Conformity Magazine - September 2007 - (Page 11)

NewsBreaks The flurry of citations were issued in early June against a number of so-called “big-box” retailers, including Kmart, CompUSA, RadioShack, Best Buy, Circuit City, Target and Sears, as well as against on-line retailers including Amazon.com. The citations cite the retailers’ failure to provide appropriate Consumer Alert disclosures on their web sites in connection with televisions equipped with analog-only tuners. The citations warn the retailers that further violations of the notification requirements can result in monetary forfeitures of up to $11,000 for each violation or each day of a continuing violation, up to $97,500 for a single continuing violation. As we previously reported (see Conformity, July 2007), retailers can continue to sell off any inventory of televisions equipped with analog-only tuners, but are required to provide a specific alert message to consumers. The required Consumer Alert is intended to ensure that consumers who purchase such televisions know that they will require a converter box to receive over-the-air broadcasts after February 17, 2009, the date of the nationwide conversion to digital television broadcasting. requirement, and citing the existence of a large number of analog cellular radios used to monitor alarm systems. Although the Commission’s Memorandum Opinion and Order denied the Petition, the FCC did agree to take specific steps to ensure that analog-only cellular subscribers are provided with adequate notice of a carrier’s decision to terminate analog service. Our readers can view the complete text of the Commission’s Memorandum Opinion and Order regarding analog cellular service at www.conformity.com/0913. recommendations proposed by the independent panel evaluating communications failures in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. In an Order issued in June, the Commission instructed its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureaus to begin implementing several of the recommendations offered by the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina of Communications Networks. The recommendations to be adopted include requiring local exchange carriers to have an emergency back-up power source for all equipment normally powered by local utilities, and for local exchange carriers and providers of Voice of Internet Protocol (VOIP) services to submit reports regarding the reliability and resiliency of their 911 systems. “The recommendations we adopt today address a wide range of initiatives designed to improve disaster continued on page 66 Commission Adopts Recommendations of Katrina Panel The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to implement a number of Testing � � � Consulting � Engineering � Training EMC COMPLIANCE TESTING FCC Part 15 & 18 CE (Emissions, Immunity & Radio testing) VCCI (Japan) BSMI (Taiwan CNS Standards) Australia/New Zealand (AS/NZS) Korea (KN standards) TELECOMMUNICATIONS TERMINAL EQUIPMENT � � � � Analog Cellular Service Sunset Date Reaffirmed The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has upheld its socalled “sunset date” for the provisioning of analog cellular service. After February 18, 2008, wireless license holders who currently operate cellular phone systems using the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) technology will no longer be required to provide such services. The looming deadline prompted a Petition for Rulemaking from the Alarm Industry Communications Committee and ADT Security Services, seeking a two year extension of the provisioning � � � � FCC Part 68/ACTA Industry Canada Bellcore Europe PRODUCT SAFETY TESTING � � � � MILITARY AND AVIONICS � � FAA (RTCA DO-160) MIL-STD 461/462 CSA Testing TUV Testing UL Testing CE (LVD) MEDICAL � � � FDA CE EN 60601-1-2 JIS T 0601-1-2 Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) European CAB NARTE Certified Engineers and Test Technicians Consulting Available Over 25 years of EMC Experience Accredited Test Facilities 4 Facilities in Southern California Tel: (714) 579-0500 www.celectronics.com September 2007 Conformity 11 http://Amazon.com http://www.conformity.com/0913 http://www.celectronics.com http://www.celectronics.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Conformity Magazine - September 2007

Contents Editor’s Note FCC Extends Disability Access Requirements to VOIP Commission Fines Importer $3 Million Over Non-Compliant TVs FCC Gets Tough on Retailers Over Analog TV Tuner Labeling Analog Cellular Service Sunset Date Reaffirmed Commission Adopts Recommendations of Katrina Panel Free-Space Antenna Factors Through the Use of Time-Domain Signal Processing Editorial Correction ESD Open Forum An Update on Revisions to IEC 61000-4-2, the Basic Standard on ESD Practical Advice for Meeting the DFS Testing Requirements of the FCC The EMC Impact of Embedded Software ESD Design Buyer's Guide Tate Renominated to the FCC EPA Releases Report on U.S. Electronic Waste Additional Standards For The EU’s Toy Directive Medical Device Manufacturer Enters Consent Order Updated Guidance Document on Laser Products Issued FDA Offers Advice on Defective Heating Pads CPSC Issues China Product Safety Program Report Other CPSC Actions In The News IEC Standards Update Product Reviews Product News UL Standards Update From Our “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” Department Looking Back: Items from Past Issues of Conformity Advertisers

Conformity Magazine - September 2007

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