§ 15.3   Definitions.

   (a) Auditory assistance device. An intentional radiator used to provide
   auditory  assistance  communications  (including  but  not  limited to
   applications  such  as  assistive listening, auricular training, audio
   description for the blind, and simultaneous language translation) for:

   (1) Persons with disabilities: In the context of part 15 rules (47 CFR part
   15), the term “disability,” with respect to the individual, has the meaning
   given to it by section 3(2)(A) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
   1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102(2)(A)), i.e., a physical or mental impairment that
   substantially  limits one or more of the major life activities of such
   individuals;

   (2) Persons who require language translation; or

   (3)  Persons  who  may  otherwise  benefit  from  auditory  assistance
   communications in places of public gatherings, such as a church, theater,
   auditorium, or educational institution.

   (b) Biomedical telemetry device. An intentional radiator used to transmit
   measurements of either human or animal biomedical phenomena to a receiver.

   (c) Cable input selector switch. A transfer switch that is intended as a
   means to alternate between the reception of broadcast signals via connection
   to an antenna and the reception of cable television service.

   (d) Cable locating equipment. An intentional radiator used intermittently by
   trained  operators  to locate buried cables, lines, pipes, and similar
   structures or elements. Operation entails coupling a radio frequency signal
   onto the cable, pipes, etc. and using a receiver to detect the location of
   that structure or element.

   (e) Cable system terminal device (CSTD). A TV interface device that serves,
   as its primary function, to connect a cable system operated under part 76 of
   this  chapter  to  a TV broadcast receiver or other subscriber premise
   equipment. Any device which functions as a CSTD in one of its operating
   modes must comply with the technical requirements for such devices when
   operating in that mode.

   (f) Carrier current system. A system, or part of a system, that transmits
   radio  frequency energy by conduction over the electric power lines. A
   carrier current system can be designed such that the signals are received by
   conduction  directly  from  connection  to  the  electric  power lines
   (unintentional radiator) or the signals are received over-the-air due to
   radiation of the radio frequency signals from the electric power lines
   (intentional radiator).

   (g) CB receiver. Any receiver that operates in the Personal Radio Services
   on frequencies allocated for Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service stations, as
   well as any receiver provided with a separate band specifically designed to
   receive the transmissions of CB stations in the Personal Radio Services.
   This includes the following: (1) A CB receiver sold as a separate unit of
   equipment; (2) the receiver section of a CB transceiver; (3) a converter to
   be used with any receiver for the purpose of receiving CB transmissions;
   and,  (4)  a  multiband receiver that includes a band labelled “CB” or
   “11-meter” in which such band can be separately selected, except that an
   Amateur Radio Service receiver that was manufactured prior to January 1,
   1960, and which includes an 11-meter band shall not be considered to be a CB
   receiver.

   (h) Class A digital device. A digital device that is marketed for use in a
   commercial, industrial or business environment, exclusive of a device which
   is marketed for use by the general public or is intended to be used in the
   home.

   (i) Class B digital device. A digital device that is marketed for use in a
   residential environment notwithstanding use in commercial, business and
   industrial environments. Examples of such devices include, but are not
   limited to, personal computers, calculators, and similar electronic devices
   that are marketed for use by the general public.

   Note:  The  responsible party may also qualify a device intended to be
   marketed in a commercial, business or industrial environment as a Class B
   device, and in fact is encouraged to do so, provided the device complies
   with the technical specifications for a Class B digital device. In the event
   that a particular type of device has been found to repeatedly cause harmful
   interference to radio communications, the Commission may classify such a
   digital device as a Class B digital device, regardless of its intended use.

   (j) Cordless telephone system. A system consisting of two transceivers, one
   a base station that connects to the public switched telephone network and
   the other a mobile handset unit that communicates directly with the base
   station. Transmissions from the mobile unit are received by the base station
   and  then placed on the public switched telephone network. Information
   received from the switched telephone network is transmitted by the base
   station to the mobile unit.

   Note: The Domestic Public Cellular Radio Telecommunications Service is
   considered  to be part of the switched telephone network. In addition,
   intercom and paging operations are permitted provided these are not intended
   to be the primary modes of operation.

   (k)  Digital  device.  (Previously  defined as a computing device). An
   unintentional radiator (device or system) that generates and uses timing
   signals or pulses at a rate in excess of 9,000 pulses (cycles) per second
   and uses digital techniques; inclusive of telephone equipment that uses
   digital techniques or any device or system that generates and uses radio
   frequency energy for the purpose of performing data processing functions,
   such as electronic computations, operations, transformations, recording,
   filing, sorting, storage, retrieval, or transfer. A radio frequency device
   that is specifically subject to an emanation requirement in any other FCC
   Rule part or an intentional radiator subject to subpart C of this part that
   contains  a digital device is not subject to the standards for digital
   devices, provided the digital device is used only to enable operation of the
   radio frequency device and the digital device does not control additional
   functions or capabilities.

   Note: Computer terminals and peripherals that are intended to be connected
   to a computer are digital devices.

   (l) Field disturbance sensor. A device that establishes a radio frequency
   field in its vicinity and detects changes in that field resulting from the
   movement of persons or objects within its range.

   (m)  Harmful  interference.  Any emission, radiation or induction that
   endangers the functioning of a radio navigation service or of other safety
   services  or  seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a
   radiocommunications service operating in accordance with this chapter.

   (n) Incidental radiator. A device that generates radio frequency energy
   during the course of its operation although the device is not intentionally
   designed to generate or emit radio frequency energy. Examples of incidental
   radiators are dc motors, mechanical light switches, etc.

   (o) Intentional radiator. A device that intentionally generates and emits
   radio frequency energy by radiation or induction.

   (p) Kit. Any number of electronic parts, usually provided with a schematic
   diagram or printed circuit board, which, when assembled in accordance with
   instructions, results in a device subject to the regulations in this part,
   even if additional parts of any type are required to complete assembly.

   (q) Perimeter protection system. A field disturbance sensor that employs RF
   transmission lines as the radiating source. These RF transmission lines are
   installed in such a manner that allows the system to detect movement within
   the protected area.

   (r) Peripheral device. An input/output unit of a system that feeds data into
   and/or receives data from the central processing unit of a digital device.
   Peripherals  to  a digital device include any device that is connected
   external to the digital device, any device internal to the digital device
   that connects the digital device to an external device by wire or cable, and
   any circuit board designed for interchangeable mounting, internally or
   externally, that increases the operating or processing speed of a digital
   device, e.g., “turbo” cards and “enhancement” boards. Examples of peripheral
   devices include terminals, printers, external floppy disk drives and other
   data storage devices, video monitors, keyboards, interface boards, external
   memory expansion cards, and other input/output devices that may or may not
   contain digital circuitry. This definition does not include CPU boards, as
   defined in paragraph (bb) of this section, even though a CPU board may
   connect to an external keyboard or other components.

   (s) Personal computer. An electronic computer that is marketed for use in
   the  home,  notwithstanding  business applications. Such computers are
   considered  Class B digital devices. Computers which use a standard TV
   receiver as a display device or meet all of the following conditions are
   considered examples of personal computers:

   (1) Marketed through a retail outlet or direct mail order catalog.

   (2) Notices of sale or advertisements are distributed or directed to the
   general public or hobbyist users rather than restricted to commercial users.

   (3) Operates on a battery or 120 volt electrical supply.

   If  the  responsible  party  can  demonstrate that because of price or
   performance the computer is not suitable for residential or hobbyist use, it
   may request that the computer be considered to fall outside of the scope of
   this definition for personal computers.

   (t) Power line carrier systems. An unintentional radiator employed as a
   carrier  current  system  used  by an electric power utility entity on
   transmission lines for protective relaying, telemetry, etc. for general
   supervision of the power system. The system operates by the transmission of
   radio frequency energy by conduction over the electric power transmission
   lines of the system. The system does not include those electric lines which
   connect the distribution substation to the customer or house wiring.

   (u) Radio frequency (RF) energy. Electromagnetic energy at any frequency in
   the radio spectrum between 9 kHz and 3,000,000 MHz.

   (v) Scanning receiver. For the purpose of this part, this is a receiver that
   automatically switches among two or more frequencies in the range of 30 to
   960 MHz and that is capable of stopping at and receiving a radio signal
   detected on a frequency. Receivers designed solely for the reception of the
   broadcast signals under part 73 of this chapter, for the reception of NOAA
   broadcast weather band signals, or for operation as part of a licensed
   service are not included in this definition.

   (w)  Television  (TV) broadcast receiver. A device designed to receive
   television pictures that are broadcast simultaneously with sound on the
   television channels authorized under part 73 of this chapter.

   (x) Transfer switch. A device used to alternate between the reception of
   over-the-air radio frequency signals via connection to an antenna and the
   reception of radio frequency signals received by any other method, such as
   from a TV interface device.

   (y)  TV  interface  device. An unintentional radiator that produces or
   translates in frequency a radio frequency carrier modulated by a video
   signal derived from an external or internal signal source, and which feeds
   the modulated radio frequency energy by conduction to the antenna terminals
   or other non-baseband input connections of a television broadcast receiver.
   A TV interface device may include a stand-alone RF modulator, or a composite
   device consisting of an RF modulator, video source and other components
   devices. Examples of TV interface devices are video cassette recorders and
   terminal devices attached to a cable system or used with a Master Antenna
   (including those used for central distribution video devices in apartment or
   office buildings).

   (z) Unintentional radiator. A device that intentionally generates radio
   frequency energy for use within the device, or that sends radio frequency
   signals by conduction to associated equipment via connecting wiring, but
   which is not intended to emit RF energy by radiation or induction.

   (aa) Cable ready consumer electronics equipment. Consumer electronics TV
   receiving devices, including TV receivers, videocassette recorders and
   similar devices, that incorporate a tuner capable of receiving television
   signals  and an input terminal intended for receiving cable television
   service, and are marketed as “cable ready” or “cable compatible.” Such
   equipment shall comply with the technical standards specified in § 15.118 and
   the provisions of § 15.19(d).

   (bb) CPU board. A circuit board that contains a microprocessor, or frequency
   determining circuitry for the microprocessor, the primary function of which
   is to execute user-provided programming, but not including:

   (1) A circuit board that contains only a microprocessor intended to operate
   under the primary control or instruction of a microprocessor external to
   such a circuit board; or

   (2)  A  circuit  board that is a dedicated controller for a storage or
   input/output device.

   (cc) External radio frequency power amplifier. A device which is not an
   integral part of an intentional radiator as manufactured and which, when
   used in conjunction with an intentional radiator as a signal source, is
   capable of amplifying that signal.

   (dd) Test equipment is defined as equipment that is intended primarily for
   purposes of performing measurements or scientific investigations. Such
   equipment includes, but is not limited to, field strength meters, spectrum
   analyzers, and modulation monitors.

   (ee) Radar detector. A receiver designed to signal the presence of radio
   signals used for determining the speed of motor vehicles. This definition
   does not encompass the receiver incorporated within a radar transceiver
   certified under the Commission's rules.

   (ff) Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL). A carrier current system
   installed and operated on an electric utility service as an unintentional
   radiator that sends radio frequency energy on frequencies between 1.705 MHz
   and 80 MHz over medium voltage lines or over low voltage lines to provide
   broadband communications and is located on the supply side of the utility
   service's points of interconnection with customer premises. Access BPL does
   not include power line carrier systems as defined in § 15.3(t) or In-House
   BPL as defined in § 15.3(gg).

   (gg) In-House Broadband over Power Line (In-House BPL). A carrier current
   system, operating as an unintentional radiator, that sends radio frequency
   energy by conduction over electric power lines that are not owned, operated
   or controlled by an electric service provider. The electric power lines may
   be aerial (overhead), underground, or inside the walls, floors or ceilings
   of user premises. In-House BPL devices may establish closed networks within
   a user's premises or provide connections to Access BPL networks, or both.

   (hh) Slant-Range distance. Diagonal distance measured from the center of the
   measurement antenna to the nearest point of the overhead power line carrying
   the  Access  BPL  signal being measured. This distance is equal to the
   hypotenuse of the right triangle as calculated in the formula below. The
   slant-range distance shall be calculated as follows:
   eCFR graphic er21no11.002.gif

   View or download PDF

   Where:

   dslant is the slant-range distance, in meters (see Figure 1, below);

   dh  is  the  horizontal  (lateral)  distance between the center of the
   measurement antenna and the vertical projection of the overhead power line
   carrying the BPL signals down to the height of the measurement antenna, in
   meters;

   hpwr_line is the height of the power line, in meters; and

   hant is the measurement antenna height, in meters.
   eCFR graphic er21no11.003.gif

   View or download PDF

   Dslant is the slant-range distance, in meters;

   Dh  is  the  horizontal  (lateral)  distance between the center of the
   measurement antenna and the vertical projection of the overhead power line
   carrying the BPL signals down to the height of the measurement antenna, in
   meters;

   Dlimit is the distance at which the emission limit is specified in Part 15
   (e.g., 30 meters for frequencies below 30 MHz);

   Hpwr_line is the height of the power line, in meters; and

   Hant is the measurement antenna height, in meters.

   (ii) Level Probing Radar (LPR): A short-range radar transmitter used in a
   wide range of applications to measure the amount of various substances,
   mostly  liquids  or  granulates. LPR equipment may operate in open-air
   environments or inside an enclosure containing the substance being measured.

   [ 54 FR 17714 , Apr. 25, 1989, as amended at  55 FR 18340 , May 2, 1990;  57 FR 33448 , July 29, 1992;  59 FR 25340 , May 16, 1994;  61 FR 31048 , June 19, 1996;
    62 FR 26242 , May 13, 1997;  64 FR 22561 , Apr. 27, 1999;  65 FR 64391 , Oct. 27,
   2000;  66 FR 32582 , June 15, 2001;  67 FR 48993 , July 29, 2002;  70 FR 1373 ,
   Jan. 7, 2005;  76 FR 71907 , Nov. 21, 2011;  78 FR 34927 , June 11, 2013;  79 FR 12677 , Mar. 6, 2014]

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