FCC Update
- Clarifications to rules affecting test & approval times -
December 1, 2008
The following are clarifications to current FCC rules made during the last Federal Communications Commission (FCC) / Telecommunications Certification Bodies (TCB) meeting. The information in this editorial focuses on issues with integrating radios into a device. However this information is also valid in general cases.
SAR (Specific Absorption Rate)
- Current SAR standards cover the measurements of one device at a time. The FCC is concerned that if the antennas are too close to one another, it may affect the results to be higher. Calculation is very difficult and modeling is one solution but not very practical. *Contact CETECOM for design recommendations that will shorten approval times.
- Previously, PCMCIA cards needed to be tested in three different notebooks in order to satisfy FCC requirements. The FCC is now allowing PCMCIA cards to be tested in one notebook as long as the SAR value is below a certain limit.
- USB radios have to be tested at 0cm distance making it hard to meet SAR limits. The FCC established a procedure that for each application the lab must verify the correct test setup. This procedure was modified on 12/02/2008.
3GPP Release 6 Devices (HSPA)
- At the same date the FCC published requirements for testing 3GPP Release 6 devices. A whole set of documents were published to ensure the proper settings when testing these devices. These settings are not new but they are now combined in one set of documents.
- 3GPP Release 6 devices fall under the PBA (Permit But Ask) procedure. This situation allows a TCB to do the filing but they must ask the FCC prior to testing.
For more detailed information, please contact your CETECOM representative.