1999/303/EC: Commission Decision of 12 April 1999 on a common technical regulation for connection to the analogue public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) of terminal equipment supporting the voice telephony justified case service in which network addressing, if provided, is by means of dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signalling (notified under document number C(1999) 874) (Text with EEA relevance)

COMMISSION DECISION
of 12 April 1999
on a common technical regulation for connection to the analogue public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) of terminal equipment supporting the voice telephony justified case service in which network addressing, if provided, is by means of dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signalling
(notified under document number C(1999) 874)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(1999/303/EC)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Directive 98/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 1998 concerning telecommunications terminal equipment and satellite earth station equipment, including the mutual recognition of their conformity(1), and in particular Article 7(2), second indent, thereof,
(1) Whereas the Council Decision 98/482/EC of 20 July 1998 on a common technical regulation for the attachment requirements for connection to the analogue public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) of terminal equipment (excluding terminal equipment supporting the voice telephony justified case service) in which network addressing, if provided, is by means of dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signalling(2) excludes terminal equipment supporting the voice telephony justified case service;
(2) Whereas the Commission has identified that terminal equipment supporting the voice telephony justified case service should be covered by a common technical regulation; and has identified the associated scope statement;
(3) Whereas the technical development of the corresponding harmonised standard is sufficiently advanced that its content is known to differ only marginally from that of the harmonised standard referenced by the Council Decision 98/482/EC; whereas it is therefore opportune that the existing harmonised standard should be adopted, with minor exclusions, to provide a basis for the attachment requirements for terminals supporting the voice telephony justified case service; whereas this can be achieved through this Commission Decision which is complementary to Decision 98/482/EC; whereas this will have the effect that the same harmonised standard will be used for the attachment requirements for all kinds of terminals connected to the PSTN; whereas such application of essential requirements with discernment, taking account of the state of the art and economic benefits, is foreseen in the recitals of Directive 98/13/EC;
(4) Whereas the technical development of the national public telephone networks have taken place continuously during the course of the 20th century, and that because these developments were initially undertaken independently, important technical differences wil remain between networks;
(5) Whereas technical differences in PSTNs exist, and that the most significant of these are described in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's (ETSI) guide EG 201 121;
(6) Whereas this guide may contain useful information for the manufacturer;
(7) Whereas notified bodies shall therefore ensure that manufacturers are aware of these differences;
(8) Whereas it should be possible to continue to approve terminal equipment according to national regulation for a transitional period;
(9) Whereas manufacturers shall associate a notice with all products approved under this Decision; whereas manufacturers shall make a network compatibility declaration; whereas notified bodies shall ensure that manufacturers are aware of these obligations; whereas notified bodies shall inform other notified bodies of the network compatibility declarations whenever approval is granted under this Decision;
(10) Whereas equipment falling within the scope of this Decision that has been approved under national regulations before the end of the transitional period may continue to be placed on that national market and put into service;
(11) Whereas the common technical regulation provided for in this Decision is in accordance with the opinion of ACTE,