Redefining Radio Equipment & Spectrum Efficiency

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August 29, 2013

With a productive meeting this past May in Dublin, the EU Commission’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee drafted several proposed changes to the Radio Equipment Directive proposal (dated 10/27/2012).  

4 things you need to know about R&TTE before considering the proposed changes:

  1. This report urges the revision of Directive 1999/5/EC on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity1 (R&TTE Directive) and is closely related to the implementation of the New Legislative Framework (NLF) adopted in 2008 as “the goods package”.
  2. The R&TTE Directive establishes a framework for putting on the market, free movement, and putting into service the EU of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment.
  3. The Directive includes essential requirements for:
    1. The protection of health and safety
    2. The protection of electromagnetic compatibility
    3. The avoidance of harmful interference
  4. The recent unprecedented growth in mobile devices and wireless applications;
    1. Creates risks of interference between the various products
    2. Necessitates efficient use of the radio spectrum is essential
    3. (Referencing the Doc: PE510.528v01-00)

The main objectives of the draft proposal are:

  • To improve the level of compliance with the requirements in the Directive, and to increase the confidence of all stakeholders in the regulatory framework;
  • To clarify and simplify the Directive, including some limited adaptations of scope, so as to facilitate its application and eliminate the unnecessary burden for economic operators and public authorities.

Some important changes – from our NIST representative (R. Saar):

  1. Revised definition of “Radio Equipment” (and the Scope of the Directive):
    1. radio equipment means a product that intentionally emits or receives radio waves for communication or a product that must be completed with an accessory, such as an antenna, so as to emit or receive radio waves for communication
    2. Specifically, (1) receivers have been added back into the Scope, and (2) equipment that does not communicate has been taken out of the Scope.
  2. Deletion of text related to the proposed equipment registration system.

For further details on the review of the R&TTE Directive, please contact Dan Crowder (decrowder@elitetest.com) and consult the following link:  https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/rtte/documents/legislation/review_en

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