An ITU-R group on terrestrial broadcasting cited “several difficulties” in...

a May meeting. The concept of “EMC coordination” in preliminary text for a new ITU-R report on the impact of power line telecommunication systems on radiocommunication systems operating in the VHF and UHF bands above 80 MHz needs to be clarified, the note said. Where frequency bands are shared between radiocommunication services, compatibility requirements are established after carrying out necessary studies, it said. From these, it may be necessary to define a coordination mechanism, to limit interference to acceptable levels, it said. The term “EMC coordination” doesn’t appear to be consistent with the usual philosophy in defining EMC standards and protection requirements for information technology equipment (ITE), which is to ensure that other equipment in the vicinity will not be affected by RF interference conducted along common wiring or that is radiated, it said, and that other electronic or electrical equipment doesn’t likewise interfere. Draft text in the proposed report suggests PLT installations as a class of ITE that, for special reasons, is excluded from normal EMC requirements, it said. “This could have serious implications on the present EMC regime.” An alternative scenario would admit PLT uses RF energy for providing telecom services, with a view toward possibly designating frequency bands for PLT use that wouldn’t adversely impact radiocommunication services, it said. PLT equipment compliant with an agreed ITU standard on International Mobile Telecommunications or 3GPP’s Long Term Evolution use in the 450-470 MHz band would no longer be considered as ITE subject to conflicting EMC standards and legislation, it said.