CERTIFIED MAIL-RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
September 19, 2016
Ms. Joni L. Duran 
CenturyLink
930 15
th
 Street, 11
th
 Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
Re: Radio Frequency Interference
EB-FIELDNER-16-00022597
Dear Ms. Duran:
The Federal Communications Commission has received complaints that equipment 
operated by CenturyLink may be causing harmful radio interference to an operator in the 
Amateur Radio Service. The complainant is:
(Name withheld)
(Address withheld)
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
The Commission has the responsibility to require that companies rectify such problems 
within a reasonable time if the interference is caused by faulty power utility equipment. Under 
FCC rules, this type of interference is classified as an "incidental radiator." This term is used to 
describe equipment that does not intentionally generate any radio-frequency energy, but that may 
create such energy as an incidental part of its intended operation. 
To help you better understand your responsibilities under FCC rules, here are the most 
important rules relating to radio and television interference from incidental radiators: 
Title 47, CFR Section 15.5 General conditions of operation.
(b) Operation of an intentional, unintentional, or incidental radiator is subject to the 
conditions that no harmful interference is caused and that interference must be accepted 
that may be caused by the operation of an authorized radio station, by another intentional 
or unintentional radiator, by industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) equipment, or by an 
incidental radiator.
(c) The operator of the radio frequency device shall be required to cease operating the 
device upon notification by a Commission representative that the device is causing 
harmful interference. Operation shall not resume until the condition causing the harmful 
interference has been corrected.
Title 47, CFR Section 15.13 Incidental radiators.
Manufacturers of these devices shall employ good engineering practices to minimize the 
risk of harmful interference.
Title 47, CFR Section 15.15 General technical requirements.
(c) Parties responsible for equipment compliance should note that the limits specified in 
this part will not prevent harmful interference under all circumstances. Since the 
operators of Part 15 devices are required to cease operation should harmful interference 
occur to authorized users of the radio frequency spectrum, the parties responsible for 
equipment compliance are encouraged to employ the minimum field strength necessary 
for communications, to provide greater attenuation of unwanted emissions than required 
by these regulations, and to advise the user as to how to resolve harmful interference 
problems (for example, see Sec. 15.105(b)).
The complainant has attempted unsuccessfully to work through your usual complaint 
resolution process and as a result the matter has been referred to our office. The Commission 
prefers that those responsible for the proper operation of VDSL equipment assume their 
responsibilities fairly. This means that your company should locate the source of any interference 
caused by its equipment and make necessary corrections within a reasonable time.
While the Commission has confidence that most companies are able to resolve these 
issues voluntarily, the Commission wants to make your office aware that this unresolved problem 
may be a violation of FCC rules and could result in a monetary forfeiture for each occurrence. At 
this stage, the Commission encourages the parties to resolve this problem without Commission 
intervention, but if necessary to facilitate resolution, the Commission may investigate possible 
rules violations and address appropriate remedies.
The American Radio Relay League, a national organization of Amateur Radio operators, 
may be able to offer help and guidance about radio interference that involves Amateur Radio 
operators.
American Radio Relay League
Radio Frequency Interference Desk
225 Main Street
Newington, CT 06111
860-594-0200
Email: rfi@arrl.org
Please advise the complainant and this office what steps CenturyLink is taking to correct 
this reported interference problem. The Commission expects that most cases can be resolved 
within 60 days of the time they are first reported.  If you are unable to resolve this by November 
22, 2016 please advise this office about the nature of the problem, the steps you are taking to 
resolve it and the estimated time in which those steps can be accomplished.  Please direct your 
correspondence to the following address:  1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325.  
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Laura L. Smith, Esq.
Special Counsel 
Spectrum Enforcement Division
Enforcement Bureau