§ 15.242   Operation in the bands 174-216 MHz and 470-668 MHz.

   (a) The marketing and operation of intentional radiators under the
   provisions of this section is restricted to biomedical telemetry
   devices employed solely on the premises of health care facilities.

   (1) A health care facility includes hospitals and other establishments
   that offer services, facilities, and beds for use beyond 24 hours in
   rendering medical treatment and institutions and organizations
   regularly engaged in providing medical services through clinics, public
   health facilities, and similar establishments, including governmental
   entities and agencies for their own medical activities.

   (2) This authority to operate does not extend to mobile vehicles, such
   as ambulances, even if those vehicles are associated with a health care
   facility.

   (b) The fundamental emissions from a biomedical telemetry device
   operating under the provisions of this section shall be contained
   within a single television broadcast channel, as defined in part 73 of
   this chapter, under all conditions of operation and shall lie wholly
   within the frequency ranges of 174-216 MHz and 470-668 MHz.

   (c) The field strength of the fundamental emissions shall not exceed
   200 mV/m, as measured at a distance of 3 meters using a quasi-peak
   detector. Manufacturers should note that a quasi-peak detector function
   indicates field strength per 120 kHz of bandwidth ±20 kHz. Accordingly,
   the total signal level over the band of operation may be higher than
   200 mV/m. The field strength of emissions radiated on any frequency
   outside of the television broadcast channel within which the
   fundamental is contained shall not exceed the general limits in
   § 15.209.

   (d) The user and the installer of a biomedical telemetry device
   operating within the frequency range 174-216 MHz, 470-608 MHz or
   614-668 MHz shall ensure that the following minimum separation
   distances are maintained between the biomedical telemetry device and
   the authorized radio services operating on the same frequencies:

   (1) At least 10.3 km outside of the Grade B field strength contour (56
   dBuV/m) of a TV broadcast station or an associated TV booster station
   operating within the band 174-216 MHz.

   (2) At least 5.5 km outside of the Grade B field strength contour (64
   dBuV/m) of a TV broadcast station or an associated TV booster station
   operating within the bands 470-608 MHz or 614-668 MHz.

   (3) At least 5.1 km outside of the 68 dBuV/m field strength contour of
   a low power TV or a TV translator station operating within the band
   174-216 MHz.

   (4) At least 3.1 km outside of the 74 dBuV/m field strength contour of
   a low power TV or a TV translator station operating within the bands
   470-608 MHz or 614-668 MHz.

   (5) Whatever distance is necessary to protect other authorized users
   within these bands.

   (e) The user and the installer of a biomedical telemetry device
   operating within the frequency range 608-614 MHz and that will be
   located within 32 km of the very long baseline array (VLBA) stations or
   within 80 km of any of the other radio astronomy observatories noted in
   footnote US385 of Section 2.106 of this chapter must coordinate with,
   and obtain the written concurrence of, the director of the affected
   radio astronomy observatory before the equipment can be installed or
   operated. The National Science Foundation point of contact for
   coordination is: Spectrum Manager, Division of Astronomical Sciences,
   NSF Room 1045, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230; tel: (703)
   306-1823.

   (f) Biomedical telemetry devices must not cause harmful interference to
   licensed TV broadcast stations or to other authorized radio services,
   such as operations on the broadcast frequencies under subparts G and H
   of part 74 of this chapter, land mobile stations operating under part
   90 of this chapter in the 470-512 MHz band, and radio astronomy
   operation in the 608-614 MHz band. (See § 15.5.) If harmful interference
   occurs, the interference must either be corrected or the device must
   immediately cease operation on the occupied frequency. Further, the
   operator of the biomedical telemetry device must accept whatever level
   of interference is received from other radio operations. The operator,
   i.e., the health care facility, is responsible for resolving any
   interference that occurs subsequent to the installation of these
   devices.

   (g) The manufacturers, installers, and users of biomedical telemetry
   devices are reminded that they must ensure that biomedical telemetry
   transmitters operating under the provisions of this section avoid
   operating in close proximity to authorized services using this
   spectrum. Sufficient separation distance, necessary to avoid causing or
   receiving harmful interference, must be maintained from co-channel
   operations. These parties are reminded that the frequencies of the
   authorized services are subject to change, especially during the
   implementation of the digital television services. The operating
   frequencies of the part 15 devices may need to be changed, as necessary
   and in accordance with the permissive change requirements of this
   chapter, to accommodate changes in the operating frequencies of the
   authorized services.

   (h) The manufacturers, installers and users of biomedical telemetry
   devices are cautioned that the operation of this equipment could result
   in harmful interference to other nearby medical devices.

   [ 62 FR 58658 , Oct. 30, 1997, as amended at  77 FR 76248 , Dec. 27, 2012]

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