*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 6278.doc* News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 01- 180 Released: January 25, 2001 European Conformity Assessment Bodies accepted to Certify or Test Radiofrequency and Telephone Terminal Equipment in Accordance with the Terms of the US- EU Mutual Recognition Agreement In accordance with the terms of the Mutual Recognition Agreement between the United States of America and the European Union, the European Union has designated and the FCC has accepted thirty- two Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) that may either certify or test radiofrequency and telephone terminal equipment for compliance with FCC regulations. The United States of America and the European Union signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (US- EU MRA) in May 1998, covering multiple product sectors, including equipment subject to mandatory Telecommunications and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) regulations. The US-EU MRA entered into force on December 3, 1998; and the Telecommunications and EMC annexes became fully operational on January 16, 2001. The agreement facilitates trade by allowing manufacturers the opportunity to bring products to market in a more timely fashion. A copy of the text of the US- EU MRA is available at www. useu. be/ docs/ mra98.pdf. Seven of the CABs designated by the EU and accepted by the FCC are Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs). TCBs may certify radiofrequency and telephone terminal equipment under Parts 2 and 68 of the Commission's Rules. The FCC designated thirteen domestic TCBs on June 2, 2000 (Public Notice, DA 00- 1223). The new EU TCBs will have the same privileges and responsibilities as U. S. TCBs. The requirements for TCBs were specified in the Commission’s Report and Order (R& O) in GEN Docket 98- 68 (FCC 98- 338), adopted on December 17, 1998, www. fcc. gov/ oet/ dockets/ gen98- 68/. Additional information about the TCB program is provided in a Public Notice, dated August 17, 1999, DA99- 1640, http:// www. fcc. gov/ Bureaus/ Engineering_ Technology/ Public_ Notices/ 1999/ da991640.html. The FCC will send a letter to each EU TCB. The letter will provide guidance on the certification of products within its scope of designation. In accordance with the policy stated in the August 17, 1999, Public Notice DA- 99- 1640, we are restricting all TCBs from approving equipment for which there is not yet a documented and recognized test procedure. At present, only certain transmitters fall within this category. A table delineating which transmitters a TCB can approve will accompany the letter to each TCB. Steps are being taken to eliminate this restriction. 1 2 Twenty- five of the CABs designated by the EU and accepted by the FCC are accredited test laboratories. Part 2 of the FCC rules permits certain equipment to be self- authorized by the manufacturer or supplier by issuing a Declaration of Conformity (DoC). The DoC procedure requires the equipment to be tested by an accredited laboratory. The twenty- five EU test laboratories are now authorized to perform measurements for DoCs. The European accredited laboratories will be immediately added to the FCC list of accredited laboratories. Reciprocally, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has designated and the EU accepted a total of thirty- three US CABs. The US CABs may certify or test radio frequency and telephone terminal equipment in accordance with EU regulations. For further information regarding the CABs designated by NIST see http:// ts. nist. gov/ ts/ htdocs/ 210/ 216/ mramain. htm. For further information about this notice, contact Bill Hurst of the Office of Engineering and Technology at: (202) 418- 7266, email: whurst@ fcc. gov; or, Bill Howden of the Common Carrier Bureau at (202) 418- 2343, email: whowden@ fcc. gov, TTY: (202) 418- 0484. 2