FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media contact: November 5, 1999 Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500 INTER-AMERICAN MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENT FOR CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT COMPLETED Washington, DC – Another barrier to international trade in telecommunications equipment fell as the Inter-American Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for conformity assessment of telecommunication equipment was signed during the October 25-29, 1999, meeting of the OAS/Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. William E. Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), noted that “The adoption of this agreement is an important step forward in our efforts to ensure that the benefits of the information revolution are as widely available as possible. In addition, by minimizing delays in securing regulatory approvals for telecom equipment, significant benefits will accrue to both U.S. manufacturers and consumers.” The CITEL MRA is intended to streamline the Conformity Assessment Procedures for a wide range of telecommunications equipment and thereby facilitate trade among the participating Parties. It provides for the mutual recognition of conformity assessment bodies and acceptance of the results of testing and certification procedures in assessing conformity of equipment to mandatory technical regulations. Telecommunications equipment is a $100 billion market, with the United States accounting for $74 billion and other nations of the hemisphere accounting for $24 billion in 1998. United States exports of telecommunications equipment to other Western Hemisphere nations totaled $8 billion. The MRA creates a two-phased mechanism for the mutual recognition of testing results (“Phase I”) and equipment certifications (“Phase II”) and obligates parties participating in either or both phases to accept conformity assessments on a transparent and non-discriminatory basis. The MRA permits the parties to the agreement to decide independently at which point and to what extent they intend to acquire the rights and obligations contained in the MRA. The Inter-American MRA is similar to MRAs adopted within the last year by the United States and the European Union and by the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Implementation of each of these MRAs will simplify the widely varying conformity assessment procedures worldwide. The MRAs will ultimately accelerate the approval of telecom equipment and reduce costs to manufacturers and consumers. The Commission recently amended its rules to facilitate the implementation of MRAs. See the Report and Order in GEN Docket No. 98-68 adopted by the Commission on December 17, 1998. Under the new rules the Commission will designate Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) in the United States that will be empowered to certify equipment. TCBs can be designated outside the United States under the terms and conditions of MRAs. Any questions regarding the Inter-American MRA may be directed to Art Wall at (202) 418-2442 (or e-mail awall@fcc.gov). - FCC - News media Information 202 / 418-0500 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).