CONTENT

C63 APRIL 2005 MEETING SERIES 2005 C63 SHORT COURSE POSSIBILITIES C63 OCTOBER MEETING HIGHLIGHTS C63 SUBCOMMITTEE OCTOBER ACTIVITY

SUMMARIES (SC 1, 2, 5, 6 & 8) OVERVIEW OF RECENT FCC ACTIONS C63 STANDARDS / PROJECTS SUMMARY C63 OFFICERS’ DIRECTORY

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SC-1 Techniques and Development

Don Heirman Chair

Project 1-1.1 C63.15 Immunity Measurements and Project 1-1.3 C63.15 Immunity Instrumentation (combined with Project 1-1.1): This document had been balloted successfully in C63. Mike Windler is the SC 1 person in charge of resolving the comments and providing an edited copy of the document.

Project 1-8.1 C63.22 Guide for Automated EMI Measurements: The document had been successfully balloted in C63 and is now in the queue for final IEEE editing for publication by the end of the year. SC-1 is working on the next project to add automatic immunity considerations and is now looking for help especially from testing labs which automate their immunity measurements.

Project 1-8.3 C63.2 to Include CISPR 16-1-1 with US Foreword: The document was successful balloted in C63. Resolution of comments were developed by Mike Windler and Herb Mertel and forwarded to C63’s secretary.

Project 1-13.2 C63.4 Site Acceptability Above 1 GHz: The Working Group presently is looking at a time domain method using a gating function to show defects in chambers. This method appears to be very convenient and time efficient and there is no need to calibrate antennas. .They are working on how to apply this method with a chamber validation pass/fail criteria.

Project 1-15.5 C63.23 Measurement Uncertainty: The ballot in C63 failed. Several negative ballots occurred as the balloters considered that the work should be a recommended practice, not a standard. Preparation of a revision is needed.

Project 1-15.6 C63.5 Antenna Calibration: The C63 ballot passed and ballot comments were resolved. The document is with the IEEE editing department now to prepare the document for publication. It is expected that this document C63.5-2004 will be released by the end of the year and will replace C63.5-1988 and 1998.

Project 1-15.7 C63.4 Fully Absorber Lined Room (FAR):

The Task group is looking for test artifacts to assess impact of testing in FARs.

Project 1-15.9 Maintenance of Revision to C63.4-2003: The WG chair believes the first draft of the document will be available in April 2005 and publication probably in early 2006.

Project 1-15.10 C63.2 and C63.4 Use of Spectrum Analyzers for Emissions Testing: The purpose is to define the issues involved in the use of spectrum analyzers and then to develop procedures for compliance measurements of emissions using spectrum analyzers. As appropriate, this effort will develop a procedure to be included in ANSI C63.4 and instrument requirements for C63.2. This effort will consider the use of the spectrum analyzers in specific environments, such as anechoic and semi-anechoic chambers, in both preliminary scans and final measurements.

Project 1-15.11 Measurement of Broadband Emissions Associated with Digital Technology: The Chair is concerned that the topic “Measurement of Broadband Emissions Associated with Digital Technology” may be too broad for this committee and suggested that this item remain on the agenda for discussion at the next meeting.

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SC-2 Terms and Definitions

Dave Southworth Chair

The subcommittee is reviewing recent ANSI C63 standards and selected Military references in search of new or changed definitions to incorporate in the revision of the C63.14 dictionary. To date, 10 new terms have been identified. Completion of the review phase is targeted for April 2005.

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SC-5 Immunity Measurements

Ed Hare Chair The subcommittee is:

• Supporting S/C 8 in the revisions to C63.18, on ad hoc testing of medical devices.
• Seeking a Vice Chairman and plans to have a recommendation for the April 2005 C63 meeting.
• Reviewing C63.12 to define its role in maintaining the immunity aspects of that document.
• Considering initiating a project to investigate interference to teleconference bridges and other office equipment from devices like PDAs.

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SC-6 Accreditation/Conformity Assessment

Dan Hoolihan, Chair

WORKING GROUP ACTIVITY

WG #1 Checklists for Lab Assessors (Dan Hoolihan, Acting Chair): The Working Group is exploring publishing their checklists as Guides in ANSI web-based publications and the use of the NARTE web site.

WG #3 Proficiency Testing (Dan Hoolihan, Acting Chair):The Working Group’s goal for this proficiency testing process is to document a procedure for doing an inter-lab comparison test using an emission artifact.

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY

A2LA Lab Accreditation Status Report: Trace McInturff reported on the status of the A2LA accreditation activities in the EMC arena. They currently have 111 accredited labs in EMC (85 FCC recognized) plus 35 labs accredited for automotive EMC (AEMCLAP.) They have 34 labs accredited in electrical product safety and 34 labs accredited for telecom. They also have 4 accredited labs for Bluetooth, 7 accredited labs for CTIA, and 11 accredited labs for SAR (cellphone safety). In addition, they continue to accredit calibration laboratories that support the EMC community. There are 82 accredited labs that have RF/Microwave capabilities. (see http://www.a2la.org/dirsearch/search 9.cfm for details)

CAB/TCB Status Report: Martin Perrine (FCC) reported that there are 28 Telecom Certification Bodies in operation and they are doing 90% of the FCC Certifications with the balance (10%) still being done by the FCC Lab. He also highlighted the fact that the scopes of the TCBs (the products they can certify) continue to expand as their expertise develops. The FCC’s new web page, www.fcc.gov/labhelp, is the first place for companies to go to ask for FCC assistance. This is where the FCC’s Knowledge Data Base is located.

NACLA Status Report: Don Heirman announced that a sixth Accreditation Body (Forensic Quality Services International) had been approved by the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA) organization. NACLA is a not-for-profit private-sector organization. The next annual meeting of NACLA will be held in April of 2005 at the Columbia Sheraton Hotel in Columbia, Maryland. Details of the meeting can be found on www.nacla.net.

(It was noted that an excellent article on “Test Laboratory Accreditation Program for Certification of Cellular Handsets” authored by Werner Schaefer (a member of SC6) is in the October 2004 issue of Conformity.)

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SC-8 Medical Device EMC Test Methods

Dan Hoolihan, Chair

WORKING GROUP ACTIVITY

WG#1 – C63.18 – Jeff Silberberg, Chair: This Working Group is developing the Second Edition of C63.18 which will use a field-strength meter as the principal instrument for measuring fields from cellular sources. Dave Baron, ETS-Lindgren, has agreed to help specify the field-strength meters. Bi-monthly conference calls are planned to accelerate progress on the 2nd edition.

WG#2– C63.21 – Howard Bassen, Chair: The Working Group is planning to publish the results of their work as a Technical Report.

WG#3 – C63.19 – Steve Berger, Chair: The 2nd Recirculation of the revision has a closing date for comments of 26 November 2004. There is an outside possibility of a third Recirculation being required; if that is needed, it would be a 30-day deadline. There are three simple changes in the revision of C63.19 and the FCC has delegated authority to implement simple changes without going through a new Rulemaking.

WG#4 – Howard Bassen, Chair – Proposed PINS on a Recommended Practice: A proposed PINS for a “Recommended Practice for Simulated Tissue Models of Humans to Evaluate Radiated RF Susceptibility and Emissions” was discussed. Existing standards for use in this area include:

• ANSI/AAMI PC69:2000 (which is looking to extend lower frequency range to below 30 MHz. It uses salinity of 0.18 for test, human body is 0.9; however, pacemakers won’t work in phantoms with 0.9 salinity.)
• ASTM F 2182 – (gel closer to 0.9 salinity than AAMI standard)
• ETSI EN 302 195-1 – (30 cm phantom)
• FCC Docket 03-137 - NPRM will allow model or measurement, no low-power exclusion.

OTHER ACTIVITY

Jeff Silberberg reported on the progress of the IEC SC62A Maintenance Team (MT) 23 which has responsibility for IEC 60601-1-2 – “EMC and Medical Devices.” The Committee Draft for Voting (CDV) for the Draft 3^rd Edition received 1400 comments. Amendment 1 of IEC 60601-1-2 was released in September. It had some relaxations from the released edition especially with respect to the third harmonic of some intentional emitters. The European Union objected to the Amendment which is going to make it difficult for the EU to publish a similar Amendment. Future work in the MT includes looking at harmonizing the latest edition with the third edition of IEC 60601 in order to assure a normative status for 60601-1-2. Long-term future work includes looking at dividing the standard into two parts; one that looks at EMC and Safety of Medical Devices(IEC 60601-1-2) and one that looks at EMC and Performance of Medical Devices. Also, non-hospital environments are being investigated such as transportation, Doctors offices, and home settings. Low-frequency magnetic immunity tests are being reconsidered. The next meeting of the MT will be in Williamsburg, Virginia on April 12, 2005.

Howard Bassen reported the FDA is investigating medical devices and their interaction with TSA security systems. Also, medical devices and anti-shop-lifting detectors are being investigated. Wireless medical telemetry is being studied especially the new band at 1400 MHz. A paper was presented at the IEEE/EMC symposium in Santa Clara (August – 2004) on IEEE 1073(interoperability) and ISO TC 215 activities on management of communications. TC 106 has an RFID project and is concerned with electromagnetic fields from exposure to RFIDs. The FDA is also investigating potential interactions of wireless LANs integral to medical equipment. There is also a Directed Field Study looking at Electrostatic Discharge immunity of ambulatory infusion pumps. Labeling issues are being discussed. Medical devices in military environments are being looked at; for example, 60 volts per meter environments may require satisfactory performance whereas 200 volts per meter environments would require a specific risk analysis.

The Mobile Healthcare Alliance (MoHCA) report on “Management of Wireless EMC in the Healthcare Environment” is available on www.mohca.org.

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OVERVIEW OF RECENT FCC ACTIONS

by Bill Hurst

FCC Approves First Software Defined Radio

The FCC has approved, for the first time, use of a software defined radio. This new class of equipment allows users to share limited radio spectrum, increases flexibility and reduces interference concerns. The Laboratory Division of the Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology issued a Grant of Certification to Vanu, Inc., a software development company, for a cellular base station transmitter.

Software defined radios can change the frequency range, modulation type or output power of a radio device without making changes to hardware components. This programmable capacity permits radios to be highly adaptable to changing needs, protocols and environments. (See FCC News Release: DOC-254463)

FCC Adopts Rules for Broadband over Powerline

The FCC has adopted changes to Part 15 of its rules to encourage the development of Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems while safeguarding existing licensed services against harmful interference. Access BPL is a new technology that provides access to high speed broadband services using the largely untapped communications capabilities of the nation’s power grid.

In the Order adopting these changes, the Commission recognized the significant concerns of some licensed radio service users regarding the potential of Access BPL systems to cause interference to their operations. The Commission stated that its intention in adopting the Part 15 rule changes was to ensure that Access BPL operations do not become a source of harmful interference to licensed radio services. The rule changes in the Order establish specific technical and administrative requirements for Access BPL equipment and operators. The Order also sets forth procedures to measure the radio frequency (RF) energy emitted by Access BPL equipment. (See FCC Report and Order: FCC 04-245)

Approving Music Devices that Connect to a Personal Computer

The FCC issued a Public Notice to clarify the equipment authorization requirements for electronic musical instruments, recorders, amplifiers, and other sound creation and enhancement devices that are intended for or are capable of use with a personal computer.

Recently, many types of musical equipment have been introduced that are designed to connect directly to personal computers via standardized personal computer interfaces such as a USB or IEEE 1394 port. Such devices are then considered computer peripherals, which have a separate equipment approval process. Such devices, when marketed for use in residential areas (Class B devices), are required to follow the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) or certification process. DoC is a self-approval process similar to Verification except that it requires that the tests be performed by an accredited test laboratory. (See Public Notice: DA 04-2253)

FCC Designates Spectrum for Advanced Wireless Services

advanced wireless services (AWS), potentially including “third generation” (3G) wireless services. The Commission allocated and paired five-megahertz blocks of spectrum at 1915-1920 MHz with 1995-2000 MHz, and 2020-2025 MHz with 2175-2180 MHz for AWS use.

The Commission redesignated the 1915-1920 MHz band for AWS from Unlicensed Personal Communications Services (UPCS) and pairs this five-megahertz block of spectrum with the five-megahertz block at 1995-2000 MHz (which was previously allocated for the Mobile Satellite Service (MSS)). An additional ten megahertz of spectrum at 2020-2025 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz – previously allocated for MSS – is to be made available as paired five-megahertz spectrum blocks.

The Commission adopted a reimbursement plan to compensate UTAM, Inc. for relocation expenses it will incur to relocate incumbents from the 1915-1920 MHz band. The Commission also modified Part 15 of its rules with respect to unlicensed PCS operations in the 1920-1930 MHz band to provide additional flexibility for users of the band to offer both voice and data services using a wider variety of technologies. (See FCC Report and Orders: 04-168, 04-219 and 04-246)

Modification of Parts 2 and 15 of the FCC’s Rules

The FCC adopted changes to several technical rules for unlicensed radio frequency devices contained in Parts 2 and 15 of its rules. As part of this Order the FCC updated the measurement procedure reference in section 15.35 to C63.4-2003.

With regards to laboratory accreditation the Order modified Section 2.948 to clarify that all test sites must be reassessed by their Accrediting Body every two years. Additionally, the Order modified Section 2.962 to clarify that every Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) must be reassessed on two-year intervals. (See FCC Report and Orders: FCC 04-165)

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C63 OFFICERS’ DIRECTORY

Dr. Ralph M. Showers, Chairman (showers@ee.upenn.edu) Donald N. Heirman Vice-Chairman (d.heirman@worldnet.att.net) Robert Pritchard, Secretary (r.pritchard@ieee.org) Warren A. Kesselman, Treasurer/Newsletter Editor (w.kesselman@ieee.org) Donald N. Heirman, Chair SC-1 Techniques and Development (d.heirman@worldnet.att.net) Dave Southworth, Chair SC-2 Terms and Definitions (dave.southworth@navy.mil) John Lichtig, Chair SC-3 International Standardization (JFL@LichtigEMC.com) Ed Hare, Chair SC-5 Immunity Measurements (w1rfi@arrl.org) Daniel D. Hoolihan, Chair SC-6 Accreditation/Conformity Assessment (hoolihan@emcxpert.com) Stephen Berger, Acting Chair SC-7 Unlicensed Personal Communications Services Devices (stephen.berger@ieee.org) Daniel D. Hoolihan, Chair SC-8 Medical Device EMC Test Methods (hoolihan@emcxpert.com)

ACCREDITED STANDARDS COMMITTEE C63 ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY NEWSLETTER is published approximately forty-five days after a C63 Committee meeting and is available on the web site www.c63.org . That site also contains much information about C63 and its subcommittees.

© 2004 ASC C63. Articles may be reproduced in whole or in part provided that the source “ASC C63” and Newsletter edition and date is mentioned in full.