FCC Expands Space Access for IoT Support

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted a French satellite company permission to provide satellite-based connectivity services for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

According to a press release issued by the FCC, the company, Kinésis, proposed the deployment of a constellation of 25 small, low-Earth orbit satellites and was seeking permission from the FCC to offer its services in the U.S. market using frequencies of the non-voice, non-geostationary (NVNG) mobile-satellite service (MSS) and earth exploration-satellite service (EESS).

In an Order and Declaratory Ruling, the Commission granted Kinésis market access in the 399.9-400.05 MHz and 401-403 MHZ uplink bands, and the 400.15 401 MHz downlink band, subject to certain conditions. The approval is also subject to the outcome of future Commission proceedings, including its current proceeding on the growing concern over orbital debris.

EU Commission Updates List of Harmonized Standards for Toys

The Commission of the European Union (EU) has published an updated list of standards that can be used to demonstrate conformity with the essential requirements of its directive relating to the safety of toys (2009/48/EC).

According to the Directive, toys are defined as “products designed or intended…for use in play by children of less than 14 years of age.” The scope of the Directive includes electric toys that are powered by a nominal voltage up to and including 24 V and requires sufficient protections for such devices to prevent the risk of electric shock and/or burns.

The most recently updated list of standards for the Directive was published in November 2021 in the Official Journal of the European Union and replaces all previously published standards lists for the Directive.

ANSI HAC Standard Now Recognized by the FDA and FCC

In its latest revised list of recognized consensus standards, the FDA has now included ANSI C63.19-2019 – American National Standard, Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids. The latest update to C63.19 harmonizes the standard’s testing methodologies with current available international standards and is applicable to a wider range of frequencies.

In a further development, Canada’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Department is updating its Radio Standard Specification, RSS-HAC – Hearing Aid Compatibility, to reference the 2019 version of C63.19. Issue 2 of the specification is currently in draft form.

As we reported earlier this year, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted ANSI C63.19-2019 as the standard to be used in assessing HAC-compatible handsets for compliance with the agency’s certification requirements. The FCC’s Report and Order announcing the decision provided handset manufacturers with a two-year transition period to adopt the requirements set forth in the standard.

EU Commission Seeks to Expand RED Cybersecurity Requirements for IoT Devices

The Commission of the European Union (EU) is taking steps to specifically include the cybersecurity of internet-connected equipment under the scope of its Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU, also known as RED).

Under the terms detailed in a preliminary draft of a Commission Delegated Regulation published at the end of October, the essential requirements set out in Article 3(3) of the RED will be applicable to “any radio equipment that can communicate itself over the internet, whether it communicates directly or via any other equipment.”

While the RED’s essential requirements will apply to most types of internet-connected radio equipment, equipment and devices specifically called out in the draft Delegated Regulation include:

• Radio equipment designed or intended exclusively for childcare;
• Radio equipment covered under the scope of the EU’s Directive on the Safety of Toys (2009/48/EC);
• Radio equipment designed or intended to be worn, strapped to, or hung from any part of the human body or incorporated into any clothing worn by humans, such as headwear, handwear, or footwear;
• Radio equipment that enables the holder or user to transfer money, monetary value, or virtual currency.

Internet-connected equipment expressly not included under the expanded scope of cybersecurity requirements detailed in the draft Delegated Regulation include medical devices covered under the EU’s Medical Device Regulation (EU 2017/745) and the In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (EU 2017/746). Also excluded are internet-connected equipment and devices used in civil aviation applications (EU 2018/1139) and in automotive systems and components (EU 2019/2144).

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