WASHINGTON-The House Commerce Committee voted to streamline the process that the Federal Communications Commission uses to approve multi-mode devices.
“All we are trying to do is kick in a quicker process so that we don’t have to wait 64 days to get approval for multi-mode devices,” said Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), the sponsor of the amendment. “We are asking the FCC to streamline the process. It doesn’t specify the process.”
The Shimkus amendment requires the FCC to implement a “streamlined review and authorization of multi-mode devices that permits communication across multiple Internet-protocol-enabled broadband platforms, facilities and networks.” The agency must have the process in place four months after the legislation is signed by the president.
The FCC certifies radio-frequency devices to ensure they meet the agency’s technical standards. New technologies must undergo commission certification, but, according to the FCC’s Web site, cell phones and other devices can be certified by telecommunications certification bodies-outside groups authorized by the agency to conduct the testing necessary for certification.
“The Shimkus amendment will help get advanced devices into the hands of American consumers more swiftly; it will put them on a more equal footing with the Europeans, who have established a process that is presently setting the timing trend for moving converged multi-mode mobile devices from the production line to the connected person out and about. The U.S. does a fantastic job of getting single-mode phones promptly certified and should be commended for that. As consumers increasingly demand more complex devices, we’ve got to move together to a domestic process that gets cool products out there faster in this competitive environment,” said Bill Anaya, Motorola Inc.’s vice president of congressional operations.
The FCC does not say how long the approval process takes for single-mode vs. multi-mode devices. However, Shimkus said it takes four to six days for single-mode devices and an average of 64 days for multi-mode devices. The FCC said that in March 50 percent of its pending applications were processed within 22 days and 90 percent were processed within 46 days.
A list obtained by RCR Wireless News showed one application by Nokia Corp. taking 83 days. Nokia said it believes the processing time for multi-mode devices will decrease as the devices become more prevalent.
“The process can definitely vary from product to product depending on the radio functionality in any given product,” said Laurie Armstrong, Nokia’s senior manager of media relations. “There are very few single-mode devices these days, but Nokia anticipates that as multiradio devices (including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) continue to become more and more prevalent, any said delays do not take long to address. … It is very difficult to put a standard time-frame on this process.”
The bill now goes to the House floor for consideration.
