ARRL seeks FCC probe of long-range cordless telephone sales

From the ARRL...


The ARRL has asked the FCC to investigate and ''take appropriate
action'' against several companies it alleges have been marketing
so-called ''long-range cordless telephones'' via the Internet. The
ARRL took the action in the wake of an interference complaint and
numerous reports from the amateur community about sales of the
devices, some operating on amateur VHF and UHF frequencies.




ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said the League was seeking
the FCC probe because the apparently uncertificated devices operate
on amateur bands and are capable of interfering with amateur
communication. He also noted that the devices are not likely to meet
maximum permissible exposure levels for RF.



''ARRL has not been able to locate any FCC certification for these
devices and, based on the advertised frequency bands and ranges, it
is believed that none of these devices could be certificated, or
legally marketed or sold, under FCC rules,'' Imlay wrote.



Imlay said the ARRL also is looking into the marketing of products
such as 434-MHz video surveillance equipment and other ''apparently
non-certificated devices'' that use amateur frequencies but are being
marketed in the US to non-amateurs.



ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, said he's received at least one
report of actual harmful interference from a long-range cordless
telephone to amateur communication. The amateur reporting it tracked
the telephone to the home of a neighbor, who said he'd bought the
device on eBay.



Hare said some long-range devices are legally certificated to
operate on the 900 MHz or 2450 MHz Part 15 bands. ''These legal
devices are only an issue if they cause actual harmful interference
to the Amateur Service,'' he said.



Hare requests reports of unlicensed devices causing actual harmful
interference to Amateur Radio operation. Reports may be sent to
rfi@arrl.org.