Goto Section: 15.1 | 15.5 | Table of Contents
FCC 15.3
Revised as of October 1, 2008
Goto Year:2007 |
2009
Sec. 15.3 Definitions.
(a) Auditory assistance device. An intentional radiator used to provide
auditory assistance to a handicapped person or persons. Such a device may be
used for auricular training in an education institution, for auditory
assistance at places of public gatherings, such as a church, theater, or
auditorium, and for auditory assistance to handicapped individuals, only, in
other locations.
(b) Biomedical telemetry device. An intentional radiator used to transmit
measurements of either human or animal biomedical phenomena to a receiver.
(c) Cable input selector switch. A transfer switch that is intended as a
means to alternate between the reception of broadcast signals via connection
to an antenna and the reception of cable television service.
(d) Cable locating equipment. An intentional radiator used intermittently by
trained operators to locate buried cables, lines, pipes, and similar
structures or elements. Operation entails coupling a radio frequency signal
onto the cable, pipes, etc. and using a receiver to detect the location of
that structure or element.
(e) Cable system terminal device (CSTD). A TV interface device that serves,
as its primary function, to connect a cable system operated under part 76 of
this chapter to a TV broadcast receiver or other subscriber premise
equipment. Any device which functions as a CSTD in one of its operating
modes must comply with the technical requirements for such devices when
operating in that mode.
(f) Carrier current system. A system, or part of a system, that transmits
radio frequency energy by conduction over the electric power lines. A
carrier current system can be designed such that the signals are received by
conduction directly from connection to the electric power lines
(unintentional radiator) or the signals are received over-the-air due to
radiation of the radio frequency signals from the electric power lines
(intentional radiator).
(g) CB receiver. Any receiver that operates in the Personal Radio Services
on frequencies allocated for Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service stations, as
well as any receiver provided with a separate band specifically designed to
receive the transmissions of CB stations in the Personal Radio Services.
This includes the following: (1) A CB receiver sold as a separate unit of
equipment; (2) the receiver section of a CB transceiver; (3) a converter to
be used with any receiver for the purpose of receiving CB transmissions;
and, (4) a multiband receiver that includes a band labelled “CB” or
“11-meter” in which such band can be separately selected, except that an
Amateur Radio Service receiver that was manufactured prior to January 1,
1960, and which includes an 11-meter band shall not be considered to be a CB
receiver.
(h) Class A digital device. A digital device that is marketed for use in a
commercial, industrial or business environment, exclusive of a device which
is marketed for use by the general public or is intended to be used in the
home.
(i) Class B digital device. A digital device that is marketed for use in a
residential environment notwithstanding use in commercial, business and
industrial environments. Examples of such devices include, but are not
limited to, personal computers, calculators, and similar electronic devices
that are marketed for use by the general public.
Note: The responsible party may also qualify a device intended to be
marketed in a commercial, business or industrial environment as a Class B
device, and in fact is encouraged to do so, provided the device complies
with the technical specifications for a Class B digital device. In the event
that a particular type of device has been found to repeatedly cause harmful
interference to radio communications, the Commission may classify such a
digital device as a Class B digital device, regardless of its intended use.
(j) Cordless telephone system. A system consisting of two transceivers, one
a base station that connects to the public switched telephone network and
the other a mobile handset unit that communicates directly with the base
station. Transmissions from the mobile unit are received by the base station
and then placed on the public switched telephone network. Information
received from the switched telephone network is transmitted by the base
station to the mobile unit.
Note: The Domestic Public Cellular Radio Telecommunications Service is
considered to be part of the switched telephone network. In addition,
intercom and paging operations are permitted provided these are not intended
to be the primary modes of operation.
(k) Digital device. (Previously defined as a computing device). An
unintentional radiator (device or system) that generates and uses timing
signals or pulses at a rate in excess of 9,000 pulses (cycles) per second
and uses digital techniques; inclusive of telephone equipment that uses
digital techniques or any device or system that generates and uses radio
frequency energy for the purpose of performing data processing functions,
such as electronic computations, operations, transformations, recording,
filing, sorting, storage, retrieval, or transfer. A radio frequency device
that is specifically subject to an emanation requirement in any other FCC
Rule part or an intentional radiator subject to subpart C of this part that
contains a digital device is not subject to the standards for digital
devices, provided the digital device is used only to enable operation of the
radio frequency device and the digital device does not control additional
functions or capabilities.
Note: Computer terminals and peripherals that are intended to be connected
to a computer are digital devices.
(l) Field disturbance sensor. A device that establishes a radio frequency
field in its vicinity and detects changes in that field resulting from the
movement of persons or objects within its range.
(m) Harmful interference. Any emission, radiation or induction that
endangers the functioning of a radio navigation service or of other safety
services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a
radiocommunications service operating in accordance with this chapter.
(n) Incidental radiator. A device that generates radio frequency energy
during the course of its operation although the device is not intentionally
designed to generate or emit radio frequency energy. Examples of incidental
radiators are dc motors, mechanical light switches, etc.
(o) Intentional radiator. A device that intentionally generates and emits
radio frequency energy by radiation or induction.
(p) Kit. Any number of electronic parts, usually provided with a schematic
diagram or printed circuit board, which, when assembled in accordance with
instructions, results in a device subject to the regulations in this part,
even if additional parts of any type are required to complete assembly.
(q) Perimeter protection system. A field disturbance sensor that employs RF
transmission lines as the radiating source. These RF transmission lines are
installed in such a manner that allows the system to detect movement within
the protected area.
(r) Peripheral device. An input/output unit of a system that feeds data into
and/or receives data from the central processing unit of a digital device.
Peripherals to a digital device include any device that is connected
external to the digital device, any device internal to the digital device
that connects the digital device to an external device by wire or cable, and
any circuit board designed for interchangeable mounting, internally or
externally, that increases the operating or processing speed of a digital
device, e.g., “turbo” cards and “enhancement” boards. Examples of peripheral
devices include terminals, printers, external floppy disk drives and other
data storage devices, video monitors, keyboards, interface boards, external
memory expansion cards, and other input/output devices that may or may not
contain digital circuitry. This definition does not include CPU boards, as
defined in paragraph (bb) of this section, even though a CPU board may
connect to an external keyboard or other components.
(s) Personal computer. An electronic computer that is marketed for use in
the home, notwithstanding business applications. Such computers are
considered Class B digital devices. Computers which use a standard TV
receiver as a display device or meet all of the following conditions are
considered examples of personal computers:
(1) Marketed through a retail outlet or direct mail order catalog.
(2) Notices of sale or advertisements are distributed or directed to the
general public or hobbyist users rather than restricted to commercial users.
(3) Operates on a battery or 120 volt electrical supply.
If the responsible party can demonstrate that because of price or
performance the computer is not suitable for residential or hobbyist use, it
may request that the computer be considered to fall outside of the scope of
this definition for personal computers.
(t) Power line carrier systems. An unintentional radiator employed as a
carrier current system used by an electric power utility entity on
transmission lines for protective relaying, telemetry, etc. for general
supervision of the power system. The system operates by the transmission of
radio frequency energy by conduction over the electric power transmission
lines of the system. The system does not include those electric lines which
connect the distribution substation to the customer or house wiring.
(u) Radio frequency (RF) energy. Electromagnetic energy at any frequency in
the radio spectrum between 9 kHz and 3,000,000 MHz.
(v) Scanning receiver. For the purpose of this part, this is a receiver that
automatically switches among two or more frequencies in the range of 30 to
960 MHz and that is capable of stopping at and receiving a radio signal
detected on a frequency. Receivers designed solely for the reception of the
broadcast signals under part 73 of this chapter, for the reception of NOAA
broadcast weather band signals, or for operation as part of a licensed
service are not included in this definition.
(w) Television (TV) broadcast receiver. A device designed to receive
television pictures that are broadcast simultaneously with sound on the
television channels authorized under part 73 of this chapter.
(x) Transfer switch. A device used to alternate between the reception of
over-the-air radio frequency signals via connection to an antenna and the
reception of radio frequency signals received by any other method, such as
from a TV interface device.
(y) TV interface device. An unintentional radiator that produces or
translates in frequency a radio frequency carrier modulated by a video
signal derived from an external or internal signal source, and which feeds
the modulated radio frequency energy by conduction to the antenna terminals
or other non-baseband input connections of a television broadcast receiver.
A TV interface device may include a stand-alone RF modulator, or a composite
device consisting of an RF modulator, video source and other components
devices. Examples of TV interface devices are video cassette recorders and
terminal devices attached to a cable system or used with a Master Antenna
(including those used for central distribution video devices in apartment or
office buildings).
(z) Unintentional radiator. A device that intentionally generates radio
frequency energy for use within the device, or that sends radio frequency
signals by conduction to associated equipment via connecting wiring, but
which is not intended to emit RF energy by radiation or induction.
(aa) Cable ready consumer electronics equipment. Consumer electronics TV
receiving devices, including TV receivers, videocassette recorders and
similar devices, that incorporate a tuner capable of receiving television
signals and an input terminal intended for receiving cable television
service, and are marketed as “cable ready” or “cable compatible.” Such
equipment shall comply with the technical standards specified in Sec. 15.118 and
the provisions of Sec. 15.19(d).
(bb) CPU board. A circuit board that contains a microprocessor, or frequency
determining circuitry for the microprocessor, the primary function of which
is to execute user-provided programming, but not including:
(1) A circuit board that contains only a microprocessor intended to operate
under the primary control or instruction of a microprocessor external to
such a circuit board; or
(2) A circuit board that is a dedicated controller for a storage or
input/output device.
(cc) External radio frequency power amplifier. A device which is not an
integral part of an intentional radiator as manufactured and which, when
used in conjunction with an intentional radiator as a signal source, is
capable of amplifying that signal.
(dd) Test equipment is defined as equipment that is intended primarily for
purposes of performing measurements or scientific investigations. Such
equipment includes, but is not limited to, field strength meters, spectrum
analyzers, and modulation monitors.
(ee) Radar detector. A receiver designed to signal the presence of radio
signals used for determining the speed of motor vehicles. This definition
does not encompass the receiver incorporated within a radar transceiver
certified under the Commission's rules.
(ff) Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL). A carrier current system
installed and operated on an electric utility service as an unintentional
radiator that sends radio frequency energy on frequencies between 1.705 MHz
and 80 MHz over medium voltage lines or over low voltage lines to provide
broadband communications and is located on the supply side of the utility
service's points of interconnection with customer premises. Access BPL does
not include power line carrier systems as defined in Sec. 15.3(t) or In-House
BPL as defined in Sec. 15.3(gg).
(gg) In-House Broadband over Power Line (In-House BPL). A carrier current
system, operating as an unintentional radiator, that sends radio frequency
energy by conduction over electric power lines that are not owned, operated
or controlled by an electric service provider. The electric power lines may
be aerial (overhead), underground, or inside the walls, floors or ceilings
of user premises. In-House BPL devices may establish closed networks within
a user's premises or provide connections to Access BPL networks, or both.
[ 54 FR 17714 , Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at 55 FR 18340 , May 2, 1990; 57 FR 33448 , July 29, 1992; 59 FR 25340 , May 16, 1994; 61 FR 31048 , June 19, 1996;
62 FR 26242 , May 13, 1997; 64 FR 22561 , Apr. 27, 1999; 65 FR 64391 , Oct. 27,
2000; 66 FR 32582 , June 15, 2001; 67 FR 48993 , July 29, 2002; 70 FR 1373 ,
Jan. 7, 2005]
Goto Section: 15.1 | 15.5
Goto Year: 2007 |
2009
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