FCC Updating Equipment Authorization Rules

On the schedule for their January Open Commission Meeting (Jan 27, 2022) the commission will consider a Notice of Proposed Rule-making (NPRM) to update the existing equipment authorization rules. (ET Docket Nos. 21-363, 19-48).

A proposal is on the agenda to add a new technical standard for the evaluation / validation of test sites for making measurements from 1 GHz to 18 GHz. (ANSI C63.25.1:2018). Additionally, an updated version of the existing standard covering the testing procedures for unlicensed wireless devices (ANSI C63.10:2020) is on the agenda to address changes in technology. Lastly, the most recent versions of the ISO standards covering accreditation bodies and testing facilities, (ISO/IEC 17011:2017 & ISO/IEC 17025:2017 respectively) is on the agenda.

The addition of the new references will have an impact on test labs performing testing for wireless devices covered by FCC rules both in a technical and administrative context.

REF:

PUBLIC NOTICE Jan. 11, 2022 - DA-22-22A1.pdf

FCC FACT SHEET Jan. 6, 2022 - https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-378987A1.pdf

Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s Agenda announcement Jan. 5, 2022 - https://www.fcc.gov/news-events/notes/2022/01/05/january-open-meeting-agenda

EU Commission Decision on Wireless Access Systems / Radio Local Area Networks

The European Union Commission Decision on Wireless Access Systems / Radio Local Area Networks operating in the 5945-6425 MHz (6 GHz WAS/RLAN) band has been published in the EU Official Journal.

REF:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/1067/oj

 

FCC U-NII Band 5 GHz devices

FCC’s OET published a transition plan for U-NII devices. 

U-NII rules, Title 47 Part 15 Subpart E, cover devices operating in the 5.15-5.35 GHz, 5.47-5.725 GHz and 5.725-5.85 GHz bands. 

All new applications will be assessed to the new rules. Devices certified under the old rules must meet the new rules on or after June 2, 2016. Devices already in use and installed are grandfathered.

5 GHz band rules comment period extended

80211a-5-ghz-spectrum (Photo credit: sam_churchill)

FCC has extended the commenting period to July 24^th, 2013 on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) - Revision of Part 15 of the Commission’s Rules to Permit Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) Devices in the 5 GHz Band.

The above rulemaking will have a significant impact on unlicensed device spectrum use and affect devices that operate in the 5 GHz band, devices that use wide band data transmission techniques such as the emerging  802.11ac wireless standard for example. The complexity of the technologies embedded in such systems to deal with the spectrum utilization requirements can have a direct impact on the cost of such devices.

For a briefing on some of the proposed changes in the NPRM, see http://www.emcrules.com/2013/02/fcc-opens-more-5ghz-spectrum.html

The request for extension was made by IEEE 802 Committee and the WiFi Alliance to enable more time for review and commenting on technical and policy issues.  The FCC noted that comment extensions are not a routine practice, but given the importance of this proceeding, they found it appropriate for the development of a full and complete record.

REF:

ORDER Extended Reply Comment Date: July 24, 2013

Improved HD video coming to a hot-spot near you

las-vegas-ces (Photo credit: VentureBeat)

FCC announces efforts to support U.S. Innovation Economy and free up new spectrum to expedite ultra-high-speed, high capacity Wi-Fi. The announcement was made at the 2013 International CES this month.

Chairman Julius Genachowski expressed that the FCC will soon kick-off a government wide effort to increase speeds and alleviate Wi-Fi congestion at major hubs. Among the examples given are large conference gatherings (such as CES perhaps), airports and convention centers, and the home network, where multiple users and devices are competing for network bandwidth and time and reducing the overall performance of the wireless network in general.

The intent is to free up, and increase, by up to 35%, unlicensed spectrum and make it available for ultra-high-speed, high capacity Wi-Fi, or as it’s commonly called “Gigabit Wi-Fi”.

The largest expansion of Wi-Fi since 2003, next month should bring the first steps of this action in the form of an additional 195 MHz of spectrum in the 5 GHz band.

It shouldn’t be long after that we begin to see consumer product on the shelves that take advantage of this, the first standard that will most likely make use of this available 5GHz spectrum, IEEE 802.11ac, has been in development for some time. This standard requires at least twice the bandwidth of the preceding 802.11n standard, but provides a potential speed increase of perhaps tenfold.

REF:
FCC Press release

Radio module integration and R&TTE compliance, EMC evaluation

radio module (Photo credit: ckhamken)

Building on a previous post focusing on radio module integration and the Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment (R&TTE) directive compliance, this article will focus on compliance of the combined apparatus with section 3.1(b) of the R&TTE directive, namely the essential requirements of Electromagnetic Compatibility or EMC.

As a basic primer, the R&TTE directive’s essential requirements are detailed within the directive under article 3, to paraphrase;

3.1 Essential requirements applicable to all apparatus;

       a. Safety requirements of the Low Voltage Directive, with lower limits removed

       b. Electromagnetic compatibility as per EMC directive

3.2 Effective use of radio spectrum

3.3 Construction, protection and accessibility requirements (with a number of specified items)

As posited in a previous post “Radio module integration and R&TTE compliance”, compliant radio modules installed in accordance with a manufacturer’s installation instruction require no further evaluation to article 3.2 of the R&TTE directive. However, an assessment, in most cases, will be necessary for article 3.1(a) and 3.1(b). The combined product will essentially form a new apparatus.

Given that the combined product should be assessed as a new apparatus, a couple questions may arise. What EU directive and standards apply? How do you make an assessment for EMC on the combined product?

When adding a radio to an apparatus, the new combined apparatus now falls within the scope of the R&TTE directive. ETSI EN 301 489-1 annex C gives guidance regarding this combined equipment EMC assessment, and it is based on the ETSI TR 102 070-1 technical report. In accordance with the guidance, for a combined apparatus where all products can operate independently of each other, an evaluation may be made by review of existing assessment of the individual apparatus, and if it is concluded that the combined configuration has been assessed and is representative of the combined apparatus, and, is used in according to its manufacturer’s instructions, it is not necessary to re-assess the apparatus. If there is insufficient information to make an evaluation, or the results of the evaluation are unclear, then an additional assessment shall be performed. Most of the time an assessment for EMC of the combined apparatus will not have been performed, or there is insufficient data to support a declaration of conformity.

Although under the scope of the R&TTE directive, the selection of applicable standards for EMC will be based on the primary function of the newly combined apparatus. The manufacturer shall declare the primary function and identify applicable standards from the EMC directive and/or R&TTE directive. The assessment should be supplemented with test levels and extended frequency ranges to cover both radio and non-radio aspects of the newly combined apparatus (i.e. a worst case representation of applicable levels and limits). See this flow chart from Compatible Electronics for a simplification of the assessment process based on the ETSI guidance.

The declaration of conformity will need to declare compliance with the R&TTE directive, and the party responsible for the completed combined apparatus is the party responsible for ensuring that the final configuration, when used properly, and in accordance with the provided instructions, fulfills ALL essential requirements of the R&TTE directive.

 

REF:

ETSI TR 102 070-1

ETSI EN 301 489-1 annex C

R&TTE CA TGN 01 Rev 5

GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF DIRECTIVE 2006/95/EC (par. 34)

Class 1 Status of 2.4 GHz Wireless LAN in the EU

Class 2 Label sample EU R&TTE. Provided by;
Compatible Electronics, Inc..

Confirmed during a Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Compliance Association (R&TTE CA) meeting held in Vienna, May 2012, the French deviation has expired for the 2.4 GHz band making it a Class 1 band.

Till this point, the 2.4 GHz band has been considered Class 2 in the EU, that is, when importing your product, it must carry the number of a notified body and a special alert symbol in addition to the CE Mark, and you must notify member nations having restrictions, of your intention to place the product on the EU market. Additionally, the product literature would carry a warning of the restriction to “Indoor use only”.

While the notification requirements for the 2.4 GHz use have been eliminated for some time, the last item preventing the 2.4 GHz WLAN from being classified officially as a Class 1 R&TTE device went away on July 1st. The French deviation in the band restricting use of 2.4 GHz WLAN devices to “Indoor use only” has expired.

From July 1, 2012, 2.4 GHz WLAN devices no longer require the alert symbol or Notified Body number, so long as harmonized standards are applied in full to the conformance assessment.

For an explanation of what the class descriptor indicates, see this excerpt from the ETSI.org web site;

“Commission Decision 2000/299/EC defines how equipment is classified according to its use of radio spectrum. It defines two equipment classes as follows:

• Class 1, which can be placed on the market and taken into service throughout the Community

• Class 2, to which some Member States apply restrictions and which is required to carry an 'alert symbol'.”

Ref;

R&TTECA

ETSI.org

http://www.art-telecom.fr/

http://www.erodocdb.dk/Docs/doc98/official/pdf/REC7003E.PDF