*Pages 1--4 from Microsoft Word - 7136.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 446 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 ) Amendment of Sections 15.107 and 15.109 of ) the Commission’s Rules Regarding Emissions ) From Digital Devices ) ) ORDER Adopted: February 27, 2001 Released: February 28, 2001 By the Office of Engineering and Technology: 1. On December 3, 1999, the Information Technology Industry Council (“ ITI”) filed a request to amend 47 C. F. R. Sections 15.107( e) and 15.109( g) 1 of the Commission’s rules regarding limits on conducted and radiated emissions from unintentional radiators in order to update the references to Publication 22 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (“ IEC”), International Special Committee on Radio Interference (“ CISPR”). 2 Currently, the Commission rules reference the First Edition of CISPR Publication 22 (1985) along with several Draft International Standards (“ DIS”) that were adopted in 1992. ITI points out that the First Edition of CISPR Publication 22 is no longer published and is becoming difficult to find. Accordingly, ITI requests that the Commission amend its rules to reference the Third Edition of CISPR Publication 22 (1997). ITI also requests that the Commission specifically exclude the limits in CISPR Publication 22 (1997) for conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunications ports. ITI adds that such testing would require the use of stabilization networks that generally are not available. Further, ITI is not aware of any history of interference complaints in this area. 2. We note that the standards contained in CISPR Publication 22 (1997) on the amount of energy allowed to be conducted onto the public utility (AC) power lines or radiated from a device are the same as those contained in CISPR Publication 22 (1985) as amended by the 1992 Draft International Standards. Thus, amending the rules to reference CISPR Publication 22 (1997) would not result in a change to the regulations and would simplify the task of obtaining copies of this publication. We also note that the existing references within the Commission’s rules to the CISPR Publication 22 standards apply only to the levels of emissions conducted onto AC power lines and to the levels of emissions radiated from a digital device. Accordingly, there is no limit in the Commission’s rules for conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunications ports. Therefore, for the sake of clarity we will incorporate ITI’s suggested language excluding the limits in CISPR Publication 22 for conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunications ports. 3. In accordance with Section 553 of the Administrative Procedures Act, 3 a Notice of Proposed 1 Section 15.107 contains limits on the amount of radio frequency energy that is permitted to be conducted onto the public utility (AC) power lines. Section 15.109 contains limits on the amount of radio frequency energy that is permitted to be radiated by a device. The provisions in Sections 15.107( e) and 15.109( g) apply only to digital devices. 2 See IEC CISPR 22, Information Technology Equipment – Radio Disturbance Characteristics - Limits and Methods of Measurement, International Electrotechnical Commission, International Special Committee on Radio Interference. 3 5 U. S. C. Section 553( b)( B). 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 446 2 Rule Making is not required when the agency for good cause finds, and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons therefore in the rules issued, that notice and public procedure thereon are unnecessary. In this case, we find that the amendment to the regulations does not result in any changes to the equipment standards. The amendment is ministerial in nature and is being made only to reference a more recent publication so as to facilitate obtaining these standards. Accordingly, public notice and comment are not necessary. 4. IT IS ORDERED that Part 15 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations IS AMENDED as specified in Appendix A, effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. This action is taken pursuant to the authority found in Sections 0.31 and 0.241 of the regulations. 4 5. For further information regarding this Order, contact John A. Reed, Office of Engineering and Technology, (202) 418- 2455, jreed@ fcc. gov. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Bruce Franca Acting Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology 4 See 47 C. F. R. Sections 0.31 and 0.241 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 446 3 Appendix A For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 15 as follows: 1. The authority citation for Part 15 continues to read as follows: Authority: 47 U. S. C. 154, 302, 303, 304, 307 and 544A. 2. Section 15.107 is amended by revising paragraph (e) and by adding a new paragraph (e)( 3), to read as follows: § 15.107 Conducted limits. * * * * * (e) As an alternative to the conducted limits shown in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, digital devices may be shown to comply with the standards contained in the Third Edition of International Electrotechnical Commission (“ IEC”), International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) Pub. 22 (1997), “Information Technology Equipment – Radio Disturbance Characteristics - Limits and Methods.” This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 USC Section 552( a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of CISPR publications may be purchased from Global Engineering Documents, P. O. Box 8500 (S- 4485), Philadelphia, PA 19178- 4485, (303) 792- 2181 or (800) 624- 3974. Copies also may be inspected, but not reproduced, during normal business hours at the following locations: (1) Federal Communications Commission, Reference Information Center, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room CY– A257, Washington, D. C., and (2) Office of the Federal Register, 800 N. Capitol Street, N. W., Suite 700, Washington, D. C. In addition: * * * * * (3) Part 15 devices are not subject to the CISPR 22 limits on conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunication ports, as shown in Section 5. 2 , Tables 3 and 4. * * * * * 3. Section 15.109 is amended by revising paragraph (g), to read as follows: § 15.109 Radiated emission limits. * * * * * (g) As an alternative to the radiated emission limits shown in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, digital devices may be shown to comply with the standards contained in the Third Edition of International Electrotechnical Commission (“ IEC”), International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) Pub. 22 (1997), “Information Technology Equipment - Radio Disturbance Characteristics - Limits and Methods of Measurement.” This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 01- 446 4 Register in accordance with 5 USC Section 552( a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of CISPR publications may be purchased from the Global Engineering Documents, P. O. Box 8500 (S- 4485), Philadelphia, PA 19178- 4485, (303) 792- 2181 or (800) 624- 3974. Copies also may be inspected, but not reproduced, during normal business hours at the following locations: (1) Federal Communications Commission, Reference Information Center, Room CY– A257, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C., and (2) Office of the Federal Register, 800 N. Capitol Street, N. W., Suite 700, Washington, D. C. * * * * * 4