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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  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 DA  04-  2253 
 October  12,  2004 


 FCC  Clarifies  Equipment  Authorization  Policy  for  Approving  Music  Devices  that  Connect  to  a  Personal  Computer 


 This  Public  Notice  is  issued  to  clarify  the  equipment  authorization  requirements  for  electronic  musical  instruments,  recorders,  amplifiers,  and  other  sound  creation  and  enhancement  devices 
 that  are  intended  for  or  are  capable  of  use  with  a  personal  computer. 
 Simple  digital  devices  are  subject  to  a  self  approval  process,  called  Verification.  This  process  only  requires  the  manufacturer  to  perform  tests  on  the  devices,  maintain  test  data  that 
 demonstrates  compliance  with  the  FCC  technical  rules,  and  properly  label  the  device.  Such  devices  include  handheld  games  and  calculators,  as  well  as  musical  equipment  that  employ 
 digital  electronics  or  have  midi  ports  for  connections  between  musical  equipment. 
 Recently,  many  types  of  musical  equipment  have  been  introduced  that  are  designed  to  connect  directly  to  personal  computers  via  standardized  personal  computer  interfaces  such  as  a  USB  or 
 IEEE  1394  port.  Such  devices  are  then  considered  computer  peripherals,  which  have  a  separate  equipment  approval  process.  Such  devices,  when  marketed  for  use  in  residential  areas  (Class  B 
 devices),  are  required  to  follow  the  Declaration  of  Conformity  (DoC)  or  certification  process.  DoC  is  a  self-  approval  process  similar  to  Verification  except  that  it  requires  that  the  tests  be 
 performed  by  an  accredited  test  laboratory. 
 We  have  recently  become  aware  of  certain  musical  equipment,  digital  recording  devices  and  amplifiers  being  improperly  marketed  and  imported  into  the  US  pursuant  to  our  Verification 
 procedures,  despite  associated  instructions  and  marketing  materials  that  clearly  indicate  that  they  contemplate  a  connection  to  a  personal  computer  via  a  USB  port  or  other  connection.  This 
 connection  places  the  device  into  the  category  of  a  Class  B  personal  computer  peripheral,  and  under  Sections  15.101,  2.803,  and  2.1204  of  the  Commission’s  rules  (47  C.  F.  R.  §§  15.101, 
 2.803,  2.1204)  the  device  must  either  be  authorized  under  the  Declaration  of  Conformity  procedures  (Sections  2.1071-  1077)  or  certification  procedures  (Sections  2.1031  et  al), 


 All  digital  devices  are  subject  to  the  same  emissions  limits,  however,  different  approval  processes  have  been  established  based  on  the  complexity  of  testing  required  to  conform  with  the 
 rules.  Since  the  emission  limits  are  the  same  irrespective  of  the  manner  of  authorization,  devices 
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 properly  verified  prior  to  the  date  of  this  Public  Notice  do  not  need  to  be  retested  and  approved.  All  manufacturers  are  reminded,  however,  that  all  devices  must  be  in  compliance  with  the 
 emissions  limits  of  our  rules,  and  they  are  advised  to  ensure  that  appropriate  records  are  on  hand  that  demonstrate  such  compliance.  Any  new  devices  and  any  future  changes  to  existing  devices 
 will  require  a  Declaration  of  Conformity  or  certification 
 If  you  have  any  questions  regarding  this  Public  Notice,  you  may  contact  Ray  LaForge,  (301)  362-  3041  or  labhelp@  fcc.  gov. 
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