According to a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) report issued May 6, 2011, “waiting for high level scientific and clinical proof that electromagnetic fields emanating from high frequency sources such as radar, telecommunications and mobile phones may lead to very high health and economic costs”.
PACE will be meeting in Kyiv on May 27th, and hold a debate, and intends to adopt a resolution on the issues raised in the report.
The report invokes heath concerns, in particular using examples of asbestos, lead, and tobacco, as mistakes made in the past when dealing with unknown health risks. The report also likens the potential consequences on the environment by electromagnetic fields with licensing of medication, chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals and genetically modified organisms.
The report recommends that an “as low as reasonably achievable” approach be adopted when setting standards or threshold values for emissions of electromagnetic fields of all types and frequencies. The report urges that particular attention should be given to protecting children, and “electrosensitive” persons suffering from a syndrome of intolerance to EM fields with a call to protect them from the unknown effects of electromagnetic waves by the creation of “Wave-free” areas not covered by wireless networks.
Mobile phones, DECT phones, WiFi, WLAN and WIMAX come under focus in the reports, with the call for microwave long-term exposure thresholds of not to exceed 0.6 v/m and in the medium term reduced to 0.2 v/m. The report also makes recommendations to; undertake risk-assessments prior to licensing new types of devices, calls for additional labeling and indications of health risks, produce warnings and recommendations to use a wired alternative due to the “unknown” dangers of electromagnetic fields..
The report proposes the ban of all mobile phones and wireless networking devices from schools and classrooms.
By: J Klinger
Friday, May 27, 2011
US Mexico MRA
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A new US-Mexico Telecom MRA was signed May 26th 2011, indicated in a press release from the United States Trade Representative.
The agreement is for the recognition of testing laboratories and acceptance of test reports. Mexico will only recognize 3rd party labs. The agreement does not cover recognition of certification bodies. The agreement includes a transition period. Seven accepted technical regulations (NOMS) are listed in Annex I of the MRA text.
Friday, March 4, 2011
The FCC OET is conducting 1st workshop for TV band database administrators
The Federal Communication Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology is conducting the first mandatory workshop for TV band database administrators. The workshop will be held on March 10th, 2011, at the FCC lab in Columbia, Maryland.
Nine entities are on the list of conditionally designated administrators - Comsearch, Frequency Finder Inc., Google Inc., KB Enterprises LLC and LS Telcom, Key Bridge Global LLC, Neustar Inc., Spectrum Bridge Inc., Telcordia Technologies, and WSdb LLC. While all nine entities are required to attend, the workshop is open to other interested parties, the number of attendees will be limited however, and all parties attending must register in advance.
The workshop topics include 1) the construction of the database(s), including its contents, 2) sharing of information among the databases, and 3) the determination of available channels. In addition, information will be provided on the required security provisions and the database trial periods.
TV Bands Devices are unlicensed devices that will operate in the space between TV channels, at locations where channels are not being used for authorized services, or as is commonly referred to as the White space.
The Laboratory Division of the OET released an Initial evaluation of prototype TV bands “White Space Devices” in 2007, following up with a Phase II evaluation in 2008. The FCC first adopted rules for the unlicensed use of “White Space” devices in November of 2008, under a document titled FCC-08-260A1, Second Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, in particular this addressed unlicensed operation in the TV broadcast bands and additional spectrum for unlicensed devices below 900 MHz and in the 3 GHz band, these rules were amended by a Second Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC-10-174A1, in September of 2010.
The rules require that all fixed and Mode II (portable devices with Geo Location capabilities built in) TV bands devices access a database to obtain information on the available channels at their location and require that all unlicensed fixed TV bands devices register their operations in this database. The databases will be privately owned and operated, currently by the nine entities listed above. Which database the device will use will be determined by the user or manufacturer of the particular device(s)
For updates to current FCC rules and requirements, please visit Compatible Electronics, Inc. on the web at http://CElectronics.com, or subscribe to the feed.
References
Thursday, February 10, 2011
FCC reminds the public that radio jammers are illegal to operate in the United States, and warns would-be violators of the consequences of selling or using them
Image by G0SUB via Flickr
In a News Release titled “FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU STEPS UP EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS AGAINST CELLPHONE AND GPS JAMMING.” The FCC warns and reminds consumers that it is a violation of federal law to use a cell jammer or similar device that would intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications.
In a kind of public outreach, the news release by the FCC Enforcement Bureau explains what can happen if you use a cell jammer, why jammers are prohibited, and information on how to file a complaint alerting the FCC to illegal jamming device usage. A copy can be downloaded at http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0209/DOC-304575A2.pdf.
Additionally, the FCC Enforcement Bureau released a public notice in the form of an FCC Enforcement advisory. The public notice warns of the strict penalties for marketing or selling jamming devices. Among the penalties, a fine of up to $112,500 can be issued for a single violation. A complete list of jammer enforcement activity can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement/ A copy of the FCC Public Notice can be downloaded at http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db0209/DA-11-249A1.pdf
Compatible Electronics, Inc. operates a fully certified telecommunication certification body for radio device approvals in accordance with FCC rules, please visit our site at http://www.celectronics.com/us.htm or contact us with your questions about the wireless device approvals process and regulations.
By: J Klinger
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, December 3, 2010
An update on PLT, Power Line Telecommunications, in Europe.
Image by Manu_H via Flickr
Sometimes referred to as PLN (Power Line Networking), PLA (Power Line Adaptor), PLC(Power Line Carrier), or here in the US, BPL (Broadband over Power Line), the technology enables the distribution of digital communications through conventional power lines, making it easy to setup communications networks without the need to rewire, or use radio transmitters. As data rates of these devices increase, so does the potential for interference, thus much work is being done by stakeholders to develop uniform methods by which to assess products with this technology for compliance with the EMC directive, and prevent unwanted interference of incumbent services.
The CLC/ Technical Committee 210 on electromagnetic compatibility (or TC210) established a working group (WG11) to produce a two-part standard for emission requirements for PLT apparatus of all types, as follows:
EN 50XXX-1 Power line telecommunications modems - Radio disturbance characteristics – Limits and methods of measurement - Part 1: Modems for in-house networks
EN 50XXX-2 Power line telecommunications modems - Radio disturbance characteristics – Limits and methods of measurement - Part 2: Modems for access networks
A draft document for Part 1 has been prepared by TC210/WG11,
The document is being set for a 3 month enquiry under what is called the Unique Acceptance Procedure, or UAP, and then given over to WG 11 for update if necessary. After this, it will be issued for a 2 month vote.
Following is some background on the controversy over PLT.
Currently, no separate harmonized standard exists for testing PLT product specifically. Certain classes of PLT are incapable of complying with current emissions limits as is, thus; some manufacturers have been looking to EU Notified Bodies, some of which have been prescribing the use of alternative draft standards for testing purposes. Manufacturers have a couple of options for EMC compliance, one is a self certification, test and comply with harmonized standards and issue a declaration of such. A second method, when harmonized standards don’t exist or are not able to be applied, is to perform an EMC assessment and prepare a Technical Construction File, usually in consultation with a Notified Body, seeking the opinion of the Notified Body, to support claims of compliance with the essential requirements of the EMC directive. The bottom line however is that in the end, the product must comply with the essential requirements of the EMC directive, which is that, “the electromagnetic disturbance generated does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment or other equipment cannot operate as intended”
An independent study, commissioned and published by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator responsible for enforcing aspects of the EMC regulations within the UK, was designed to examine the likelihood and extent of interference from PLT devices. This study was formed mainly due to claims that the use of PLC technology is disruptive to incumbent services, and, as a result, has attracted the attention of stakeholders, most notably, the amateur radio community and shortwave listeners.
As a result of this study, Ofcom advises that the conclusions indicate that the incorporation of mitigation techniques is important for the future of PLT technology. Ofcom expressed its concern that manufacturers should incorporate these features, to provide long term protection to the radio spectrum, and minimize potential for interference. The study can be found via Ofcom’s stakeholder web page
Controversy exists on whether mitigation techniques, such as smart notching or automatic level control go far enough to protect incumbent services. Real concern exists in the amateur radio community that many products on the market now do not implement mitigation techniques at all, and therefore are currently posing a problem for the amateur radio and shortwave listeners. The amateur radio community has been lobbying Ofcom, as the responsible authority for EMC enforcement within the UK, to remove such products from the marketplace. The Radio Society of Great Britain, or RSGB, has established a “Spectrum Defense Fund” to, as indicated in a Feb 2010 statement, “combat the threat of PLT/PLA”, as well as for the general protection of the spectrum for the amateur radio community.
For more information on harmonized standards for the EU, please visit http://www.celectronics.com/europe.htm
To subscribe to updates via email, visit our main page at http://www.celectronics.com
By: J Klinger
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
EMC List of Harmonized standards published
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An updated list of harmonized standards under 2004/108/EC, the EMC directive, has been published in the Official Journal of The European Union.
Find a copy of this list, along with updated lists for the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC, Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC, Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC, and ERC Recommendation 70-03 relating to the use of Short Range Devices, at http://www.celectronics.com/europe.htm
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