# 63 FR 20362: Regulations for RF Lighting Devices > Federal · Regulations · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-10948 ## Section - **Citation:** 63 FR 20362 - **Heading:** Regulations for RF Lighting Devices - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Regulations - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Federal Register / Vol. 63 / 63 FR 20362 ## Text FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 18 [ET Docket 98-42; FCC 98-53] Regulations for RF Lighting Devices AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: By this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission is proposing to update the regulations for RF lighting devices. This action is taken in response to new developments in RF lighting technology. It is intended to support the development of new more efficient RF lighting products for consumer and commercial applications. DATES: Comments are due July 8, 1998. Reply comments are due August 7, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Engineering and Technology, Anthony Serafini at (202) 418-2456. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted April 1, 1998 and released April 9, 1998. The full text of this decision is available for inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC. The complete text of this decision also may be purchased from the Commission's duplication contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 1231 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Summary of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 1. By this action, the Commission proposes to amend part 18 of its rules to update the regulations for radio frequency (RF) lighting devices. Recent developments and advances in RF lighting technology offer potential economic and environmental benefits for consumers and industry. The current FCC rules, however, may not easily accommodate these technological advancements and thus hinder the further development and implementation of these new products. This action seeks to reduce unnecessary or radio frequency (RF) lighting devices. Recent developments and advances in RF lighting technology offer potential economic and environmental benefits for consumers and industry. The current FCC rules, however, may not easily accommodate these technological advancements and thus hinder the further development and implementation of these new products. This action seeks to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden and to support the introduction of new and beneficial products while ensuring that spectrum-based communications services continue to be protected from interference. Accordingly, the Commission proposes to relax the line-conducted emission limits and to adopt radiated emission limits above 1 GHz for RF lighting devices and solicits comments on these proposals. 2. RF lighting technology has been typically designed to operate at relatively low frequencies around 150 kHz. The new products we are considering are designed to operate at much higher frequencies and therefore were not taken into account when the existing rules were adopted. The new consumer RF light operates in the 2.2-2.8 MHz band. This product is more efficient and longer lasting than existing incandescent bulbs. We propose to amend our rules to allow for this new technology without causing potential harmful interference to spectrum- based services. We propose to relax the consumer line-conducted emission limit in Section 18.307(c) by 22 dB in the 2.2-2.8 MHz band to the existing non-consumer limit of 3000 microvolts. 3. The new commercial use product is a high-power RF lamp that operates in the 2400-2500 MHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band and offers benefits similar to the consumer lighting product. Although this product is an RF lamp, it uses a magnetron power source similar to magnetrons used in microwave ovens operating in the same band. Therefore, it does not easily fit under our rules for either RF lighting or microwave ovens -power RF lamp that operates in the 2400-2500 MHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band and offers benefits similar to the consumer lighting product. Although this product is an RF lamp, it uses a magnetron power source similar to magnetrons used in microwave ovens operating in the same band. Therefore, it does not easily fit under our rules for either RF lighting or microwave ovens. We propose to amend the RF lighting rules to consider the requirements of this new technology. Specifically, we seek comment on whether the non-consumer line-conducted limits in Section 18.307(c) should be relaxed 10 dB for RF lighting products. We also propose to adopt out-of-band radiated limits above 1 GHz. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 4. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the Commission has prepared this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the expected significant economic impact on small entities by the policies and rules proposed in this Notice of Proposed Rule Making (``Notice''). Written public comments are requested on the IRFA. Comments must be identified as responses to the IRFA and must be filed by the deadlines for comments on the Notice. The Commission will send a copy of the Notice, including this IFRA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. See 5 U.S.C. 603(a). In addition, the Notice and IRFA (or summaries thereof) will be published in the Federal Register. Need for and Objectives of the Proposed Rules as responses to the IRFA and must be filed by the deadlines for comments on the Notice. The Commission will send a copy of the Notice, including this IFRA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. See 5 U.S.C. 603(a). In addition, the Notice and IRFA (or summaries thereof) will be published in the Federal Register. Need for and Objectives of the Proposed Rules 5. This rule making proceeding is initiated to obtain comment regarding proposals to change the conducted line emission limits for RF lighting. Recent developments and advances in RF lighting technology offer potential economic and environmental benefits for consumers and industry. The current FCC rules, however, do not easily accommodate these technological advancements and thus hinder the further development and implementation of these promising new products. This action seeks to relax the part 18 regulations to accommodate new and beneficial products while ensuring that other important communications services continue to be protected from interference. This action will potentially benefit all entities using RF lighting technologies, including small entities. Legal Basis 6. The proposed action is authorized under Sections 4(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f), 303(r), 304 and 307 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f), 303(r), 304 and 307. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the Proposed Rule Will Apply of Communications Services, Not Elsewhere Classified. Of those, approximately 775 reported annual receipts of $11 million or less and qualify as small entities. 9. This Notice seeks comment to help the Commission determine the appropriate regulations necessary to protect communications services while facilitating development and use of the new generation of energy saving RF lighting devices. We also request comment on the description and the number of small entities that may be significantly impacted by this proposal. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements 10. Under part 18 of the FCC rules, consumer ISM equipment must be approved under the FCC certification process and non-consumer equipment is subject to verification. No changes are proposed to the testing and approval process requirements for RF lighting product. Steps Taken to Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities, and Significant Alternatives Considered 11. U.S. manufacturers have developed new RF lighting technologies that offer potential economic and environmental benefits to consumers and industry. General Electric (GE) has developed and Electrodeless Fluorescent Lamp (EFL) that operates between 2.2-2.8 MHz. This a more efficient, longer lasting consumer lamp that is an alternative to normal incandescent light bulbs. EFL lamps represent a new generation of technology beyond the existing low frequency RF lights known as Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), which are limited in their applications due to their non-traditional design using curved tubing. EFL lamps are nearly identical in size and shape to incandescent bulbs and therefore, are expected to have greater consumer applications and acceptance over CFL lamps. 12. The existing RF lighting rules were adopted many years ago for products operating at relatively low frequencies and do not easily accommodate new state-of-the-art RF lighting technologies tional design using curved tubing. EFL lamps are nearly identical in size and shape to incandescent bulbs and therefore, are expected to have greater consumer applications and acceptance over CFL lamps. 12. The existing RF lighting rules were adopted many years ago for products operating at relatively low frequencies and do not easily accommodate new state-of-the-art RF lighting technologies. We believe it is appropriate to examine and modify our rules to accommodate these new technologies to the extent possible while still ensuring that communications services are protected from harmful interference. 13. Fusion Lighting, Inc. (Fusion) has developed an efficient, longer-lasting, high-power commercial lamp that is suitable for lighting coverage of large, commercial areas, such as warehouses, parking lots and shopping malls. Fusion's efforts were supported by the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Air and Space Administration (NASA). Fusion states that its sulfur based lamp is over four times more efficient than incandescent lighting, yet does not have the color drawbacks of present mercury based high intensity discharge lamps used in typical outside lighting and commercial environments. The lamp produces a spectra closely matching that of the sun, but with very little heat or ultraviolet rays. In testing demonstrations, two Fusion lamps, shining light from both ends into a reflective light tube 240 feet long, were able to replace the light of 240 and 175 watt mercury lamps at the DOE headquarters. At the National Air and Space Museum, three Fusion lamps shining into three separate 90-foot tubes replaced 94 conventional lights. 14. Fusion states that the cost of complying with the current line- conducted limits for RF lighting devices is excessive. The Fusion lamp must use a line filter to come into compliance with the line-conducted limits for commercial RF lighting devices adquarters. At the National Air and Space Museum, three Fusion lamps shining into three separate 90-foot tubes replaced 94 conventional lights. 14. Fusion states that the cost of complying with the current line- conducted limits for RF lighting devices is excessive. The Fusion lamp must use a line filter to come into compliance with the line-conducted limits for commercial RF lighting devices. Fusion argues that although existing line filters will permit Fusion's lamp to pass the current FCC limits, they are not designed for the operating temperatures of the lamp and therefore fail to meet Underwriter Laboratories (UL) safety requirements. Additionally, Fusion solicited data from power supply manufacturers and notes that a custom line filter needed to make their product meet both the FCC and UL requirements would add approximately 15 percent to the final cost. 15. At this time, we are proposing no additional, alternative RF rule modifications beyond those generally described by GE and Fusion. We seek comment on any additional alternatives. Federal Rules that May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed Rule 16. None. List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 18 Business and industry. Federal Communications Commission. Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-10948 Filed 4-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-F ## Nearby sections - [63 FR 447 Rule and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-101.md) - [63 FR 456 Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan; Indiana](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-241.md) - [63 FR 770 Competitive Bidding Proceeding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-297.md) - [63 FR 1072 Airworthiness Directives; Turbopropeller-Powered McDonnell Douglas Model DC-3 and DC-3C Series Airplanes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-476.md) - [63 FR 1086 Abatement of Interest](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-19.md) - [63 FR 1396 Arkansas Regulatory Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-530.md) - [63 FR 1396 Notice of Meeting](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-588.md) - [63 FR 1804 Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; DelawareNew Source Review](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-673.md) - [63 FR 2188 Maintenance of Minimum Financial Requirements by Futures Commission Merchants and Introducing Brokers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-665.md) - [63 FR 2192 Utah Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-859.md) - [63 FR 2353 General Regulations and Standards for Certain Agricultural Commodities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-920.md) - [63 FR 2640 Municipal Securities Dealers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-815.md) - [63 FR 2913 Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Alice, TX](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-1225.md) - [63 FR 2916 Kansas Regulatory Program and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-1216.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/FR_PRORULE_98-10948. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.