§ 15.242   Operation in the bands 174-216 MHz and 470-668 MHz.

   (a)  The  marketing  and  operation of intentional radiators under the
   provisions of this section is restricted to biomedical telemetry devices
   employed solely on the premises of health care facilities.

   (1) A health care facility includes hospitals and other establishments that
   offer services, facilities, and beds for use beyond 24 hours in rendering
   medical treatment and institutions and organizations regularly engaged in
   providing medical services through clinics, public health facilities, and
   similar establishments, including governmental entities and agencies for
   their own medical activities.

   (2) This authority to operate does not extend to mobile vehicles, such as
   ambulances,  even  if those vehicles are associated with a health care
   facility.

   (b) The fundamental emissions from a biomedical telemetry device operating
   under the provisions of this section shall be contained within a single
   television broadcast channel, as defined in part 73 of this chapter, under
   all conditions of operation and shall lie wholly within the frequency ranges
   of 174-216 MHz and 470-668 MHz.

   (c) The field strength of the fundamental emissions shall not exceed 200
   mV/m, as measured at a distance of 3 meters using a quasi-peak detector.
   Manufacturers should note that a quasi-peak detector function indicates
   field strength per 120 kHz of bandwidth ±20 kHz. Accordingly, the total
   signal level over the band of operation may be higher than 200 mV/m. The
   field  strength  of emissions radiated on any frequency outside of the
   television broadcast channel within which the fundamental is contained shall
   not exceed the general limits in § 15.209.

   (d) The user and the installer of a biomedical telemetry device operating
   within the frequency range 174-216 MHz, 470-608 MHz or 614-668 MHz shall
   ensure  that the following minimum separation distances are maintained
   between the biomedical telemetry device and the authorized radio services
   operating on the same frequencies:

   (1) At least 10.3 km outside of the Grade B field strength contour (56
   dBuV/m)  of a TV broadcast station or an associated TV booster station
   operating within the band 174-216 MHz.

   (2)  At least 5.5 km outside of the Grade B field strength contour (64
   dBuV/m)  of a TV broadcast station or an associated TV booster station
   operating within the bands 470-608 MHz or 614-668 MHz.

   (3) At least 5.1 km outside of the 68 dBuV/m field strength contour of a low
   power TV or a TV translator station operating within the band 174-216 MHz.

   (4) At least 3.1 km outside of the 74 dBuV/m field strength contour of a low
   power TV or a TV translator station operating within the bands 470-608 MHz
   or 614-668 MHz.

   (5) Whatever distance is necessary to protect other authorized users within
   these bands.

   (e) The user and the installer of a biomedical telemetry device operating
   within the frequency range 608-614 MHz and that will be located within 32 km
   of the very long baseline array (VLBA) stations or within 80 km of any of
   the other radio astronomy observatories noted in footnote US385 of Section
   2.106  of  this  chapter  must coordinate with, and obtain the written
   concurrence of, the director of the affected radio astronomy observatory
   before the equipment can be installed or operated. The National Science
   Foundation point of contact for coordination is: Spectrum Manager, Division
   of Astronomical Sciences, NSF Room 1045, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA
   22230; tel: (703) 306-1823.

   (f) Biomedical telemetry devices must not cause harmful interference to
   licensed TV broadcast stations or to other authorized radio services, such
   as operations on the broadcast frequencies under subparts G and H of part 74
   of  this chapter, land mobile stations operating under part 90 of this
   chapter  in the 470-512 MHz band, and radio astronomy operation in the
   608-614  MHz  band.  (See  § 15.5.) If harmful interference occurs, the
   interference must either be corrected or the device must immediately cease
   operation on the occupied frequency. Further, the operator of the biomedical
   telemetry device must accept whatever level of interference is received from
   other radio operations. The operator, i.e., the health care facility, is
   responsible for resolving any interference that occurs subsequent to the
   installation of these devices.

   (g) The manufacturers, installers, and users of biomedical telemetry devices
   are reminded that they must ensure that biomedical telemetry transmitters
   operating under the provisions of this section avoid operating in close
   proximity to authorized services using this spectrum. Sufficient separation
   distance, necessary to avoid causing or receiving harmful interference, must
   be maintained from co-channel operations. These parties are reminded that
   the frequencies of the authorized services are subject to change, especially
   during the implementation of the digital television services. The operating
   frequencies of the part 15 devices may need to be changed, as necessary and
   in accordance with the permissive change requirements of this chapter, to
   accommodate changes in the operating frequencies of the authorized services.

   (h) The manufacturers, installers and users of biomedical telemetry devices
   are cautioned that the operation of this equipment could result in harmful
   interference to other nearby medical devices.

   [ 62 FR 58658 , Oct. 30, 1997, as amended at  77 FR 76248 , Dec. 27, 2012]

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