2000 Biennial Regulatory Review of Adopting Technical Criteria and Approving Terminal Equipment

This document privatizes the process by which technical criteria are established for customer premises equipment (CPE or terminal equipment) that may be sold for connection to the public switched telephone network, and for the approval of such equipment to demonstrate compliance with the relevant technical criteria. Streamlining these procedures will reduce unnecessary costs and delays associated with bringing terminal equipment to the consumer without measurably increasing the possibility of harm to the public switched telephone network. Privatizing the terminal equipment approval process will significantly reduce the Commission's regulatory burden and allow it to focus on enforcement of the industry-established technical criteria for terminal equipment. The Commission will maintain its role as the forum of last resort for disputes regarding terminal equipment standards and approval procedures.