Scott, You are providing a product and, therefore, the profits, risks and liabilities associated therein are yours. Aside from the probable legal liabilities you will be facing with the US goverment (please note that they have a penchant for getting in your face), it's just good business practice to provide your customers the best and safest product possible. "Safest" meant here means safety to the user and to the telephone network. And, the liabilities and risks associated in marketing unknown equipment is asking for trouble. It doesn't matter if you sell a single product or millions, the risks are still the same (it's just the extent of your exposure). The point should not be "This unit is for a very small niche market, and as such I won't be building many (Probably less than 1000 units)", but should be "How I want the user or customer and the powers that be to envision my products, before and after the sale". Also, it's not "How much trouble is it getting Part 68 approval?", it's "How much trouble do I stay away from by getting Part 68 approval". Actually, Part 68 only provides exceptions for various grandfathered and certain national defense and security equipment. I don't believe your product fits these. The only "trouble" with getting Part 68 approval is going through the testing/approval process with non-compliant products that are destined to fail. Testing will reveal those problem areas which will need to be corrected. It all comes down to this, will the product as designed harm the network, or not? The only way to determine this, one way or the other, is to have the product tested. So, have it tested. Please note that different test labs charge differently, so shop around. Also, it sounds like you have little if any experience with FCC Part 68. If this is the case, I would recommend that you obtain and review the standard to determine compliance, or consult with someone knowledgable with Part 68 requirements and the approval process. Remember, a good reputation preceeds you. A bad or questionable reputation follows you around relentlessly. The above represents only my opinions. You can contact the FCC Part 68 office at 202-418-2342, however, this number may not be current. Good luck. Best regards, Ron Pickard [email protected] ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: BOUNCE [email protected]: Non-member submission from [Sc Author: <[email protected]> at INTERNET List-Post: [email protected] Date: 6/16/98 8:35 AM
From: Scott Phelan <[email protected]> Subject: Part 68 and the Midnight Engineer I working on a design for a device that attaches in line with a piece of terminal equipment. This unit is for a very small niche market, and as such I won't be b lding many (Probably less than 1000 units). 1) How much trouble is it getting Part 68 approvial? If it is a simple matter of providing the design info and paying the fee, no problem. If I have to go to a testing lab, forget it. 2) Do people doing this kind of thing even bother with approvial? 3) Who is the correct (current)person to contact at the FCC reguarding Part 68, d his/her phone no? Thanks in advance. Scott RCIC - http://www.rcic.com Regulatory Compliance Information Center
