FCC Enforcement Activities - An Industry View

The last two years have witnessed a marked increase in enforcement activities of the Federal Communications Commission. The Commission made its presence known at key trade shows, such as Comdex, and tripled the number of fines and Justice Department referrals. The purpose of this paper is to review what has happened, outline the basis for this regulatory action, and predict some future trends. With the percentage of interference complaints due to Part 15 devices rising, and with the FCC continuing to uncover cases of widespread noncompliance, the Commission will have little choice but to continue active enforcement. Manufacturers should be wary of activities which can cause them to fall afoul of FCC rules.