According to MCAA, the Measurement Control and Automation Association, the FCC has amended its rules about radar level devices, called Level Probing Radars.
Cynthia A. Esher, president of MCAA, said, “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted rules geared specifically to level probing radars (LPRs) which are made by a number of MCAA members. These devices are now allowed to operate anywhere in the country without a license–in both open air environments and tanks. MCAA worked closely with the FCC throughout the regulatory process, providing information to the technical office within the FCC which crafted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2012. The FCC action amends the existing rules to account for LPR special technical characteristics which posed previous obstacles to FCC approval. MCAA supplied critical information to the FCC for their use in the preparing the new Rules.”
This is really good news. The worst, wettest, and coldest three days I’ve ever spent was spent climbing around on tanks at what was then the Upjohn Pharmaceuticals plant in Kalamazoo, MI doing a full dress FCC survey of the multiple radar level gauges we (TN Technologies) had installed. Somebody noticed that there were a whole bunch of radar transmitters within 500 feet of the Kalamazoo International Airport runway. Panic ensued, and, with first generation GPS in hand, I was dispatched to do a survey. I am glad to see that the FCC has finally agreed with the data we developed, and has even permitted open air applications of these level devices.
The decision by the FCC also harmonizes the regulations with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) Technical Standard for LPR devices, which, as Esher points out, makes US manufactured radar level devices more competitive in Europe and wherever ETSI standards are used.
To see the entire press release from MCAA, go here.
To see the FCC’s report and order, click here.
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