Using an FM transmitter to violate the Radio Law? "ELP Mark" is as important as the Technical Conformity Mark: Radio Usage Environment Symposium

　The "FM Transmitter" is used to listen to music stored on your smartphone on your car's FM radio. It's a convenient product that allows you to enjoy the music you have in your car, but in fact, using such a product may unknowingly violate the Radio Law.

　Equipments and facilities that handle radio waves in Japan can be roughly divided into three types from a legal point of view.

　The first category requires a license, which includes mobile phone base stations and TV/radio broadcasting stations. These infrastructures are assigned frequencies to prevent interference, and it is necessary to apply for a radio station license from the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The second one requires "technical standard conformity certification", so-called "technical conformity". This includes mobile phone terminals, wireless LAN routers, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices. This does not require a license from the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.

　The third is "something that emits weak radio waves", which is the theme of this article. This includes the FM transmitter introduced at the beginning, car keyless remote controls, wireless microphones, security cameras, and door phones. The radio waves are literally weak, and it is said that there is little risk of interference. Specifically, if the electric field strength at a distance of 3m/200m specified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is lower than a certain value, it is considered "weak" and there is no need to obtain a license.

　However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced in 2013-2014 that FM transmitters, wireless cameras, etc. will emit weak radio waves. After purchasing a device and conducting a "trial purchase test" to check the strength of the radio wave, it is said that about 90% of the products emit radio waves that exceed the standard value. In other words, it was not actually a weak radio wave. In particular, there seems to be a tendency that there are many products imported from overseas that do not meet the standard values.

　Emitting such "illegal radio waves" would It interferes with radio and aviation radio, and in the worst case, it may even affect human life. Several such cases have actually occurred. For example, in April 2014, an FM transmitter built into the car navigation system of a general vehicle caused a failure in the radio for firefighting within the jurisdiction of the Hokuriku Telecommunications Bureau.

　If you use a device that emits illegal radio waves, even if you didn't know it, you will be in violation of the Radio Law, and you will be sentenced to one year or less in prison or one million yen. A fine of not more than one yen will be imposed. Furthermore, if illegal radio waves interfere with important wireless communications, imprisonment with work for not more than five years or a fine of not more than 2.5 million yen will be imposed. This is by no means someone else's business.

　The Japan Automobile Goods Manufacturers Association (JAAMA) and the Automobile Goods Retailers Association (APARA) have been set up to improve the situation in which devices that emit illegal radio waves are overflowing. The two organizations established the "weak radio equipment registration system" and started operation on June 1. A designated external institution conducts tests, and products that meet the standards for low power stipulated by the Radio Law are affixed with the ELP mark, allowing consumers to confirm that the product is safe.

　Currently, the ELP mark is technically conforming. Although it does not have the same legal binding force as , the Radio Law revised in May stipulates that importers and distributors are obliged to make efforts not to sell wireless products that do not meet technical standards, and the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Vendors that do not follow the recommendations will be able to be ordered to do so.

On June 10, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced At the "Electronic Wave Usage Environment Symposium" held, Mr. Manabu Kato, Vice Chairman of the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association, explained the details of the low-power radio equipment registration system. Mr. Kato cites the merits of the system as ensuring fairness in conforming to standards, ensuring CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and improving corporate compliance, and eliminating inferior products. APARA member stores will actively sell products with the ELP mark.

　As one of the registered certification bodies certified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Mr. Tsuyoshi Ishiwata, EMC/Wireless Sales Manager, Commercial Group, UL Japan Consumer Technology Division, who actually evaluates the performance of weak wireless equipment, also took the stage and mentioned earlier. He explained in detail the cases that interfered with important radio waves and the results of trial purchase tests conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

　Even after the trial purchase test revealed that the product did not meet the standards of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, he said, "Only some manufacturers apologized or voluntarily recalled the product on their website." There are also manufacturers who are working on it.” He also said that during the performance test, "many products emitted radio waves that were not weak, and there were many products that emitted radio waves strong enough to damage measuring instruments."

　Mobile phones used in Japan must have a ``Technical Conformity Mark''. ――As many ITmedia Mobile readers know, in the future, when purchasing equipment that emits weak radio waves such as FM transmitters and wireless microphones, be sure to check whether they have the “ELP mark”.

Related Keywords

Radio Waves | Car Navigation System | Compliance | Frequency | License Application

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