitor. Second, the user must be provided with a clear
set of instructions showing how to attach the ferrite beads to the video
monitor cable. Third, the instructions must state prominently that the
computer will not be in compliance with FCC Regulations unless the ferrites
are attached to the video cable.
This policy does not extend to cables used for connecting the host computer
to other peripherals and accessories. Unlike video monitors, peripherals
such as printers and external modems do not come with cables. Thus, ferrite
loaded cables supplied to the user for connecting these devices will not
be superfluous. Further, while video monitor cables generally have the
same physical and technical characteristics, this is not generally the case
for other peripheral cables. Thus, ferrite provided to the user for other
cables may not fit properly and therefore may not provide sufficient radio
noise suppression. Finally, because a video monitor must be connected at
the time of initial set-up in order to use the computer, it is reasonable
to assume the user will follow the instructions and add the ferrites to the
video cable. However, other peripheral equipment and accessories, such as
joysticks and mice, are not necessary to operate the computer and may not
be added until some time later. There is substantial doubt that the user
will have retained the ferrites and will remember to add them.
While a ferrite-loaded cable is an effective means of limiting radio noise,
it represents a band-aid approach to the problem. Good engineering design
of computers and peripherals can avoid the need for such special equipment.
Manufacturers are encouraged to employ techniques internal to the computer
or other digital device, such as filtering and careful circuit board design,
to prevent radio noise from being coupled onto connecting cable.
Questions concerning this notice should be directed to the Technical Standards
Branch, (202) 653-6288.
REVISION OF PART 15 OF THE RULES REGARDING OPERATION OF RF DEVICES WITHOUT
INDIVIDUAL LICENSE, GEN DOC 87-389
On April 4, 1990, the Commission released a public notice, No. DA 90-500,
requesting comments on the technical rules adopted for field disturbance
sensors.
The text of the notice follows:
The FCC recently adopted rules reducing the harmonic emission limit for filed
disturbance sensors (FDS) to 0.5 mV/m in certain restricted frequency bands.
General Motors Research Corp (GM) and M/A Com, both FDS manufacturers, filed
petitions requesting reconsideration of these reductions. On March 19, 1990,
the United States Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA), filed a proposal for responding to these
petitions.
NTIA suggests that the limit on harmonic emissions from FDS's designed for use
inside buildings be relaxed to 25 mV/m. This value is comparable to the old
limit. NTIA proposes that the harmonic emission limit for FDS's used outside
buildings be relaxed to 7.5 mV/m. NTIA further suggests that FDS's used on
mobile vehicles not be operated in a continuous mode.
Comments are requested on the NTIA proposal. Specific comments are requested
regarding the proposal to prohibit FDS usage in motor vehicles on a continuous
basis. NTIA has expressed concern that continuously-operated FDS's used on
mobile vehicles are far more likely to cause interference than those which
operate under limited circumstances, such as GM's Near Obstacle Detection
System which operates only when a vehicle is in reverse gear. Comments are
requested on how to define continuous operation and whether reasonable
alternatives to this prohibition exist.
Comments on the NTIA proposal may be filed until May 4, 1990 with the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20554, referencing the above docket number.
Copies of NTIA's proposal, as well as any documents filed in this matter, are
available for public inspection and copying in the FCC Public Reference Room,
1919 M St., N.W., Room 230, Washington, DC and from the Commission's copy
contractor, International Transcription Services, Inc., 2100 M St. N.W., Suite
140, Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202) 857-3800.
For further information contact George Harenberg at (202) 653-7314.
TYPE ACCEPTED 406 MHz EPIRBS
In view of interest in 406 MHz EPIRBs, the following is a list of those type
accepted by the Commission. Equipment is authorized by the FCC Identifier
(FCC ID), and records are maintained by the FCC ID. Therefore, no data is
available regarding model numbers, type numbers, etc. Addresses listed are
the last known address in the Commission's records.
GRANTEE and FCC ID RULE PART FREQUENCY (MHz) GRANT DATE
ACR Electronics Inc., 5757 Ravenwood Road, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33313
B668L2ACR-RLB-23 80.1061 406.025 091189
Clifton Precision, 750 West Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064-4084
HTV94800000 80.1061 406.025 031390
Electronics Safety Device Inc., P.O. Box 1034, Manhasset, NY 11030
IAZ406EPIRB116 80.1061 406.025 010590
Furuno USA Inc., 271 Harbor Way, P.O. Box 2343, S. San Francisco, CA 94083
ADBLKO1 80.1061 406.025 091189
Graseby Dynamics Ltd., Park Ave., Bushey, Watford Herfordshire, WD2 2BW England
ICD247350 80.1061 406.025 121989
On September 10, 1990, the Commission issued the following public notice (No.
4746).
CERTIFIED SPREAD SPECTRUM SYSTEMS
This public notice is issued in response to an increase in the number of
inquiries concerning parties that have been issued grants of equipment
authorization for spread spectrum systems under Part 15 of the Rules.
A spread spectrum system is defined in Section 2.1 of the Rules as, "an
information bearing communications system in which: (1) Information is
conveyed by modulation of a carrier by some conventional means, (2) the
bandwidth is deliberately widened by means of a spreading function over that
which would be needed to transmit the information alone". (In some spread
spectrum systems, a portion of the information being conveyed by the system
may be contained in the spreading function.)
Companies which have received grants of equipment authorization for spread
spectrum systems under Part 15 of the Rules are listed below:
FCC_ID/Grantee Rule_Part Freq_(MHz) Equipment_Code Grant_Date
Agilis Corporation, 1390 Shorebird Way, Mountain View, CA 94043
HWB-21CSP 15 902-928 DSS 121889
Gambatte Inc., 1438 Tullie Road, NE., Atlanta, GA 30329
HSW2SSM9SM8DF69 15 902-928 DSS 050989
Life Point System Inc., 101 West Robert E. Lee Blvd., Suite 402, New Orleans, LA 70124
HW5FXT514A 15 902-926 DSS 100289
HW5XT514X10 15 902-926 DSS 072090
Metricom Inc., 2605 Winchester Blvd., Campbell, CA 95008-5320
GNW101443000 15 902-928 DSS 031290
NYNEX Corp., 500 Westchester Ave., White Plains, NY 10604
HTI2TZRX000254151 15 902-928 DSS 071989
HTI2TZRX000254111 15 902-928 DSS 030290
O'Neill Communications, Inc., 100 Thanet Circle, Suite 202, Princeton, NJ 08540
HUI100 15 902-928 DSS 070789
Telesystems SLW Inc., 85 Scarsdale Rd., Suite 201, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 2R2 Canada
G473IA010 15 902-928 DSS 042189
G473IA130 15 902-928 DSS 020689
G473IA450 15 902-928 DSS 061389
G473IARN1B 15 902-928 DSS 081088
X Cyte Inc., 1710 Stierlin Road, Mountain View, CA 94043
FNP42TRDE001 15 902-928 DSS 031689
FNP42TRDE002 15 902-928 DSS 031689
FNP42TRDM001 15 902-928 DSS 031689
FNP42TRDM001 15 902-928 DSS 031689
All grants of equipment authorization issued by the Commission for equipment
subject to certification and notification appear on a monthly public notice
titled, Certification/Notification Actions. Identification of authorized
spread spectrum systems listed on the public notice(s) may be determined by
the equipment code, DSS.
Inquiries concerning this public notice may be directed to Federal
Communications Commission, Office of Engineering and Technology, Authorization
and Evaluation Division, 7435 Oakland Mills Road, Columbia, MD 21046, (301)
725-1585.
OBTAINING BULLETINS AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES
A limited number of free copies of various documents originated by the Office
of Engineering and Technology (OET) are available from FCC's Service & Supply
Branch, (202) 632-7272, and Consumer Assistance Office (202) 632-7000.
Bulletins may also be obtained at cost from the Commission's duplicating
contractor, International Transcription Services (ITS), (202) 857-3800,
Washington, DC,(717) 337-1433, Gettysburg, PA. Revision of bulletins and
measurement/test procedures will be announced by public notice and will also
appear on the PAL "Hotline".
Office designators:
EA, Equipment Authorization Branch TS, Technical Standards Branch
EE, Engineering & Evaluation SM, Sampling & Measurement Branch
FL, Frequency Liaison Branch SE, Spectrum Engineering Div
TB, Treaty Branch PA, Propagation Analysis Branch
BULLETINS
NO. DATE TITLE ORIGINATING OFFICE
*19 FCC Test Procedure for Wireless EA, (301) 725-1585
Microphones and Auditory Assistance Devices...
37 8/81 Criteria To Be Met By Doppler Radars EA, (301) 725-1585
Operating in the 24.05-24.15 GHz Band
*40 6/78 FCC Measurement Procedure for a SM, (301) 725-1585
Microwave Field Disturbance Sensor
43 4/77 Peak Envelope Power & Output Limiting EA, (301) 725-1585
in the Citizens Band Radio Service
45 10/78 Measurement Procedures for Peak SM, (301) 725-1585
Effective Radiated Power (PERP)
of Emergency Position Indicating
Radiobeacon (EPIRB) Transmitters
53 7/83 Compatibility Standards for 800 MHz TS, (202) 653-6288
Land Mobile Cellular Systems
(may be subject to NPRM in future)
55 11/89 Characteristics of Open Field SM, (301) 725-1585
Test Sites
56 6/83 Questions & Answers about Biological SE, (202) 632-7025
Effects & Potential Hazards of
Radiofrequency Radiation
60 2/86 Multichannel Television Sound TS, (202) 653-6288
Transmission & Audio Processing
Requirements for the BTSC System
*61 4/84 FCC Equipment Authorization Program... EA, (301) 725-1585
62 11/89 Understanding the FCC Regulations TS, (202) 653-6288
Concerning Computing Devices
63 9/84 Understanding the FCC...Part 15 Reg TS, (202) 653-6288
for Lower Power Transmitters
(to be updated due to Part 15 revision
in the First Report & Order in Doc 87-389)
64 6/85 Voluntary Technical Standards for TS, (202) 653-6288
Broadcast Transmitters and other
RF Devices
**65 10/85 Evaluating Compliance with FCC SE, (202) 632-7025
Specified Guidelines for Human Exposure
to Radiofrequency Radiation
66 10/86 Treaties and Other Int'l Agreements TB, (202) 853-8126
for Telecommunication
67 3/88 Potential Interference from Opera- PA, (202) 632-7025
tional Fixed Stations in the 72-76
MHz Band to Television Channels 4 and 5
MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES (MP)
*MP-1 2/83 FCC Methods of Measurements for SM, (301) 725-1585
Determining Compliance of Radio Control
& Security Alarm Devices & Associated Rcvrs
MP-2 10/86 Measurement of UHF Noise Figures of EE, (301) 725-1585
of Television Receivers
*MP-3 1/85 FCC Methods of Measurements of... SM, (301) 725-1585
TV Interface Devices
MP-4 7/87 FCC Procedure for Measuring RF SM, (301) 725-1585
Emissions from Computing Devices
(revision in NPRM, Docket 89-44 released March 7, 1989, to be referred to as
"FCC Procedure for Measuring Electromagnet Emissions from Digital Devices,
FCC/OET TP-5")
MP-5 2/86 FCC Methods of Measurements of Radio TS, (202) 653-6288
Noise Emissions from ISM Equipment
MP-8 12/84 Measurement Procedures for Radio- EA, (301) 725-1585
telegraph Auto Alarms
MP-9 9/87 FCC Procedure for Measuring Cable SM, (301) 725-1585
Television Switch Isolation
* Scheduled for update due to adoption of Report and Order in Docket
87-212 and First Report & Order in Docket 87-389.
** Current cost of bulletin is $11.95 and is available from NTIS, (703)
4787-4650 or 1-800-336-4700.
TEST PROCEDURES (TP)
TP-1 1980 Procedure for Type Approval of Marine EA, (301) 725-1585
Radars (to be revised to refer to Type Acceptance)
REPORT AND ORDER (GEN DOC 89-354)
On July 9, 1990, the Commission released a REPORT AND ORDER (R&O) in Gen
Docket 89-354 amending Parts 2 and 15 of its rules to facilitate greater
flexibility in the design and use of low power, non-licensed spread spectrum
systems. These rule changes provide clarification of the minimum operating
characteristics for direct sequence and frequency hopping systems to qualify
for operation under Part 15 rules and expand and refine the permissible
operating characteristics for frequency hopping systems. The new rules will
significantly increase the potential range of permissible designs for Part
15 spread spectrum systems and thereby broaden the opportunities for
development and use of this important new technology.
The rule sections affected and the new/amended text are listed below:
1. Section 2.1© is amended by adding the following definition in
alphabetical order to read as follows:
Section 2.1 Terms and definitions
Pseudorandom Sequence. A sequence of binary data which has some of the
characteristics of a random sequence but also has some characteristics which
are not random. It resembles a true random sequence in that the one bits
and zero bits of the sequence are distributed randomly throughout every
length, N, of the sequence and the total numbers of the one and zero bits
in that length are approximately equal. It is not a true random sequence,
however, because it consists of a fixed number (or length) of coded bits
which repeats itself exactly whenever that length is exceeded, and because
it is generated by a fixed algorithm from some fixed initial state.
2. Section 2.1033 is amended by adding a new paragraph (b)(11) to read as
follows:
Section 2.1033 Application for certification
(b) ***
(11) Applications for certification of direct sequence spread spectrum
transmitters under Part 15 shall be accompanied by an exhibit demonstrating
compliance with the processing gain provisions of Section 15.247(e) of this
chapter. Applications for the certification of frequency hopping
transmitters under Part 15 shall be accompanied by an exhibit describing
compliance of the associated receiver or receivers with Section 15.247(a)(1)
of this chapter.
3. Section 15.203 is amended by revising the fourth sentence to read as
follows:
Section 15.203 Antenna requirements
***
This requirement does not apply to carrier current devices or to devices
operated under the provisions of Sections 15.211, 15.213, 15.217, 15.219
or 15.221.
4. Section 15.247 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(1), (b) and ©
and by adding new paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) to read as follows:
Section 15.247 Operation within the bands 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz,
and 5725-5850 MHz
(a) *****
(1) Frequency hopping systems shall have hopping channel carrier
frequencies separated by a minimum of 25 kHz or the 20 dB bandwidth of the
hopping channel, whichever is greater. The system shall hop to channel
frequencies that are selected at the system hopping rate from a
pseudorandomly ordered list of hopping frequencies. Each frequency must
be used equally on the average by each transmitter. The system receivers
shall have input bandwidths that match the hopping channel bandwidths of
their corresponding transmitters and shall shift frequencies in
synchronization with the transmitted signals.
(i) Frequency hopping systems operating in the 902-928 MHz band shall use
at least 50 hopping frequencies. The maximum allowed 20 dB bandwidth of the
hopping channel is 500 kHz. The average time of occupancy on any frequency
shall not be greater than 0.4 seconds with a 20 second period.
(ii) Frequency hopping systems operating in the 2400-2483.5 MHz and
5725-5850 MHz bands shall use at least 75 hopping frequencies. The maximum
20 dB bandwidth of the hopping channel is 1 MHz. The average time of
occupancy on any frequency shall not be greater than 0.4 seconds within a 30
second period.
*****
(b) The maximum peak output power of the transmitter shall not exceed
1 Watt. If transmitting antennas of directional gain greater than 6 dBi
are used, the power shall be reduced by the amount in dB that the directional
gain of the antenna exceed 6 dBi.
© In any 100 kHz bandwidth outside these frequency bands, the radio
frequency power that is produced by the modulation products of the spreading
sequence, the information sequence and the carrier frequency shall be either
at least 20 dB below that in any 100 kHz bandwidth within the band that
contains the highest level of the desired power or shall not exceed the
general levels specified in Section 15.209(a), whichever results in the
lesser attenuation. All other emissions outside these bands shall not exceed
the general radiated emission limits specified in Section 15.209(a).
(d) For direct sequence systems, the transmitted power density averaged
over any 1 second interval shall not be greater that 8 dBm in any 3 kHz
bandwidth within these bands.
(e) The processing gain of a direct sequence system shall be at least
10 dB. The processing gain shall be determined from the ratio in dB of the
signal to noise ratio with the system spreading code turned off and the
signal to noise ratio with the system spreading code turned on, as measured
at the demodulated output of the receiver.
(f) Hybrid systems that employ a combination of both direct sequence
and frequency hopping modulation techniques shall achieve a processing gain
of at least 17 dB from the combined techniques. The frequency hopping
operation of the hybrid system, with the direct sequence operation turned
off, shall have an average time of occupancy on any frequency not to exceed
0.4 seconds within a time period in seconds equal to the number of hopping
frequencies employed multiplied by 0.4. The direct sequence operation of
the hybrid system, with the frequency hopping operation turned off, shall
comply with the power density requirements of paragraph (d) of this Section.
A very limited number of copies of the complete MO&O are available free of
charge from the FCC, Equipment Authorization Branch, 7435 Oakland Mills Rd.,
Columbia, MD 21046, Attn: Ruby Moore. Upon exhaustion of this supply,
copies of the R&O may be obtained for a small fee from the Commission's
present duplicating contractor, ITS, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140,
Washington, DC 20006, (202) 857-3800, or one of the other distributors of FCC
documents listed under Selection 4 of the main PAL menu (Other Commission
Activities and Procedures).
Inquiries concerning spread spectrum systems may be directed to Philip Inglis
at (301) 725-1585.
PROPOSAL TO REVISE MP-4 (FCC COMPUTING DEVICE TEST PROCEDURE)
On March 7, 1989, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) in General Docket 89-44, (FCC 89-53) to revise MP-4, the FCC's
procedure for testin
You have 30 seconds
computing devices.
Copies of the NPRM, which contains the proposed test procedure, may be
obtained from the Commission's duplicating contractor, International
Transcription Services, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037,
(202) 857-3800.
Inquiries concerning the NPRM may be directed to Richard Fabina at (301)
725-1585.
Note: The time to file comments and reply comments in the above NPRM has
been extended until June 7 and July 7, 1989, respectively.
See ORDER EXTENDING TIME TO FILE COMMENTS released April 26, 1989.
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