§ 90.219   Use of signal boosters.

   This section contains technical and operational rules allowing the use of
   signal boosters in the Private Land Mobile Radio Services (PLMRS). Rules for
   signal booster operation in the Commercial Mobile Radio Services under part
   90 are found in § 20.21 of this chapter.

   (a)  Definitions. The definitions in this paragraph apply only to the rules
   in this section.

   Class A signal booster. A signal booster designed to retransmit signals on
   one or more specific channels. A signal booster is deemed to be a Class A
   signal booster if none of its passbands exceed 75 kHz.

   Class B signal booster. A signal booster designed to retransmit any signals
   within a wide frequency band. A signal booster is deemed to be a Class B
   signal booster if it has a passband that exceeds 75 kHz.

   Coverage area of a PLMRS station. All locations within the normal reliable
   operating range (service contour) of a PLMRS station.

   Deploy a signal booster. Install and/or initially adjust a signal booster.

   Distributed Antenna System (DAS). A network of spatially separated antenna
   nodes connected to a common source via a transport medium that provides
   wireless service within a geographic area or structure.

   Operate  a  signal  booster.  Maintain  operational  control over, and
   responsibility for the proper functioning of, a signal booster.

   Signal booster. A device or system that automatically receives, amplifies,
   and retransmits signals from wireless stations into and out of building
   interiors, tunnels, shielded outdoor areas and other locations where these
   signals would otherwise be too weak for reliable communications. Signal
   booster systems may contain both Class A and Class B signal boosters as
   components.

   (b)  Authority  to  operate. PLMRS licensees for stations operating on
   assigned channels higher than 150 MHz may operate signal boosters, limited
   to the service band for which they are authorized, as needed anywhere within
   the  PLMRS stations' service contour, but may not extend the stations'
   service contour.

   (1) PLMRS licensees may also consent to operation of signal boosters by
   non-licensees (such as a building owner or a signal booster installation
   contractor)  within  their service contour and across their applicable
   frequencies, but must maintain a reasonable level of control over these
   operations in order to resolve interference problems.

   (i) Non-licensees seeking to operate signal boosters must obtain the express
   consent of the licensee(s) of the frequencies for which the device or system
   is intended to amplify. The consent must be maintained in a recordable
   format that can be presented to an FCC representative or other relevant
   licensee investigating interference.

   (ii) Consent is not required from third party (unintended) licensees whose
   signals are incidentally retransmitted. However, signal booster operation is
   on a non-interference basis and operations may be required to cease or alter
   the operating parameters due to a request from an FCC representative or a
   licensee's request to resolve interference.

   (2) [Reserved]

   (c) Licensee responsibility; interference. PLMRS licensees that operate
   signal  boosters  are  responsible for their proper operation, and are
   responsible for correcting any harmful interference that signal booster
   operation  may cause to other licensed communications services. Normal
   co-channel transmissions are not considered to be harmful interference.
   Licensees  are  required  to resolve interference problems pursuant to
   § 90.173(b). Licensees shall act in good faith regarding the operation of
   signal boosters and in the resolution of interference due to signal booster
   operation. Licensees who are unable to determine the location or cause of
   signal booster interference may seek assistance from the FCC to resolve such
   problems.

   (d)  Deployment rules. Deployment of signal boosters must be carried out in
   accordance with the rules in this paragraph.

   (1)  Signal boosters may be used to improve coverage in weak signal areas
   only.

   (2)  Signal boosters must not be used to extend PLMRS stations' normal
   operating range.

   (3)  Signal boosters must be deployed such that the radiated power of the
   each retransmitted channel, on the forward link and on the reverse link,
   does not exceed 5 Watts effective radiated power (ERP).

   (4)  Class B signal boosters may be deployed only at fixed locations; mobile
   operation of Class B signal boosters is prohibited after November 1, 2014.

   (5)  Class B signal booster installations must be registered in the FCC
   signal  booster  database  that  can be accessed at the following URL:
   www.fcc.gov/signal-boosters/registration.

   (6)  Good engineering practice must be used in regard to the radiation of
   intermodulation products and noise, such that interference to licensed
   communications systems is avoided. In the event of harmful interference
   caused by any given deployment, the FCC may require additional attenuation
   or filtering of the emissions and/or noise from signal boosters or signal
   booster systems, as necessary to eliminate the interference.

   (i)  In general, the ERP of intermodulation products should not exceed −30
   dBm in 10 kHz measurement bandwidth.

   (ii)  In general, the ERP of noise within the passband should not exceed −43
   dBm in 10 kHz measurement bandwidth.

   (iii) In general, the ERP of noise on spectrum more than 1 MHz outside of
   the passband should not exceed −70 dBm in a 10 kHz measurement bandwidth.

   (7)  Signal booster passbands are limited to the service band or bands for
   which the operator is authorized. In general, signal boosters should utilize
   the minimum passband that is sufficient to accomplish the purpose. Except
   for distributed antenna systems (DAS) installed in buildings, the passband
   of a Class B booster should not encompass both commercial services (such as
   ESMR and Cellular Radiotelephone) and part 90 Land Mobile and Public Safety
   Services.

   (e)  Device Specifications. In addition to the general rules for equipment
   certification in § 90.203(a)(2) and part 2, subpart J of this chapter, a
   signal booster must also meet the rules in this paragraph.

   (1)  The output power capability of a signal booster must be designed for
   deployments providing a radiated power not exceeding 5 Watts ERP for each
   retransmitted channel.

   (2)  The noise figure of a signal booster must not exceed 9 dB in either
   direction.

   (3)  Spurious emissions from a signal booster must not exceed −13 dBm within
   any 100 kHz measurement bandwidth.

   (4)  A  signal  booster must be designed such that all signals that it
   retransmits meet the following requirements:

   (i)  The signals are retransmitted on the same channels as received. Minor
   departures from the exact provider or reference frequencies of the input
   signals  are allowed, provided that the retransmitted signals meet the
   requirements of § 90.213.

   (ii)  There is no change in the occupied bandwidth of the retransmitted
   signals.

   (iii)  The retransmitted signals continue to meet the unwanted emissions
   limits of § 90.210 applicable to the corresponding received signals (assuming
   that these received signals meet the applicable unwanted emissions limits by
   a reasonable margin).

   (5)  On or after March 1, 2014, a signal booster must be labeled to indicate
   whether it is a Class A or Class B device, and the label must include the
   following advisory

   (1) In on-line point-of-sale marketing materials,

   (2) In any print or on-line owner's manual and installation instructions,

   (3) On the outside packaging of the device, and

   (4) On a label affixed to the device:

   “WARNING. This is NOT a CONSUMER device. It is designed for installation by
   FCC LICENSEES and QUALIFIED INSTALLERS. You MUST have an FCC LICENSE or
   express consent of an FCC Licensee to operate this device. You MUST register
   Class  B  signal  boosters  (as  defined  in  47 CFR 90.219) online at
   www.fcc.gov/signal-boosters/registration. Unauthorized use may result in
   significant forfeiture penalties, including penalties in excess of $100,000
   for each continuing violation.”

   [ 78 FR 21564 , Apr. 12, 2013]

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