[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19097-19098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9108]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 15

[DA 01-446]


Emissions From Digital Devices

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document adopts rules regarding limits on conducted and 
radiated emissions from unintentional radiators in order to update the 
references to Publication 22 of the International Electrotechnical 
Commission.

DATES: Effective May 14, 2001. The incorporation by reference of 
certain publications in this rule is approved by the Director of 
Federal Register as of May 14, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Reed, Office of Engineering and 
Technology, (202) 418-2455.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order, 
DA 01-446, adopted February 27, 2001, and released February 28, 2001. 
The full text of this Commission decision is available on the 
Commission's Internet site at www.fcc.gov. It is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Room CY-A257, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, and also may be purchased from the Commission's 
duplication contractor, International Transcription Service, (202) 857-
3800, 1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036.

Summary of the Order

    1. On December 3, 1999, the Information Technology Industry Council 
(``ITI'') filed a request to amend 47 CFR 15.107(e) and 15.109(g) of 
the Commission's rules regarding limits on conducted and radiated 
emissions from unintentional radiators in order to update the 
references to Publication 22 of the International Electrotechnical 
Commission (``IEC''), International Special Committee on Radio 
Interference (``CISPR''). Currently, the Commission rules reference the 
First Edition of CISPR Publication 22 (1985) along with several Draft 
International Standards (``DIS'') that were adopted in 1992. ITI points 
out that the First Edition of CISPR Publication 22 is no longer 
published and is becoming difficult to find. Accordingly, ITI requests 
that the Commission amend its rules to reference the Third Edition of 
CISPR Publication 22 (1997). ITI also requests that the Commission 
specifically exclude the limits in CISPR Publication 22 (1997) for 
conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunications ports. ITI adds 
that such testing would require the use of stabilization networks that 
generally are not available. Further, ITI is not aware of any history 
of interference complaints in this area.
    2. We note that the standards contained in CISPR Publication 22 
(1997) on the amount of energy allowed to be conducted onto the public 
utility (AC) power lines or radiated from a device are the same as 
those contained in CISPR Publication 22 (1985) as amended by the 1992 
Draft International Standards. Thus, amending the rules to reference 
CISPR Publication 22 (1997) would not result in a change to the 
regulations and would simplify the task of obtaining copies of this 
publication. We also note that the existing references within the 
Commission's rules to the CISPR Publication 22 standards apply only to 
the levels of emissions conducted onto AC power lines and to the levels 
of emissions radiated from a

[[Page 19098]]

digital device. Accordingly, there is no limit in the Commission's 
rules for conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunications 
ports. Therefore, for the sake of clarity we will incorporate ITI's 
suggested language excluding the limits in CISPR Publication 22 for 
conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunications ports.
    3. In accordance with Section 553 of the Administrative Procedures 
Act, a Notice of Proposed Rule Making is not required when the agency 
for good cause finds, and incorporates the finding and a brief 
statement of reasons therefore in the rules issued, that notice and 
public procedure thereon are unnecessary. In this case, we find that 
the amendment to the regulations does not result in any changes to the 
equipment standards. The amendment is ministerial in nature and is 
being made only to reference a more recent publication so as to 
facilitate obtaining these standards. Accordingly, public notice and 
comment are not necessary.
    4. Accordingly, part 15 of the Commission's Rules and Regulations 
Is Amended effective May 14, 2001. This action is taken pursuant to the 
authority found in Secs. 0.31 and 0.241 of the regulations.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 15

    Communications equipment, Incorporation by reference.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 15 as follows:

PART 15--RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES

    1. The authority citation for part 15 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302, 303, 304, 307, 336 and 544A.

    2. Section 15.107 is amended by revising paragraph (e) introductory 
text and by adding a new paragraph (e)(3), to read as follows:


Sec. 15.107  Conducted limits.

* * * * *
    (e) As an alternative to the conducted limits shown in paragraphs 
(a) and (b) of this section, digital devices may be shown to comply 
with the standards contained in the Third Edition of International 
Electrotechnical Commission (``IEC''), International Special Committee 
on Radio Interference (CISPR) Pub. 22 (1997), ``Information Technology 
Equipment--Radio Disturbance Characteristics--Limits and Methods of 
Measurement.'' This incorporation by reference was approved by the 
Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 
1 CFR part 51. Copies of CISPR publications may be purchased from 
Global Engineering Documents, P. O. Box 8500 (S-4485), Philadelphia, PA 
19178-4485, (303) 792-2181 or (800) 624-3974. Copies also may be 
inspected, but not reproduced, during normal business hours at the 
following locations: Federal Communications Commission, Reference 
Information Center, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC, 
and Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
Suite 700, Washington, DC. In addition:
* * * * *
    (3) Part 15 devices are not subject to the CISPR 22 limits on 
conducted common mode disturbance at telecommunication ports, as shown 
in Section 5.2 of CISPR, Tables 3 and 4.
* * * * *
    3. Section 15.109 is amended by revising paragraph (g) introductory 
text to read as follows:


Sec. 15.109  Radiated emission limits.

* * * * *
    (g) As an alternative to the radiated emission limits shown in 
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, digital devices may be shown to 
comply with the standards contained in the Third Edition of 
International Electrotechnical Commission (``IEC''), International 
Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) Pub. 22 (1997), 
``Information Technology Equipment--Radio Disturbance Characteristics--
Limits and Methods of Measurement.'' This incorporation by reference 
was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of CISPR publications may be 
purchased from the Global Engineering Documents, P. O. Box 8500 (S-
4485), Philadelphia, PA 19178-4485, (303) 792-2181 or (800) 624-3974. 
Copies also may be inspected, but not reproduced, during normal 
business hours at the following locations: Federal Communications 
Commission, Reference Information Center, Room CY-A257, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC, and Office of the Federal Register, 800 
North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 700, Washington, DC. In addition:
* * * * *

[FR Doc. 01-9108 Filed 4-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P