§ 15.214   Cordless telephones.

   (a) For equipment authorization, a single application form, FCC Form
   731, may be filed for a cordless telephone system, provided the
   application clearly identifies and provides data for all parts of the
   system to show compliance with the applicable technical requirements.
   When a single application form is submitted, both the base station and
   the portable handset must carry the same FCC identifier. The
   application shall include a fee for certification of each type of
   transmitter and for certification, if appropriate, for each type of
   receiver included in the system.

   (b) A cordless telephone that is intended to be connected to the public
   switched telephone network shall also comply with the applicable
   regulations in part 68 of this chapter. A separate procedure for
   approval under part 68 is required for such terminal equipment.

   (c) The label required under subpart A of this part shall also contain
   the following statement: “Privacy of communications may not be ensured
   when using this phone.”

   (d) Cordless telephones shall incorporate circuitry which makes use of
   a digital security code to provide protection against unintentional
   access to the public switched telephone network by the base unit and
   unintentional ringing by the handset. These functions shall operate
   such that each access of the telephone network or ringing of the
   handset is preceded by the transmission of a code word. Access to the
   telephone network shall occur only if the code transmitted by the
   handset matches code set in the base unit. Similarly, ringing of the
   handset shall occur only if the code transmitted by the base unit
   matches the code set in the handset. The security code required by this
   section may also be employed to perform other communications functions,
   such as providing telephone billing information. This security code
   system is to operate in accordance with the following provisions.

   (1) There must be provision for at least 256 possible discrete digital
   codes. Factory-set codes must be continuously varied over at least 256
   possible codes as each telephone is manufactured. The codes may be
   varied either randomly, sequentially, or using another systematic
   procedure.

   (2) Manufacturers must use one of the following approaches for
   facilitating variation in the geographic distribution of individual
   security codes:

   (i) Provide a means for the user to readily select from among at least
   256 possible discrete digital codes. The cordless telephone shall be
   either in a non-operable mode after manufacture until the user selects
   a security code or the manufacturer must continuously vary the initial
   security code as each telephone is produced.

   (ii) Provide a fixed code that is continuously varied among at least
   256 discrete digital codes as each telephone is manufactured.

   (iii) Provide a means for the cordless telephone to automatically
   select a different code from among at least 256 possible discrete
   digital codes each time it is activated.

   (iv) It is permissible to provide combinations of fixed, automatic, and
   user-selectable coding provided the above criteria are met.

   (3) A statement of the means and procedures used to achieve the
   required protection shall be provided in any application for equipment
   authorization of a cordless telephone.

   [ 56 FR 3785 , Jan. 31, 1991, as amended at  63 FR 36603 , July 7, 1998;  66 FR 7580 , Jan. 24, 2001]

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