The Wireless Telegraphy (Radio Frequency Identification Equipment) (Exemption) Regulations 2005

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Radio Frequency Identification Equipment) (Exemption) Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 31st January 2006.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

(a) “beam-width” means the smallest angle between points in the radiation pattern emitting from the equipment’s antenna where at such points emissions from the antenna are half the power of the peak radiation;

(b) “dBm” means decibel milliWatt;

(c) “equipment” means a station for wireless telegraphy or apparatus for wireless telegraphy;

(d) “erp” means effective radiated power;

(e) “interrogator” means equipment which is capable of initiating communication with other equipment;

(f) “kHz” means kilohertz;

(g) “MHz” means megahertz; and

(h) “mW” means milliWatt.

Exemption

3.  The establishment or installation of equipment complying with the terms, provisions and limitations in regulation 4 and the use of such equipment so established or installed is hereby exempt from the provisions of section 1(1) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949.

Terms, provisions and limitations

4.—(1) The exemption provided for in regulation 3 shall be limited to equipment which —

(a) operates in the frequency band between 865 MHz and 868 MHz;

(b) operates using one or more of the frequency channels which have a centre frequency specified in the Schedule and which have a bandwidth no greater than 200 kHz;

(c) does not cause or contribute to any undue interference to any wireless telegraphy; and

(d) emits transmissions which —

(i) at frequencies between 865 MHz and 865.6 MHz have an erp no greater than 100 mW;

(ii) at frequencies between 865.6 MHz and 867.6 MHz have an erp no greater than 2 Watts; and

(iii) at frequencies between 867.6 MHz and 868 MHz have an erp no greater than 500 mW.

(2) Where equipment is an interrogator, the exemption provided for in regulation 3 shall, additionally, be limited to equipment which —

(a) transmits with a beam-width which —

(i) at an erp less than or equal to 500 mW is less than or equal to ninety degrees; and

(ii) at an erp greater than 500 mW is less than or equal to seventy degrees;

(b) only begins transmitting in any channel—

(i) at an erp greater than 500mW, if the signal level at the receiver of the interrogator from other equipment operating within that channel is less than or equal to –96 dBm for a period of not less than five milliseconds immediately prior to transmission;

(ii) at an erp greater than 100mW, but less than or equal to 500mW, if the signal level at the receiver of the interrogator from other equipment operating within that channel is less than or equal to –90 dBm for a period of not less than five milliseconds immediately prior to transmission; and

(iii) at an erp less than or equal to 100mW, if the signal level at the receiver of the interrogator from other equipment operating within that channel is less than or equal to –83 dBm for a period of not less than five milliseconds immediately prior to transmission;

(c) operates so that the duration of each transmission is no longer than four seconds; and

(d) operates with an interval between each transmission on the same frequency channel of not less than 100 milliseconds.

David Currie

Chairman of the Office of Communications For and by authority of the Office of Communications

16th December 2005