OET Seeks Comment on Modifying the Equipment Authorization Rules To Reflect the Updated Versions of the Currently Referenced ANSI C63.4 and ISO/IEC 17025 Standards, 20088-20089 [2019-09416]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS 20088 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 8, 2019 / Proposed Rules through among other things, the many resources it provides potential auction participants. Small entities and other auction participants may seek clarification of or guidance on complying with competitive bidding rules and procedures, reporting requirements, and the FCC’s auction bidding system. An FCC Auctions Hotline provides access to Commission staff for information about the auction process and procedures. The FCC Auctions Technical Support Hotline is another resource which provides technical assistance to applicants, including small business entities, on issues such as access to or navigation within the electronic FCC Form 175 and use of the FCC’s auction bidding system. Small entities may also use the webbased, interactive online tutorial produced by Commission staff to familiarize themselves with auction procedures, filing requirements, bidding procedures, and other matters related to an auction. 110. The Commission also makes various databases and other sources of information, including the Auctions program websites, and copies of Commission decisions, available to the public without charge, providing a lowcost mechanism for small businesses to conduct research prior to and throughout the auction. Prior to and at the close of Auction 103, the Commission will post public notices on the Auctions website, which articulate the procedures and deadlines for the auction. The Commission makes this information easily accessible and without charge to benefit all Auction 103 applicants, including small businesses, thereby lowering their administrative costs to comply with the Commission’s competitive bidding rules. 111. Prior to the start of bidding, eligible bidders are given an opportunity to become familiar with auction procedures and the bidding system by participating in a mock auction. Further, the Commission intends to conduct Auction 103 electronically over the internet using its web-based auction system that eliminates the need for bidders to be physically present in a specific location. Qualified bidders also have the option to place bids by telephone. These mechanisms are made available to facilitate participation in Auction 103 by all eligible bidders and may result in significant cost savings for small business entities who use these alternatives. Moreover, the adoption of bidding procedures in advance of the auction, consistent with statutory directive, is designed to ensure that the VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 May 07, 2019 Jkt 247001 auction will be administered predictably and fairly for all participants, including small businesses. 112. For Auction 103, the Commission proposes a $25 million cap on the total amount of bidding credits that may be awarded to an eligible small business and a $10 million cap on the total amount of bidding credits that may be awarded to a rural service provider. In addition, the Commission proposes a $10 million cap on the overall amount of bidding credits that any winning small business bidder may apply to winning licenses in markets with a population of 500,000 or less. Based on the technical characteristics of the UMFUS bands and the Commission’s analysis of past auction data, the Commission anticipates that the proposed caps will allow the majority of small businesses to take full advantage of the bidding credit program, thereby lowering the relative costs of participation for small businesses. 113. These proposed procedures for the conduct of Auction 103 constitute the more specific implementation of the competitive bidding rules contemplated by Parts 1 and 30 of the Commission’s rules and the underlying rulemaking orders, including the Spectrum Frontiers Fourth R&O, 2017 Spectrum Frontiers Order, 2016 Spectrum Frontiers Order, and relevant competitive bidding orders, and are fully consistent therewith. 114. Federal Rules that May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict with the Proposed Rules. None. 115. Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding has been designated as a ‘‘permit-butdisclose’’ proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Persons making oral ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentations or memoranda summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine Period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to the Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–09431 Filed 5–7–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 2 and 95 [ET Docket No. 19–48; DA 19–152] OET Seeks Comment on Modifying the Equipment Authorization Rules To Reflect the Updated Versions of the Currently Referenced ANSI C63.4 and ISO/IEC 17025 Standards Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCY: In this document, the Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) sought comment on updating the Commission’s rules and procedures to reflect recent changes to two standards: (1) ANSI C63.4a–2017 ‘‘American National Standard for Methods of Measurement of RadioNoise Emissions from Low-Voltage Electrical and Electronic Equipment in the Range of 9 kHz to 40 GHz, Amendment 1: Test Site Validation;’’ and (2) ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) ‘‘General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.’’ DATES: Submit comments on or before June 7, 2019 and reply comments on or before June 24, 2019. ADDRESSES: Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\08MYP1.SGM 08MYP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 89 / Wednesday, May 8, 2019 / Proposed Rules may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). D Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the internet by accessing the ECFS: www.fcc.gov/ecfs. D Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. D All hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St. SW, Room TW–A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. D Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. D U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington DC 20554. D People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice), 202– 418–0432 (tty). Documents are available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW, Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brian Butler at Brian.Butler@fcc.gov, or (202) 418–2702 of the Office of Engineering and Technology. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Office of Engineering and Technology’s Public Notice in ET Docket No 19–48, released April 2, VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 May 07, 2019 Jkt 247001 2019. The full text of this document is available at https://www.fcc.gov/ document/oet-seeks-commentmodifying-equipment-authorizationrules. ANSI C63.4a–2017 can be purchased from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), 3916 Ranchero Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, 1–800–699–9277, https:// www.techstreet.com/ieee; (IEEE publications can also be purchased from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) through its NSSN operation (www.nssn.org), at Customer Service, American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, telephone (212) 642– 4900. ISO/IEC publications can be purchased from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) through its NSSN operation (www.nssn.org), at Customer Service, American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, telephone (212) 642–4900. Synopsis As background, the Commission’s rules incorporate references to measurement and technical standards that have been established by standardssetting bodies such as American National Standards Institute, Accredited Standards Committee C63SC (ASC63), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The Commission’s equipment authorization program for radiofrequency (RF) devices, for example, incorporates such references in § 2.910 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR. These organizations periodically update their standards to maintain best practices in response to advancements in technologies and measurement capabilities. When these changes are of a substantive nature, the Commission uses the rulemaking process to evaluate whether the changes should be effectuated in its rules. By the Public Notice (Notice), OET sought comment on updating the Commission’s rules and procedures to reflect recent changes to two standards: ANSI C63.4a–2017 ‘‘American National Standard for Methods of Measurement of Radio-Noise Emissions from LowVoltage Electrical and Electronic Equipment in the Range of 9 kHz to 40 GHz, Amendment 1: Test Site Validation’’ and ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) ‘‘General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.’’ As detailed below, the Notice discussed the role of these standards in the Commission’s rules and PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 20089 it noted the recent changes made by the respective standards bodies. ANSI C63.4a–2017. On November 11, 2018, upon publication of ANSI C63.4a2017, ASC C63 requested that the Commission take the appropriate steps to reference it in our rules. ASC C63 also submitted a copy of the revised standard to the Commission in conjunction with its petition. As described in ASC C63’s filing, the changes resolve certain normalized site attenuation issues (including the measurement of equipment under test that exceeds 2 meters in height) and make a variety of corrections, clarifications and modifications to parts of the standard. Accordingly, in the Notice, OET Commission sought comment on incorporating ANSI C63.4a–2017 into our rules. ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E). In ET Docket No. 13–44, the Commission updated its rules to reference ISO/IEC standards related to the accreditation of Certification Bodies and Testing Laboratories, including ISO/IEC 17025:2005(E). A new version of this standard was published in November 2017, but has yet to be incorporated into the Commission’s rules. In addition to adding a definition of ‘‘laboratory,’’ this version replaces certain prescriptive requirements with performance-based requirements and allows for greater flexibility in satisfying the standard’s requirements for processes, procedures, documented information and organizational responsibilities. Additionally, ISO and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) recently issued a joint communique that re-confirms that a three-year transition period will be allowed for accredited laboratories to transition to the 2017 version of ISO/IEC 17025. While both ISO/IEC 17025:2005(E) and ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) will be valid during this three-year transition period, accreditations to ISO/IEC 17025:2005(E) will become invalid after November 30, 2020. OET sought comment on incorporating ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) into the Commission’s rules and adopting a three-year transition period, consistent with the ISO and ILAC joint communique. Federal Communications Commission. Julius Knapp, Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology. [FR Doc. 2019–09416 Filed 5–7–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P E:\FR\FM\08MYP1.SGM 08MYP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20088-20089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09416]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 2 and 95

[ET Docket No. 19-48; DA 19-152]


OET Seeks Comment on Modifying the Equipment Authorization Rules 
To Reflect the Updated Versions of the Currently Referenced ANSI C63.4 
and ISO/IEC 17025 Standards

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission's Office of Engineering and 
Technology (OET) sought comment on updating the Commission's rules and 
procedures to reflect recent changes to two standards: (1) ANSI C63.4a-
2017 ``American National Standard for Methods of Measurement of Radio-
Noise Emissions from Low-Voltage Electrical and Electronic Equipment in 
the Range of 9 kHz to 40 GHz, Amendment 1: Test Site Validation;'' and 
(2) ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) ``General requirements for the competence of 
testing and calibration laboratories.''

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 7, 2019 and reply comments on 
or before June 24, 2019.

ADDRESSES:  Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties

[[Page 20089]]

may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated 
on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the 
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic 
Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
    [ssquf] Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: www.fcc.gov/ecfs.
    [ssquf] Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file 
an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or 
rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    [ssquf] All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for 
the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 
12th St. SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with 
rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of 
before entering the building.
    [ssquf] Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, 
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
    [ssquf] U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail 
must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington DC 20554.
    [ssquf] People with Disabilities: To request materials in 
accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or 
call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 
(voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
    Documents are available for public inspection and copying during 
business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 
12th Street SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brian Butler at 
[email protected], or (202) 418-2702 of the Office of Engineering 
and Technology.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Office of 
Engineering and Technology's Public Notice in ET Docket No 19-48, 
released April 2, 2019. The full text of this document is available at 
https://www.fcc.gov/document/oet-seeks-comment-modifying-equipment-authorization-rules.
    ANSI C63.4a-2017 can be purchased from the Institute of Electrical 
and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), 3916 Ranchero Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 
48108, 1-800-699-9277, https://www.techstreet.com/ieee; (IEEE 
publications can also be purchased from the American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI) through its NSSN operation (www.nssn.org), at Customer 
Service, American National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, 
New York, NY 10036, telephone (212) 642-4900.
    ISO/IEC publications can be purchased from the American National 
Standards Institute (ANSI) through its NSSN operation (www.nssn.org), 
at Customer Service, American National Standards Institute, 25 West 
43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, telephone (212) 642-4900.

Synopsis

    As background, the Commission's rules incorporate references to 
measurement and technical standards that have been established by 
standards-setting bodies such as American National Standards Institute, 
Accredited Standards Committee C63SC (ASC63), International 
Organization for Standardization (ISO), and International 
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The Commission's equipment 
authorization program for radiofrequency (RF) devices, for example, 
incorporates such references in Sec.  2.910 of the Commission's rules, 
47 CFR. These organizations periodically update their standards to 
maintain best practices in response to advancements in technologies and 
measurement capabilities. When these changes are of a substantive 
nature, the Commission uses the rulemaking process to evaluate whether 
the changes should be effectuated in its rules.
    By the Public Notice (Notice), OET sought comment on updating the 
Commission's rules and procedures to reflect recent changes to two 
standards: ANSI C63.4a-2017 ``American National Standard for Methods of 
Measurement of Radio-Noise Emissions from Low-Voltage Electrical and 
Electronic Equipment in the Range of 9 kHz to 40 GHz, Amendment 1: Test 
Site Validation'' and ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) ``General requirements for 
the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.'' As detailed 
below, the Notice discussed the role of these standards in the 
Commission's rules and it noted the recent changes made by the 
respective standards bodies.
    ANSI C63.4a-2017. On November 11, 2018, upon publication of ANSI 
C63.4a-2017, ASC C63 requested that the Commission take the appropriate 
steps to reference it in our rules. ASC C63 also submitted a copy of 
the revised standard to the Commission in conjunction with its 
petition. As described in ASC C63's filing, the changes resolve certain 
normalized site attenuation issues (including the measurement of 
equipment under test that exceeds 2 meters in height) and make a 
variety of corrections, clarifications and modifications to parts of 
the standard. Accordingly, in the Notice, OET Commission sought comment 
on incorporating ANSI C63.4a-2017 into our rules.
    ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E). In ET Docket No. 13-44, the Commission 
updated its rules to reference ISO/IEC standards related to the 
accreditation of Certification Bodies and Testing Laboratories, 
including ISO/IEC 17025:2005(E). A new version of this standard was 
published in November 2017, but has yet to be incorporated into the 
Commission's rules. In addition to adding a definition of 
``laboratory,'' this version replaces certain prescriptive requirements 
with performance-based requirements and allows for greater flexibility 
in satisfying the standard's requirements for processes, procedures, 
documented information and organizational responsibilities.
    Additionally, ISO and International Laboratory Accreditation 
Cooperation (ILAC) recently issued a joint communique that re-confirms 
that a three-year transition period will be allowed for accredited 
laboratories to transition to the 2017 version of ISO/IEC 17025. While 
both ISO/IEC 17025:2005(E) and ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) will be valid 
during this three-year transition period, accreditations to ISO/IEC 
17025:2005(E) will become invalid after November 30, 2020. OET sought 
comment on incorporating ISO/IEC 17025:2017(E) into the Commission's 
rules and adopting a three-year transition period, consistent with the 
ISO and ILAC joint communique.

Federal Communications Commission.
Julius Knapp,
Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2019-09416 Filed 5-7-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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