Under Title 47, Part 15.103, digital devices used exclusively in an appliance are exempt from the specific technical standards and other requirements of part 15. Seems simple enough, if it’s an appliance, then it’s exempt from FCC testing. So a vacuum cleaner is exempt from FCC testing, correct? How about an electric blanket? A hair dryer? A clothes iron? A juice extractor? of the previously mentioned 5 devices, 3 of them are exempt, but 2 are not, can you guess which ones are not exempt?
Did you guess correctly? This is where the old adage “the devil is in the details” comes to play. As is the case with much of the FCC rules, they are simply written, but often difficult to interpret. Thankfully the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) has a Knowledge Base (KDB) system at https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/kdb/index.cfm, where one could go and research common questions or ask a question if needed.
One such KDB, answers the question “What household appliances, identified as Part 15 unintentional radiators, are considered exempt from the equipment authorization procedures?”.
On March 29th 2012 the answer was updated by adding to the list of Non-Exempt Devices; Power Tools, Cordless Multi-Tools and Battery Operated Tools . That is to say, those items are not considered appliances with respect to the 15.103 exemption and are subject to FCC testing.
Ref;
Publication Number 772105 (3/29/2012) (new)
Publication Number 772105 (11/19/2009) (old)
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
FCC Amends Rules for Tank Level Probing Radar
The FCC announced on Tuesday that they are expanding the scope of the proceeding proposed to cover Tank Level Probing Radar (TLPR) devices, originally applicable only to devices operating in the 77-81 GHz band, and contained within steel or concrete tanks. Citing requests for waivers and other inquiries as evidence of the increasing demand for a comprehensive set of guidelines for general level probing radar (LPR), to allow the use outdoors and on other frequencies, the FCC is proposing an amendment to Part 15 rules that would apply to the operation of LPR devices installed in both open-air environments and inside storage tanks in the following frequency bands: 5.925-7.250 GHz, 24.05-29.00 GHz, and 75-85 GHz.
Level probing radar applications are diverse but among the popular uses are process control systems used to measure the amount of various substances such as liquids and granulates.
Ref;
ET Docket Nos. 10-23, 06-216 and 07-96, 25 FCC Rcd 601 (2010).
Friday, March 23, 2012
Opportunity for innovative cordless broadband use - FCC modifies Part 15
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In a report and order released today, the FCC is amending part 15 subpart D covering Unlicensed Personal Communications Service devices (UPCS band). The introduction of the R&O is as follows;
“
By this action, we modify Part 15 of the rules governing the operation of Unlicensed Personal Communications Service (UPCS) devices in the 1920-1930 MHz frequency band (UPCS band) to promote more efficient use of the UPCS band and to facilitate the introduction of a new generation of unlicensed devices capable of supporting broadband connectivity using Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) technology. Specifically, we eliminate the least-interfered channel monitoring threshold for UPCS devices and reduce the number of duplex system access channels that a UPCS device must define and monitor from 40 to 20 channels in order to use the least-interfered channel access method. These changes will provide UPCS devices, particularly those designed to transmit with wider bandwidths, access to more usable channels (i.e., combined time and spectrum windows) than are permitted under the existing rules and unleash innovative cordless broadband technologies in the UPCS band, while limiting the potential for causing interference to other devices. We also modify the rules to remove outdated provisions and to make other minor updates.
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ref;
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