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]