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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  St.,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  TTY  202  /  418-  2555  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp  fcc  gov 
 DA  02-  1097 
 May  10,  2002 


 FCC  Lab  Provides  Guidance  on 
 Certification  of  Linear  Power  Amplifiers  Used  with  Cellular  and  PCS  Transmitters 


 The  FCC  rules  require  certification  of  single  and  multi-  channel  Linear  Power  Amplifiers  (LPAs)  that  are  used  with  cellular  and  Personal  Communications  Service  (PCS)  base  station  transmitters.  This  public 
 notice  provides  guidance  on  the  certification  process  for  LPAs  intended  to  be  used  with  multiple  types  of  such  cellular  and  PCS  base  station  transmitters. 


 The  FCC  Laboratory  generally  has  certificated  LPAs  for  use  only  with  the  base  station  transmitters  with  which  they  were  tested.  Manufacturers  have  requested  that  the  FCC  Laboratory  grant  certification  for 
 LPAs  without  restricting  use  to  particular  base  station  transmitters. 


 The  FCC  Laboratory  has  developed  the  following  policy  to  accommodate  these  requests: 
 LPAs  must  be  tested  for  compliance  with  FCC  technical  standards  when  used  with  a  base  station  transmitter.  An  LPA  tested  and  certified  with  a  specific  cellular  or  PCS  base  station  transmitter  may  be 
 used  with  any  other  certified  cellular  or  PCS  transmitter  provided  the  base  station  transmitter  is  attenuated,  if  necessary,  so  it’s  power  level  doesn’t  exceed  the  maximum  rated  input  level  of  the  LPA, 
 employs  the  same  emission  types  as  the  LPA  and  continues  to  operate  in  accordance  with  its  license  authorization.  Other  base  station  components  tested  with  the  certified  LPA  that  are  passive  in  nature  and 
 need  only  be  verified  for  compliance  (e.  g.  combiners,  splitters,  diplexers,  etc.),  may  be  used  with  any  other  certified  cellular  or  PCS  base  station  transmitter  without  having  to  be  re-  verified. 


 Both  base  station  transmitters  and  LPAs  may  reduce  their  output  power  by  up  to  15%  without  re-  testing  or  re-  certification.  Reductions  of  more  than  15%  require  filing  an  application  for  a  Class  II  permissive 
 change  that  includes  additional  test  data  for  conducted  spurious  emissions. 
 For  multi-  channel  amplifiers,  the  Commission  will  allow  inter-  modulation  measurements  on  these  devices,  to  be  made  using  either  a  three  signal  or  two  signal  test  using  signal  generators  rather  than 
 specific  transmitters.  For  instructions  on  performing  inter-  modulation  measurements,  go  to  http://  hraunfoss.  fcc.  gov/  eas_  public/  SilverStream/  Pages/  pg_  html_  fts_  res.  html?  letter=  1109  .  The  search 
 result  contains  the  FCC  recommended  test  procedure. 
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 This  policy  reduces  the  burden  on  manufacturers  that  would  occur  if  separate  tests  and  certification  were  required  for  every  combination  of  LPA  and  base  station  transmitter.  For  further  information  please 
 contact  Steven  Dayhoff  at  (301)  362-  3027,  email  sdayhoff@  fcc.  gov. 


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