Can Interference Be Regulated?

The Federal Communications Commission minimizes electromagnetic interference from radiating radio frequency devices by means of an equipment authorization program involving compliance with technical standards. Without the legislative authority to establish standards for susceptibility the FCC launched an inquiry to determine, among other issues, if voluntary standards might be preferable to mandatory standards to best prove the public interest in this instance. The FCC, as a regulatory agency, exercises its authority in the control of electromagnetic interference through a cooperative effort with both users and industry. By requiring adherence to performance standards, the Commission avoids inhibiting design latitude. The technical standards in our rules set forth our requirements. They do not dictate design methods for their achievement. Technical parameters, required limits and procedures for compliance are set forth in our rules. These concern interference related factors such as power, bandwidth, frequency stability and emission limitations.