[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66900-66901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31108]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology
[Docket No. 99102-0281-9281-01]
RIN 0693-XX48


National Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation 
(NVCASE) Program

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
hereby announces the establishment of a sub-program under the National 
Voluntary Conformity Assessment System Evaluation (NVCASE) program to 
recognize accreditors that accredit laboratories that test 
telecommunications equipment and/or perform electromagnetic 
compatibility testing. The sub-program is being established pursuant to 
NVCASE regulations in response to a request from a Federal Agency, the 
Federal Communications Commission. Accreditation bodies recognized by

[[Page 66901]]

NIST may then accredit laboratories to perform specified testing to 
satisfy designated foreign or domestic government regulatory (i.e., 
mandated) requirements. NIST will explore with the National Cooperation 
for Laboratory Accreditation a cooperative and joint approach for 
recognizing applicant laboratory accreditors.
    The action being taken under this notice addresses both generic and 
specific NVCASE requirements relating to two sectoral annexes 
(telecommunications equipment and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)) 
of the United States (U.S.)/European Union (EU) Mutual Recognition 
Agreement (MRA) and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Mutual 
Recognition Arrangement for the Conformity Assessment of 
Telecommunications Equipment. If additional MRAs covering these areas 
are negotiated between the United States and another country or region, 
any additional specific requirements will be included under this NVCASE 
activity.
    Sub-program requirements have been developed in accordance with 
NVCASE regulations and with public consultation.
    Public input was obtained at two open meetings on April 27 and 
April 28, 1999 and from comments received through May 30, 1999.

DATES: Applications will be received beginning November 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Applications for recognition may be obtained from, and 
returned to, Robert L. Gladhill, NVCASE Program Manager, NIST, 100 
Bureau Drive, Mailstop 2100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2100, by fax (301) 
975-5414, or email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert L. Gladhill, NVCASE Program 
Manager, at NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Mailstop 2100, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899-2100, telefax: (301) 975-5414, email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NVCASE sub-program to recognize 
accreditation bodies that accredit laboratories to test 
telecommunications equipment and/or perform electromagetic 
compatibility testing is being established in accordance with the 
NVCASE Regulations (15 CFR Part 286.2(b)(3)(ii)) and in response to 
requiements as described in FCC GEN Docket 98-68 (FCC 98-338) adopted 
on December 17, 1998 and FCC Public Notice DA 99-1640 released August 
17, 1999. The generic and specific requirements are also being 
established pursuant to NVCASE regulations (15 CFR Part 286.5). Public 
consultation on these requirements was conducted at two workshops held 
at the Department of Commerce on April 27 and 28, 1999. These workshops 
were announced in the Federal Register Sol. 64, No. 53/Friday, March 
19, 1999. Follow-up comments were accepted from the public through May 
30, 1999.
    This program is also being established to support NIST's 
responsibilities as a designating authority for the United States in 
both the Telecommunication Equipment and EMC Sectoral Annexes of the 
U.S./EU MRA (which may be located at http://www.iep.doc.gov/mra/
mra.htm) and the APEC MRA for Conformity Assessment of 
Telecommunications Equipment (which may be located at http://
www.apii.or.kr/telwg/mraTG/mraTG-frame.html).
    Telecommunications equipment testing as referenced in this notice 
covers tests of equipment for network terminal attachment and other 
equipment subject to telecommunications regulation, including wire and 
wireless equipment, transmitters, and terrestrial and satellite 
equipment, whether or not connected to a Public Telecommunications 
Network. EMC testing relates to measuring the electromagnetic emissions 
from the product under test, both intended and unintended, and their 
effect on other products (emissions testing), as well as the effects of 
electromagnetic emissions from other products on the product under test 
(immunity testing).
    NIST will apply the generic requirements contained in the 
International Organization for Standardization/International 
Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Guide 58--``Calibration and 
Testing Laboratory Accreditation Systems--General Requirements for 
Operation and Recognition,'' to all applicant accreditation bodies. All 
laboratories applying to recognized accreditors shall be assessed 
against the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 25--``General Requirements 
for the Competence of Calibration and Testing Laboratories.'' These 
generic requirements will be supplemented by specific technical 
requirements contained in individual NVCASE handbooks, available on 
request from NIST.
    NIST will accept applications from interested accreditation bodies 
for recognition to accredit laboratories under the U.S./EU MRA or the 
APEC MRA. Evaluation of an initial group of applicant accreditation 
bodies for NVCASE recognition will begin on or about December 30, 1999. 
All accreditation bodies that have submitted a complete application and 
required fees to NIST by December 15, 1999, will be included in this 
initial group. Applications received subsequently will be considered on 
an as-received basis for evaluation after the initial group of 
applicants has been considered.
    NIST expects to announce recognition of qualified accreditation 
bodies on or about April 1, 2000. At about the same time, NIST also 
expects to identify and list an initial group of qualified laboratories 
for each of the areas noted. Each laboratory listed under the 
provisions of the U.S./EU MRA or under the APEC MRA will be designated 
by NIST as a conformity assessment body (CAB).
    This notice contains a collection of information requirement 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. This collection of information 
has been approved by OMB under the following control Number: 0693-0019.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget Control 
Number.

    Dated: November 19, 1999.
Karen Brown,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 99-31108 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
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