FCC Rules Against Behringer
(Port Washington, NY - June 14, 2007) The Federal Communications Commission has imposed a $1 million fine against Behringer, concluding it marketed 50 models of unauthorized radio frequency equipment, specifically digital audio music devices, in willful and repeated violation of Section 302 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 2.803 of the commissions rules.
The FCC stated on its Web site that Behringer acknowledges it failed to comply with applicable rules governing testing, labeling, and the filing of Form 740 for certain of its products.
Form 740 states that imported devices are subject to mandatory custom declaration filing requirements.
Behringer responded to the ruling by saying it pertains to products that were shipped between 2000 and 2005 and were not known to pose safety or RF emissions hazards at the time.
For those products that had passed stringent European standards, we believed that they also complied with FCC verification requirements. Later we realized that our assumptions were too broad regarding the differences and similarities in testing standards and procedures under FCC and European requirements, said Behringers Global Communications Director Ron Koliha.
Behringer CEO Michael Deeb assured that, Testing and labeling oversights like the ones that happened prior to 2005 are behind us now.
Koliha added that the company Stopped shipping these products to the U.S. and other markets immediately after the February 2006 notice until we could have third-party laboratories re-verify our compliance as a precaution. However, he said, we erred on technical requirements involving proper labeling and we were inconsistent in our filing of certain forms, all of which led to FCCs forfeiture order.
One point of contention for Behringer, however, is the FCCs allegations that the company took too long to comply with its notifications. Behringers top management took that as a serious wake-up call and set about to prevent mistakes like this from happening again, said Kohila. Thats one reason why all currently available models shipped to U.S. dealers after our response to the complaint in early 2006 fully comply with FCC regulations and are properly identified as such.
(Port Washington, NY - June 14, 2007) The Federal Communications Commission has imposed a $1 million fine against Behringer, concluding it marketed 50 models of unauthorized radio frequency equipment, specifically digital audio music devices, in willful and repeated violation of Section 302 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 2.803 of the commissions rules.
The FCC stated on its Web site that Behringer acknowledges it failed to comply with applicable rules governing testing, labeling, and the filing of Form 740 for certain of its products.
Form 740 states that imported devices are subject to mandatory custom declaration filing requirements.
Behringer responded to the ruling by saying it pertains to products that were shipped between 2000 and 2005 and were not known to pose safety or RF emissions hazards at the time.
For those products that had passed stringent European standards, we believed that they also complied with FCC verification requirements. Later we realized that our assumptions were too broad regarding the differences and similarities in testing standards and procedures under FCC and European requirements, said Behringers Global Communications Director Ron Koliha.
Behringer CEO Michael Deeb assured that, Testing and labeling oversights like the ones that happened prior to 2005 are behind us now.
Koliha added that the company Stopped shipping these products to the U.S. and other markets immediately after the February 2006 notice until we could have third-party laboratories re-verify our compliance as a precaution. However, he said, we erred on technical requirements involving proper labeling and we were inconsistent in our filing of certain forms, all of which led to FCCs forfeiture order.
One point of contention for Behringer, however, is the FCCs allegations that the company took too long to comply with its notifications. Behringers top management took that as a serious wake-up call and set about to prevent mistakes like this from happening again, said Kohila. Thats one reason why all currently available models shipped to U.S. dealers after our response to the complaint in early 2006 fully comply with FCC regulations and are properly identified as such.
