FCC Proposed Ruling on Scanners That Receive Cellphone Transmissions

Please at least write a one-page letter in response to this proposed ruling. The idiots in Congress decided that banning radios was preferable to allowing (or requiring) decent encryption in cellular phones. Now the FCC is making rules to implement the Congressional ban. They should hear from us, loud and clear, that this is completely backwards and wrong. Your letter should reference Docket Number 93-1 and should clearly state the subject on which you are commenting. *Then* comment... John ------- Forwarded Message Message-Id: <199302111305.AA17580@eff.org> Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1993 08:10:14 -0500 To: gnu@toad.com (John Gilmore), barlow@eff.org, jberman@eff.org, mkapor@eff.org, blau@eff.org, farber@central.cis.upenn.edu From: Daniel J. Weitzner <djw@eff.org> Subject: FCC Proposed Ruling on Scanners That Receive Cellphone Transmissions The file attached here was received today and is too long for inclusion in a regular issue of the Digest. It is submitted for your comments and consideration. You might want to send your comments to the FCC as well. PAT From: raisch@ora.com (Rob Raisch) Subject: FCC Proposed Ruling on Scanners That Receive Cellphone Transmissions Organization: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1993 05:10:24 GMT 47 CFR Parts 2 and 15 [ET Docket No. 93-1; FCC 93-1] Radio Scanners That Receive Cellular Telephone Transmissions AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: This Notice of Proposed Rule Making proposes to deny equipment authorization to radio scanners capable of receiving transmissions in the Domestic Public Cellular Radio Telecommunications Service. This action is taken in response to the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act (Pub. L. 102-556). The intended effect of this action is to help ensure the privacy of cellular telephone conversations. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 22, 1993, and reply comments on or before March 8, 1993. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wilson, Office of Engineering and Technology, (202) 653-8138. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET Docket No. 93-1, FCC 93- 1, adopted January 4, 1993, and released January 13, 1993. The full text of this decision is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Dockets Branch (room 230), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC. The complete text of this decision also may be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Downtown Copy Center, at (202) 659-8657 or 1990 M Street, NW., suite 640, Washington, DC 20036. Paperwork Reduction The following collection of information contained in this proposed rule has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review under section 3504(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3504(h)). Copies of this submission may be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Downtown Copy Center, at (202) 659-8657 or 1990 M Street, NW., suite 640, Washington, DC 20036. Persons wishing to comment on this collection of information should direct their comments to Mr. Jonas Neihardt, Office of Management and Budget, room 3235 NEOB, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 395-4814. A copy of any comments filed with the Office of Management and Budget should also be sent to the following address at the Federal Communications Commission: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Managing Director, Paperwork Reduction Project, Washington, DC 20554. For further information contact Ms. Judy Boley, (202) 632-7513. OMB Number: None. Title: Scanning Receiver Compliance Exhibit. Respondents: Businesses or other for profit, small businesses/organizations Action: New collection. Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting. Estimated Annual Burden: Number of respondents: 40. Annual hours per respondent: 0.25. Total annual burden: 10. Needs and Uses: An exhibit accompanying a Form 731 Application for Equipment Authorization will determine compliance of applicants requesting authorization to market scanning receivers and frequency converters with Congressionally mandated regulations. The regulations prohibit the marketing of radio scanners capable of intercepting, or being modified to intercept, cellular telephone conversations. Summary of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making: 1. By this action, the Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR parts 2 and 15 to prohibit the manufacture or importation of radio scanners capable of receiving frequencies allocated to the Domestic Public Cellular Radio Telecommunications Service. This action is in response to the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act (Act), Pub. L. 102-556. 2. The Domestic Public Cellular Radio Telecommunications Service ("Cellular Radio Service") provides telephone service to mobile customers. Cellular telephones use frequencies in the bands 824-849 MHz and 869-894 MHz to connect their users to other cellular system users and to the Public Switched Telephone Network. 3. As defined in 47 CFR part 15 scanning receivers, or "scanners," are radio receivers that automatically switch between four or more frequencies anywhere within the 30-960 MHz band. In order to control their potential to cause harmful interference to authorized radio communications, the rules require that scanners receive an equipment authorization (certification) from the Commission prior to marketing. 4. In the past five years, 22 different models of scanning receivers capable of receiving cellular telephone transmissions have been issued grants of equipment authorization. During this same period, ten other models capable of tuning frequencies between 806 and 900 MHz except for the cellular bands have also been authorized. Several publications currently on the market describe relatively simple modifications that users can make to many of the latter scanning receivers to enable that equipment to receive cellular telephone transmissions. 5. The Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act requires that the Commission, by April 26, 1993, prescribe and make effective regulations denying equipment authorization for any scanning receiver capable of: Receiving transmissions in the frequencies allocated to the domestic cellular radio service, Readily being altered by the user to receive transmissions in such frequencies, or Being equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio. The Act also stipulates that, beginning one year after the effective date of the regulations adopted to satisfy the above requirements, no receiver having the above capabilities shall be manufactured in the United States or imported for use in the United States. 6. In accordance with the Act, we are proposing to deny equipment authorization to scanning receivers that tune frequencies used by cellular telephones. We are also proposing to require applicants for the authorization of scanning receivers to include in their applications a statement declaring that their receivers cannot be tuned to receive cellular telephone transmissions. 7. Also in accordance with the Act, we are proposing to require that scanning receivers be incapable of being readily altered by the user to operate within the cellular bands. To assist us in determining whether a scanner complies with this requirement, we propose to require applicants for scanning receiver equipment authorization to include in their applications a statement pledging that their receivers cannot be readily altered to receive cellular telephone transmissions. We also propose to prohibit the authorization of any scanning receiver for which cellular coverage can be readily restored by the user. We solicit comment on this proposed reporting requirement and on the definition of "readily altered." We also seek comment on whether additional information, such as why the receiver cannot be readily altered, should be required. 8. In further compliance with the Act, we propose to deny equipment authorization to any scanning receiver that can be equipped with decoders that convert digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio. We invite comment on the potential impact of this requirement on existing models of scanning receivers. 9. There currently are a number of frequency converters on the market that can be used in conjunction with scanners that receive frequencies below 800 MHz to enable the reception of cellular telephone transmissions. We are proposing to deny equipment authorization to converters that tune, or can be readily altered by the user to tune, cellular telephone frequencies. We will require that applicants for FCC equipment authorization of frequency converters used with scanners include in their applications a statement pledging that the converters cannot be easily altered to enable a scanner to receive cellular transmissions. We seek comment on whether this statement should also include evidence indicating why the converter cannot be easily modified. 10. The Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is contained in the text of the Notice. 11. Comment Dates Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before February 22, 1993, and reply comments on or before March 8, 1993. In order to comply with the requirement of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act that FCC rules be promulgated within 180 days of enactment, we will proceed with this Notice without furnishing a prior text as provided by Article 607 of the United States-Canada Free-Trade Implementation Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-499, 102 Stat. 1851). To do so would frustrate achievement of a legitimate domestic objective. In addition, the Commission is not likely to be able to accommodate requests for extension of the comment periods. To file formally in this proceeding, you must file an original and five copies of all comments, reply comments, and supporting comments. If you want each Commissioner to receive a copy of your comments, you must file an original plus nine copies. You should send comments and reply comments to Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554. Comments and reply comments will be available for public inspection during normal business hours in the Dockets Reference Room of the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554. 12. Ex-Parte Rules-Non-Restricted Proceeding This is a non-restricted notice and comment rule making proceeding. Ex parte presentations are permitted, except during the Sunshine Agenda period, provided they are disclosed as provided in Commission rules. See generally 47 CFR 1.1202, 1.1203 and 1.1206(a). 13. For further information on this proceeding contact David Wilson, Technical Standards Branch, Office of Engineering and Technology, 202-653-8138. List of Subjects in 47 CFR Parts 2 and 15: Communications equipment, Wiretapping and electronic surveillance. Federal Communications Commission. Donna R. Searcy, Secretary. Parts 2 and 15 of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations are proposed to be amended as follows: PART 2-FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS 1. The authority citation for part 2 continues to read as follows: Authority: Secs. 4, 302, 303 and 307 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154, 154(i), 302, 303, 303(r) and 307. 2. Section 2.975 is amended by adding a new paragraph (a)(8) to read as follows: 2.975 Application for notification. (a) * * * (8) Applications for the notification of receivers contained in frequency converters used with scanning receivers shall be accompanied by an exhibit indicating compliance with the provisions of 15.121 of this chapter. * * * * * 3. Section 2.1033 is amended by adding a new paragraph (b)(12) to read as follows: 2.1033 Application for certification. * * * * * (b) * * * (12) Applications for the certification of scanning receivers under part 15 shall be accompanied by an exhibit indicating compliance with the provisions of 15.122 of this chapter. * * * * * PART 15-RADIO FREQUENCY DEVICES 1. The authority citation for part 15 continues to read as follows: Authority: Secs. 4, 302, 303 and 307 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154, 302, 303 and 307. 2. Section 15.37 is amended by adding a last sentence to paragraph (b), and adding a new paragraph (f), to read as follows: 15.37 Transition provisions for compliance with the rules. * * * * * (b) * * * In addition, receivers are subject to the provisions in paragraph (f) of this section. * * * * * (f) The manufacture or importation of scanning receivers, and frequency converters used with scanning receivers, that do not comply with the provisions of 15.121 shall cease on or before April 26, 1994. Effective April 26, 1993, the Commission will not accept applications for equipment authorization for receivers that do not comply with the provisions of 15.121. This paragraph does not prohibit the sale or use of authorized receivers manufactured in the United States, or imported into the United States, prior to April 26, 1994. 3. Section 15.121 is added to read as follows: 15.121 Scanning receivers and frequency converters used with scanning receivers. Scanning receivers, and frequency converters used with scanning receivers, must be incapable of operating (tuning), or readily being altered by the user to operate, within the frequency bands allocated to the Domestic Public Cellular Radio Telecommunications Service. Receivers capable of "readily being altered by the user" include, but are not limited to, those for which the ability to receive transmissions in the restricted bands can be added by clipping the leads of, or installing, a diode, resistor and/or jumper wire; or replacing a plug-in semiconductor chip. Scanning receivers, and frequency converters used with scanning receivers, must also be incapable of converting digital cellular transmissions to analog voice audio. ------- End of Forwarded Message