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[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34618-34619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16628]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 15 and 18

[ET Docket 98-80; FCC 98-102]

Conducted Emission Limits

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Inquiry.

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SUMMARY: By this Notice of Inquiry, the Commission is reviewing the 
conducted emission limits. This action is taken by the Commission, on 
its own motion, as part of an ongoing program of regulatory review. It 
is intended to examine whether these regulations continue to be 
necessary, and if so, whether any changes to the limits may be 
appropriate.

DATES: Comments are due July 27, 1998. Reply comments are due August 
10, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Engineering and Technology, 
Anthony Serafini at (202) 418-2456.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Inquiry, ET Docket No. 98-80, adopted May 29, 1998 and released June 
8, 1998. The full text of this decision is available for inspection and 
copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 
239, 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC. The complete text of this 
decision also may be purchased from the Commission's duplication 
contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 
1231 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Summary of Notice of Inquiry

    1. Many radio frequency devices obtain their electrical energy from 
the AC power line (i.e., 110 volt household electrical line). Such 
devices include personal computers, personal computer peripherals, TV 
and FM receivers, video cassette recorders, cordless telephone base 
stations, wireless security alarm systems, RF lighting devices, 
microwave ovens, induction cooking ranges and ultrasonic equipment. The 
radio

[[Page 34619]]

frequency energy that these devices generate can be conducted back onto 
the AC power line. The conducted radio frequency energy can cause 
interference to radio communications via two possible paths. First, the 
radio frequency energy may be carried along the electrical wiring to 
another device that is also connected to the electrical wiring. Second, 
the AC electrical wiring can act as an antenna to radiate signals over 
the airwaves. At frequencies below 30 MHz, where wavelengths are 
greater than 10 meters, the long stretches of electrical wiring can act 
as very efficient antennas. Further, the signals radiating onto the 
airwaves can cause interference to operations at considerable distances 
because propagation losses are low at these frequencies.
    2. Parts 15 and 18 of the rules control the potential for such 
interference by limiting the levels of RF voltage that devices may 
conduct onto the AC power line. Part 15 of the Commission's rules 
specifies conducted emissions limits for radio frequency devices, 
including unintentional and intentional radiators. Part 18 specifies 
conducted emissions limits for industrial, scientific, and medical 
(ISM) equipment. Industrial, scientific and medical equipment is 
equipment or appliances designed to generate and use locally RF energy 
for industrial, scientific, medical, domestic or similar purposes, 
excluding applications in the field of telecommunication. Compliance is 
usually determined by connecting the device to a line impedance 
stabilization network, or LISN, which allows measurement of RF voltage 
under standard conditions. Most products are subject to conducted 
emissions limits that cover the frequency range 450 kHz to 30 MHz. The 
sole exception is induction cooking ranges, which are subject to 
conducted emissions limits beginning at 10 kHz because these products 
generate high levels of radio emissions at very low frequencies.
    3. Certain devices or systems use carrier current techniques to 
deliberately couple RF energy to the AC electrical wiring for purposes 
of communication. Many AM campus radio systems use carrier current 
technology. Electrical utilities often use carrier current technology 
for monitoring and control of the electrical grid. A variety of devices 
intended for home use, such as intercom systems and remote controls for 
electrical appliances and lamps, also use carrier current technology. 
Interference from carrier current systems is controlled primarily by 
requiring compliance with radiated emissions limits. These standards 
provide system operators and equipment manufacturers the flexibility 
they need to adjust the signal levels they couple to the electrical 
wiring to take into account local variations, such as differences in 
impedance and layout of the wiring. Carrier current systems that 
contain their fundamental emission within the standard AM broadcast 
band of 535-1705 kHz and are intended to be received using standard AM 
broadcast receivers have no limit on conducted emissions. All other 
carrier current systems are subject to a conducted emission limit only 
within the AM broadcast band.
    4. By this action, the Commission is reviewing the conducted 
emissions limits in Parts 15 and 18 of the Commission's rules. The 
conducted emissions limits control the levels of radio frequency (RF) 
voltage that equipment may conduct onto the (AC) power line. The 
purpose of these limits is to protect against interference to radio 
services operating below 30 MHz. The Commission is initiating this 
proceeding on its own motion as part of an ongoing program of 
regulatory review. The conducted emissions limits apply to a wide 
variety of products, including various consumer electronic devices and 
radio transmitters. We seek to examine whether these regulations 
continue to be necessary, and if so, whether any changes to the limits 
may be appropriate. In this regard, we seek information as to the costs 
of complying with these regulations. We are also interested in 
determining whether the regulations may impede new technologies. 
Further, we will examine our general regulations for carrier current 
systems. Upon review of the responses to this inquiry, we will 
determine whether to propose any changes to these regulations.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-16628 Filed 6-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-F
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