Regulators, users of radiocommunication services and radio equipment, operators and suppliers rely on technical standards as a basis for preventing interference and in many cases ensuring that radio systems perform as designed. Technical standards involve radio standard specification documents, the approval process, as well as testing and certification of radio equipment such as transmitters, receivers and antennas to determine compliance with radio or manufacturer specifications.
From a planning standpoint, the regulator uses technical standards to determine how certain radio equipment will interfere with other equipment in either shared or adjacent frequency assignments. That determination can then be used to develop spectrum use plans. The mutual interaction of radio and electrical products is known as "electromagnetic compatibility" (“EMC”). Balanced standards frameworks try to minimize business compliance costs while providing effective protection of the radio spectrum resource.
There are two categories of radio system interaction which concern the regulator.
Electromagnetic Interference (EMMI) can be viewed as radiocommunications pollution and is sometimes referred to as "radio frequency interference" (RFI). Reducing the level of EMI produced by electrical and electronic products is particularly important where public safety and security services are involved such as aircraft and ship navigation, fire, ambulance and police communications. Under Article 15 of the International Radio Regulations, regulators are required to "take all practicable and necessary steps" to ensure EMI does not cause harmful interference to radiocommunication services.
Radio transmissions can also cause other non-radio electrical and electronic products to malfunction, a phenomenon sometimes known as "immunity" or "electromagnetic susceptibility" (EMS). EMS can also be a safety of life issue, for example, when the use of cell phones interfere with hospital equipment.
This section begins with a discussion of the desired objectives, types of standards and concludes with certification processes and various options available to regulators.