Regulatory News dated Q3/2016

Russia’s State Committee on Radiofrequencies (GKRCH) issued new rules for RFC (Radio Frequency Centre) conclusions which are mandatory for obtaining import licenses for radio devices such as RFID (866-868 MHz) SRDs, automotive radars (76-77 GHz), DECT devices (1880-1900 MHz) and more.

Obtaining the RFC conclusion is no longer a simple paperwork process: only test reports issued by Russia’s RFC will now be accepted and in-country testing is therefore required, since GKRCH reports issued by an accredited lab are no longer tolerated.

Kenya’s Communications Authority recently introduced a new regulation on the use of Short Range Devices (SRDs). Accordingly, SRDs operating in the permitted frequency bands are now exempt from Type Approval and may be freely imported and sold in Kenya.

The new exemption includes, among other, SRDs operating at 13.56 MHz, 433—435 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands such as NFC tag/card readers, keyless vehicle entry systems, WiFi devices, etc. SRDs must however comply with the maximum permitted output powers as specified for each band; this currently follows the EU regulations.

Per Resolution 755, SUBTEL has announced the following additional requirements for supplementary test reports in cases the output power exceeds the Chilean limits:

• In the supplementary test report for devices operating in 5 GHz, it must be clearly visible that the 5500-5700 MHz band will be disabled.
• The test report must be released on the appropriate laboratory letterhead with their official logo and identify clearly the contact details of the lab as well as the names and signatures of the persons responsible for carrying out the testing.
• In case a different laboratory from the initial one for the FCC/EU test reports will carry out the supplementary test report, then the test conditions and support equipment must remain the same.

Please be aware that SUBTEL may reject applications where the supplementary test report does not follow the requirements mentioned before.

ARPT (Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications) recently informed that Type Approval services are on hold due to the current election of a new Director. Consequently, there will be no new Type Approval certificates issued in the meantime.

Normal services are expected to resume after the election of the new Director.

IFT (Mexico's Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones) will be closed for business from 2016-07-18 through 2016-07-29. No Type Approval applications will be able to be submitted to IFT for this period; pending applications are expected to be delayed accordingly.