Change has come to the telecommunications world in the form of FCC's GEN Docket 98-68, which gives private parties in the United States the power to grant equipment approval certification. "This is just the next step FCC is taking to simplify the equipment approval process," says William Hurst, vice president of Communication Certification Laboratories (Salt Lake City, UT, USA). "How far they will actually go in changing the process," he adds, "remains to be seen."

The planned introduction of private approval organizations—known as telecommunications certification bodies (TCBs)—represents a major step in FCC's goal of streamlining the equipment approval procedures and increasing speed to market. According to Hurst, the timing is not surprising. "The creation of TCBs comes in concert with a general relaxation in the conformity assessment procedures used by FCC," he says. In ET Docket 97-94, FCC changed many of the equipment authorization requirements and introduced the use of a supplier declaration of conformity. This move eliminated the requirement to have equipment certified by FCC, Hurst explains, opening the door for the creation of TCBs.

"A major driving force in FCC's decision to create private certification bodies is the reality that mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) have been signed," Hurst says. In particular, the MRA between the United States and Europe, which calls for a mutual acceptance of certification requirements and procedures, played the largest role in FCC's decision to create TCBs. The MRA calls for a 24-month transition period to a state of full compliance, and to accomplish this task FCC realized it would need help: TCBs are the necessary result.

Not just any organization will qualify for TCB status, Hurst says. Among other requirements, a TCB must be accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65; be able to demonstrate expert knowledge of all relevant regulations; and—in what has caused considerable controversy in Europe—have the capability to test any equipment in question, in accordance with ISO/IEC Guide 25. According to Hurst, many potential TCBs think it is unnecessary for certification bodies to have testing capabilities. FCC stands by its decision, however, citing the need for TCBs to have expert knowledge in all technical regulations in order to certify products. Manufacturers will not be able to qualify as TCBs, Hurst says, but FCC has stated that they may generate test data for the certification process.

So how will the new system work? Hurst believes market surveillance will be a critical element for success. "Without a credible programme of surveillance, any conformity assessment system will fail to provide the necessary assurance to users and regulators alike that a given product meets regulations," he says. In recognition of this need, FCC has stated its intent to redirect resources toward regulation enforcement. But for the plan to work, Hurst explains, TCBs will have to play a large part in surveillance as well.

FCC is planning for an incremental introduction of the regulatory changes. "While FCC recognizes that [the] timeline is ambitious and that the dates may not be precisely met," Hurst says, "[it is] pushing to see that TCBs are designated and operating as soon as possible." The creation of TCBs, he says, remains a top priority.

The following timeline shows what has happened thus far and how things are scheduled to proceed.

Compliance Engineering's and Compliance Engineering's European Edition have been acquired from ITS Intertek Testing Services (Boxborough, MA, USA) by Canon Communications llc (Los Angeles, CA, USA), a publishing company and trade show producer serving technology-driven manufacturing sectors. The acquisition includes Compliance Engineering's's seminar series, annual reference guides, regulatory standards, and other related compliance information reports.

In making the announcement on February 5, William F. Cobert, president and CEO of Canon Communications, said that Compliance Engineering's is an excellent fit with Canon's other trade magazines. "Canon Communications' goal is to make all its publications the leaders in their field for providing top-quality technical and regulatory information to high-tech industries," Cobert said. "With Compliance Engineering's, we are acquiring a product that already meets those requirements."

According to Mark Herrick, vice president of marketing for ITS, the purchase came at the right time for the magazine. "Compliance Engineering's has evolved to the point where it makes sense for it to be part of an independent publishing company," said Herrick. He added that ITS is pleased that the new parent company "is one of Canon's stature and experience."

New management will not bring about any major changes in Compliance Engineering's's format, subject matter, or readership, according to Cobert. The magazine will also retain its entire sales and editorial staff. "We feel that Compliance Engineering's and its staff will thrive under Canon's management," said Cobert. "Readers can expect the magazine to build on its reputation for quality and timeliness." The magazine will continue to provide readers with the latest news, regulatory issues, and market trends in the electronics manufacturing industry.

In addition to its 11 trade publications, Canon also produces trade shows, Internet sites, and professional conferences in the medical manufacturing, general design, and microelectronics industries. With the acquisition of Compliance Engineering's's two editions, Canon's publications reach more than 265,000 subscribers.

The United States–based National Association of Radio and Telecommunications Engineers (NARTE) has updated its certification program to provide additional endorsements for NARTE-certified technicians and engineers who qualify. The endorsements will recognize the specific, unique expertise required of engineers and technicians working in accredited EMC laboratories.

EMC compliance specialist David Case of Aironet Wireless Communications Inc. (Fairlawn, OH, USA) says that NARTE's endorsements will provide a level of certification that was previously unavailable. "When certification agencies such as NVLAP and A2LA accredit a lab," Case explains, "part of the process involves reviewing the qualifications of the lab workers." But because NVLAP and A2LA are strictly concerned with compliance testing, Case says, NARTE-certified engineers and technicians must go through another accreditation review beyond their original NARTE certification. "NARTE has decided to recognize these [engineers and technicians]," he says.

Under NARTE's new system, certified EMC engineers and technicians will be eligible for endorsements if they are employed at laboratories accredited to perform testing under FCC parts 15, 18, 68, CISPR 22, AS/NZS 3548, and VCCI. The specific endorsements available will depend on the kind of testing done at the laboratory. In addition, NARTE-certified EMC engineers and technicians will need to have at least one year of employment at a NVLAP- or A2LA-accredited test lab (or equivalent); provide a letter of endorsement from a senior qualified test engineer from such a lab; and demonstrate the operational scope of the testing facility.

NARTE has also made adjustments to the certification requirements of uncertified lab workers. "NARTE recognized that a number of qualified engineers and technicians working in these labs may not yet have fulfilled all their requirements for NARTE certification," says Case. But because of the high level of skills and knowledge necessary to work in the accredited labs, he says, these workers will now be eligible for designation as a NARTE laboratory technician or NARTE laboratory engineer. To receive the designations, the engineers and technicians must have worked in testing for at least one year in a NVLAP- or A2LA-certified lab in addition to having two or more years of technical training. They must also be able to provide three references attesting to their competency and a letter of recommendation from the senior test engineer of their test lab.

In each of NARTE's new plans, engineers and technicians who meet the other qualifications will not need to take an examination for one year following the establishment of the new system. After one year, however, all candidates seeking certification must take applicable examinations in addition to meeting the other requirements.

"With the growing demand for certified labs, the need for certified personnel to work in the labs is greater than ever," says Case. NARTE's new plan promises to recognize the work of these qualified employees, while enhancing a laboratory's credentials at the same time.

For more information, contact NARTE Inc., 167 Village St., Medway, MA, USA; phone: 508/533-8333; fax: 508/533-3815; Internet: http://www.narte.org.

Euro-EMC, the Electromagnetic Compatibility Exhibition and Conference, is scheduled to take place April 14–15, 1999, at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, UK. The event will cover EMC and compliance issues in the areas of ESD, CE marking, product safety, telecommunications, medical device manufacturing, and ISO 9000.

Exhibitors at the event will include test equipment providers, enclosure suppliers, shielding product manufacturers, and component filter producers, to name a few. Directors, managers, and engineers representing the design, R&D, test and inspection, and sales and marketing fields are among the visitors expected to attend.

A free two-day seminar organized by Compliance Engineering's magazine will feature key industry speakers from the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States covering the latest information on industry developments, test and design technology, and legal standards. Topics to be addressed include Y2K, mutual recognition agreements, EMC design, and regulations and standards for individual European countries.

Euro-EMC is co-located with Electronic Design Solutions, an exhibition and conference for suppliers and users of electronic equipment, and Nepcon UK, an event highlighting electronic manufacturing design solutions. Visitors with access to either of these shows reportedly will be admitted to Euro-EMC.

For more information, contact Reed Exhibition Companies by telephone at +44 181 9107878, or by fax at +44 181 9107813.

The Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) has completed work on a draft of ISO/IEC Guide 66,the General Requirements for Bodies Operating Assessment and Certification/Registration of Environmental Management Systems. Developed with the participation of 61 countries, the guide specifies the consistency and reliability requirements for international third-party certification/registration systems. The draft of the guide is available from ISO, although the organization's worldwide membership has yet to vote on the draft document. For additional information, contact ISO at +44 22 7490111.