Several commenters in FCC Part 15 proceeding said proposed change...

including proposals to modify emissions limits on certain Part 15 devices above 2 GHz. On RFID systems, proposals would harmonize U.S. rules with standards for such devices in Europe and Australia. FCC rules let intentional radiators such as unlicensed RFID devices operate in 13.56 MHz band at certain power limits. Such systems typically include tag mounted on item to be tracked and use radio signals to identify items such as shipping containers. Proposed changes would let RFID systems transmit data more effectively “over longer localized ranges,” Texas Instruments said. Proposal would allow higher security and improved data transfer for access control, airline baggage handling, parcel tracking and electronic transactions that use RFID cards, TI said. Systems built under proposal could electronically identify wrapped packages and sealed envelopes because “line of sight” doesn’t have to be established, which could aid customs clearance, TI said. “There appears to be greater emphasis on knowing the identity of both persons (identification cards) and the contents of packages since Sept. 11 as our nation works to improve homeland security,” TI said. Motorola also supported changes for RFID rules, which were part of petition filed by National Council for Information Technology Standardization. Changes would allow greater RFID system range, including improvement from several centimeters to more than 1 m in some cases, Motorola said. “The expanded use of RFID technology can positively impact the national economy and be used as a tool for the homeland security initiative,” company said. CEA cited potential for RFID to help provide systems to match passengers with luggage. U.S. manufacturers of RFID equipment would benefit by “allowing a single product to be used in many markets, thus lowering development costs,” CEA said. Information Technology Industry Council said in recent years there had been “dramatic increase” in use of spectrum above 2 GHz, although Commission hadn’t changed requirements for spurious emissions limits. Balance must be kept between protecting licensed services from interference “while not overburdening the unlicensed devices with too excessively stringent limits,” CEA said. Group asked FCC to consider development of test method to measure unintentional emissions. ITI said removing some restrictions in bands above 38.6 GHz could open market for new unlicensed services.