ANSI C63.5 2004 and ANSI C63.22 2004 PUBLISHED
C63.5-2004, Antenna Calibration (replacing in its entirety the 1988 & 1998 editions) and the new C63.22-2004, Guide for Automated Emission Measurement, were published on Monday, December 20, 2004. It is expected that both of these documents will be referenced in the next revision to ANSI C63.4 on measurements of radio frequency noise. www.c63.org/Dec%202004%20C63%20Newsletter%20Supplement.pdf

Rules concerning Broadband over Power Lines have now been
published in the Federal Register
The FCC recently released documents adopting new requirements and measurement guidelines for a new type of carrier current system that provides access to broadband services using electric utility companies' power lines. The new regulations become effective February 7, 2005, except for §§ 15.615(a) through (e) which contains information collection requirements that are not effective until approved by the Office of Management and Budget. The FCC will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date for those sections. [ET Docket No. 04-37 and ET Docket No. 03-104; FCC 04-245]

The following link can be used to retrieve the FCC Report and Order pertaining to Broadband Power Line Carriers:   http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-245A1.pdf

This link is an Erratum to the original Report and Order: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-254180A1.pdf

FCC
A new section 15.240 has been added for devices that use radio frequency energy to identify the contents of commercial shipping containers. The following link can be used to access the full ET 01-278 Document. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-98A1.doc

AS/NZS
Australia and New Zealand now require EMC Compliance with AS/NZS CISPR 22:2002 for ITE and Telecommunication equipment. The 2 year phase-out period for AS/NZS 3548 ended on January 19, 2004.

FCC
1) The FCC has changed the measurement standard for Part 15 devices from ANSI C63.4-1998, to ANSI C63.4-2001. The new standard applies except for section 4.1.5.2, section 5.7, section 9, and section 14.

2) Part 15.231 is restricted to devices that transmit control signals, but now allow for data to be sent with the control signal. Also the FCC has increased (from 1 second per hour) the allowed polling transmission time to 2 seconds per hour.

3) The limits for Part 15.225 RFID devices have been increased. As well, the allowed frequency range has been widened, and powered RFID tags can be approved as a system (one FCC ID) in conjunction with the tag reader.

Latest updates of the EMC/R&TTE Directive standards lists (April 2004)
Free Downloads:
EMC Standards April 2004.pdf
RTTE Standards April 2004.pdf

FCC
The FCC has initiated changes to the rules, updating certain regulations for unlicensed radio frequency devices contained in Parts 2, 15 and 18 of our rules. Specifically, they are: 1) changing certain emission levels in the restricted bands above 38.6 GHz; 2) eliminating the prohibition on data transmissions and making other changes to rules governing Part 15 remote control devices; 3) modifying the rules for radio frequency identification systems to allow for improved operation; 4) simplifying the labeling requirement for manufacturer self-authorized equipment; and 5) making other changes to update and correct the rules. Follow this link for further information: www.fcc.gov/oet/

VCCI
DSP Research, Inc. (DSPR) has been officially appointed as a Public Radio Equipment Approval Agency by the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) for granting technical conditions compliance approval of specified radio equipment in Japan under the provisions of the Radio Law. This appointment is effective as of August 16, 2002.

VCCI has announced the postponement of the new limit and measurement method for conducted disturbance at telecommunication ports which is described in the VCCI Technical Requirements, V-3/02.04 "4.2 Limits for conducted disturbance at telecommunication ports", "5.2.3 Impedance stabilization network (ISN) and current probe" and "6.3 Method of measurement of conducted disturbance at telecommunication ports". Originally it was scheduled to enforce on April 1, 2003. The new date of enforcement will be announced by the end of this fiscal year. VCCI will be watching the CISPR decisions made on the revision of the ISN characteristics.

In order to facilitate faster product approvals, VCCI announces that they will now be accepting electronic submission of reports/product applications, in addition to the original method of sending them by postal mail. Under the new Internet submission program, users will no longer be required to provide configuration drawings or block diagrams with their applications. Also note that VCCI will no longer accept the report submissions by fax after April 1, 2002.

For more detail on these topics, visit the VCCI website: www.vcci.or.jp

FCC First Report and Order Initiates Part 15 Rule Change
The FCC has adopted new regulations which requires radar detectors to comply with radiated emission limits in the 11.7 GHz to 12.2 GHz band. The document announcing the new requirements is ET-Docket 01-278, released July 19, 2002. The new rule emphasizes that radar detectors must now be certified to demonstrate compliance with the emissions limits before they can be marketed. The reason for the ruling is to reduce the interference from radar detectors to very small aperture satellite terminals (VSATs).

Japan's VCCI initiates Electronic Submission of the Report of Compliance
VCCI has announced that it will initiate electronic submission of the Report of Compliance effective April 1, 2002. After this date, a Report of Compliance can be done either through the mail, or electronically via the Internet Fax submissions will no longer be accepted after this date. A trial period for electronic submission has been established beginning February 15, but the VCCI does not guarantee the submission will go through due to possible technical difficulties.For more information and instructions on how to use the new system go to ww.vcci.or.jp/vcci_e/index.html.Once there, click on VCCI Members and look under "News".

*** IMPORTANT: As of January 19th 2002, Procedure for Declaration of
Conformity and Registration of Terminal Equipment (DC-01) is the ONLY
procedure to be used to allow the marketing of terminal equipment in Canada.
Self Marking is mandatory under the Declaration of Conformity procedure.
This document and a pamphlet that gives a general explanation of the Declaration of Conformity is available electronically at the Industry Canada website.

The document mentioned above is available electronically on the Internet at the following address:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/spectrum (see "Official Publications", "Procedures" and then "Client Procedures")

FCC
The FCC has launched a new web site search tool which offers enhanced searches of the FCC database and related web sites.

See the web address:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-217955A1.doc for more information, or access the search tool at www.FCC.gov

The FCC released a Report and Order which modifies its' rules to require entities doing business with the FCC, to provide an FCC Registration number (FRN) with any filings requiring a taxpayer identification number. The effective date of the requirement is December 3, 2001. The FRN may be obtained over the Internet at www.fcc.gov/omd

For further information, visit the FCC website at www.fcc.gov, MD Docket 00-205.

R&TTE
There were several errors on the Official Journal of the EU listed earlier this year. The newest OJ, (July 26, 2001), has these errors corrected. It can be obtained at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/newapproach/standardization/harmstds/reflist/radiotte.html

EMC
Make sure you're covered! The FCC has specified requirements for testing radiated emissions above 1GHz for several years now. The European Union has no obvious regulations in this respect. However, due to the proliferation of systems using clock frequencies in the several hundreds of MHz, the European Union is now looking at implementing similar requirements in EN 55022 (CISPR 22), and EN 55011 (CISPR 11). They caution manufacturers that even though there are no limits defined above 1GHz, they are still responsible for noninterference at these frequencies. They (the EU) are asking test labs to recommend to their clients testing above 1GHz using the FCC rules as a guide.