Overview of the Proposal to Revise Part 15 and Associated FCC Test Procedures

Part 15 of the FCC Rules sets forth requirements for radio frequency devices that operate without an individual license. The intent and primary purpose of these rules is to foster the operation of as many devices as possible, while at the same time controlling the EMI potential to radio communications. Nearly 50 years in the making, Part 15 is a mosaic individual rules that were changed and expanded many times since the adoption of the original 1938 low power rule. To be sure, each rule change over the years was necessitated to either permit the operation of a new device that would otherwise require licensing or to control EMI. In an effort to update and improve its usefulness to the public, the FCC this summer is expected to consider a complete revision of Part 15. The proposal is intended to simplify Part 15 and, wherever possible, to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens. This paper covers the historical background of Part 15, an overview and philosophy behind the proposal and the associated measurement procedures.