Part B describes the Public utility exemption pretty clearly.
This may not be the exemption one would think. Most of the PUD, Teleco's
actually require you to meet FCC class A requirements. It is one of the ways
they continue to have an exemption from the FCC. This is usually buried inside
of bid requirements to meet GR-1089 et al. In fact stated in just that manner
you would need to meet a raft of other obligations as well. Magnetic emissions,
conducted emission to a wider range etc. If you get lucky they will refer to
just the FCC Class A limits. In a residential area that only works as described
in 15.103 (b) which I have copied below.
Gary
Section 15.103 Exempted devices.
The following devices are subject only to the general conditions of operation
in Sections 15.5 and
15.29 and are exempt from the specific technical standards and other
requirements contained in this Part.
The operator of the exempted device shall be required to stop operating the
device upon a finding by the
Commission or its representative that the device is causing harmful
interference. Operation shall not
resume until the condition causing the harmful interference has been corrected.
Although not mandatory,
it is strongly recommended that the manufacturer of an exempted device endeavor
to have the device
meet the specific technical standards in this Part.
(a) A digital device utilized exclusively in any transportation vehicle
including motor vehicles and
aircraft.
(b) A digital device used exclusively as an electronic control or power system
utilized by a public
utility or in an industrial plant. The term public utility includes equipment
only to the extent that it is in a
dedicated building or large room owned or leased by the utility and does not
extend to equipment installed
in a subscriber's facility.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cortland Richmond [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 10:55 AM
To: Gordon,Ian; ieee pstc list
Subject: Re: EXEMPTIONS FROM FCC REGS
At a former employer, I took the approach that this exemption is applicable
ONLY when equipment is kept *by a public utility* within its own facility.
Some made the argument that the exemption is available for utility company
vaults and rooms inside customer buildings. I see where that interpretation
might be made, but I think the INTENT of Part 15 requires this be evaluated
case-by-case. In any event, relying on the exemption in all circumstances
could in the end cost more than any cost edge from ignoring EMI/RFI.
The logic of the exemption, so far as I have been able to tell, is that
equipment operated by a utility (which nowadays includes much more than Ma
Bell and the Electric Company) in its own site creates interference that is
not a problem for the public, and if tolerable by the user, is tolerable by
the Commission. This does allow economies to be achieved in design IF the
building, facility, vault, cabinet or room can provide shielding and
filtering lacking in equipment.
However, adding that shielding and filtering AFTER installation can cost in
the end more than quiet equipment.
Cortland Richmond
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