Vic, Would you please clarify your point in paragraph #4 below, wherein you state, "In Europe, as in North America, Telephone Operating companies have their own specifications for Central Office equipment. Such equipment is not subject to regulation in either Europe or North America and need not be marked." My understanding from reading the Directives (EMC and Low Voltage are particular to this discourse, I think) is that they apply to ALL equipment being placed on the market or into service within the confines of the EU. My interpretation on this matter would then be products placed into service in CO's in Europe must meet, as a minimum, the essential requirements -- standards be damned, of course -- of the EMC Directive and LVD. Additional requirements for meeting standards may be placed on the equipment by local authorities under the aegis of "Telecommunications Equipment Specific Requirements" on the lack of a cohesive Telecom Directive. In particular I'm thinking about this from an enforcement authorities perspective. Minimal Telco expertise and miminal investigative resources force them -- regardless of circumstances -- to evaluations of compliance with the lowest common denominator: CE Marking.
Your thoughts? Rick Towner ---------- From: Victor L. Boersma To: INTERNET:[email protected] Subject: Re: CO placed reqs. List-Post: [email protected] Date: Monday, November 02, 1998 7:56PM > > I was wondering if there were equivalent requirements in Europe to > > Bellcores req. for CO placed equipment? > > Also, are they harmonized (such as CE mark)? Standards 101 The CE marking is affixed to equipment that meets the essential requirements of applicable Directives. There are no Directives for Central Office equipment. In Europe, there is a determined effort to "harmonize" standards amongst the member states. If equipment meets the requirements of harmonized standards that are published in the Official Journal, such equipment is "deemed" to meet the essential requirements of the applicable Directives. In Europe, as in North America, Telephone Operating companies have their own specifications for Central Office equipment. Such equipment is not subject to regulation in either Europe or North America and need not be marked. If the customer wants marking, that is fine, it is a customer requirement, not a legal requirement. The Bellcore NEBBS are purchasing requirements written by Bellcore for clients who want to use them. There is no requirement that the Bellcore clients buy to those specs, if they don't want to or don't need to. France Telecom and others have their internal specs for CO equipment. The requirements in those specs are negotiable (even if they won't tell you that the first day). Ofcourse, if you can meet them and don't have to negotiate, youcan get a better price. While certain aspects of the Central Office equipment from different vendors are harmonzed in North America, the requirements certainly are not and the equipment used is built deliberatedly so that the customer has a choice between the equipment of one vendor over that of another. Ciao, Vic
