FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:		News Media contact:
November 5, 1999				Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500

INTER-AMERICAN MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR 
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT 
COMPLETED
 
Washington, DC  Another barrier to international trade in telecommunications 
equipment fell as the Inter-American Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for 
conformity assessment of telecommunication equipment was signed during the October 
25-29, 1999, meeting of the OAS/Inter-American Telecommunication Commission 
(CITEL) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

William E. Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC), noted that The adoption of this agreement is an important step forward in our 
efforts to ensure that the benefits of the information revolution are as widely available 
as possible. In addition, by minimizing delays in securing regulatory approvals for 
telecom equipment, significant benefits will accrue to both U.S. manufacturers and 
consumers.

The CITEL MRA is intended to streamline the Conformity Assessment 
Procedures for a wide range of telecommunications equipment and thereby facilitate 
trade among the participating Parties.  It provides for the mutual recognition of 
conformity assessment bodies and acceptance of the results of testing and certification 
procedures in assessing conformity of equipment to mandatory technical regulations.  
Telecommunications equipment is a $100 billion market, with the United States 
accounting for $74 billion and other nations of the hemisphere accounting for $24 
billion in 1998.  United States exports of telecommunications equipment to other 
Western Hemisphere nations totaled $8 billion.

The MRA creates a two-phased mechanism for the mutual recognition of testing 
results (Phase I) and equipment certifications (Phase II) and obligates parties 
participating in either or both phases to accept conformity assessments on a transparent 
and non-discriminatory basis.  The MRA permits the parties to the agreement to decide 
independently at which point and to what extent they intend to acquire the rights and 
obligations contained in the MRA. 

The Inter-American MRA is similar to MRAs adopted within the last year by 
the United States and the European Union and by the Asian Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC).  Implementation of each of these MRAs will simplify the widely 
varying conformity assessment procedures worldwide.  The MRAs will ultimately 
accelerate the approval of telecom equipment and reduce costs to manufacturers and 
consumers.

The Commission recently amended its rules to facilitate the implementation of 
MRAs.  See the Report and Order in GEN Docket No. 98-68 adopted by the 
Commission on December 17, 1998.  Under the new rules the Commission will 
designate Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) in the United States that will 
be empowered to certify equipment.   TCBs can be designated outside the United States 
under the terms and conditions of MRAs. 

Any questions regarding the Inter-American MRA may be directed to Art Wall 
at (202) 418-2442 (or e-mail awall@fcc.gov).


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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).