For Immediate Release
Contact: John Bernhards Director of Public Relations Phone: 202/434-8850 E-mail: jbernhards@atis.org	Rali Mileva, TIA Director of Public Relations Phone: 703/907-7721 E-mail: rmileva@tia.eia.org

Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA) Releases Guidelines for Accepting Approved Terminal Equipment Into ACTA Database

July 23, 2001, Washington, D.C. -- The Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA) announced today its has completed and approved guidelines to be used by telecommunications suppliers and manufacturers for filing new, "Part 68 compliant" terminal equipment, and listing such equipment on ACTA's centralized database.

ACTA is the recently-formed industry council for terminal equipment certification requirements and administration following the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) decision to privatize its Part 68 responsibilities in December 2000. The council is responsible for adopting and publishing technical criteria for terminal equipment, and operating and maintaining a database of approved terminal equipment, among other duties. Both the database and the newly-released guidelines are accessible on the ACTA web site at www.part68.org.

Under ACTA's guidelines, suppliers must demonstrate compliance of terminal equipment to both FCC 47 CFR Part 68 and ACTA-adopted technical criteria, utilizing one of two filing procedures. Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) filings are those where suppliers use a third party to conduct compliance testing, inspection, and submit proof of certification to ACTA. The second filing procedure - known as a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) - enables a supplier to conduct compliance testing on its own without use of a third party. A written declaration by the supplier that its terminal equipment meets applicable technical criteria is also required as part of an SDoC filing. As part of its decision to privatize Part 68 activities, the FCC ruled to allow the use of SDoC filings after the establishment of ACTA, in addition to use of TCBs.

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) serve as ACTA's co-sponsors. For more information on ACTA contact the Director of ACTA, Tim Jeffries at ATIS: 202/662-8669 (email: tjeffries@atis.org).

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The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) is a member company organization that is the leader for standards and operating procedures for the telecommunications industry. Nearly 3,000 experts from more than 500 telecommunications companies participate in ATIS committees, whose work focus includes network interconnection standards, number portability, improved data transmission, wireless communications, Internet telephony, toll-free access, and order and billing issues. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) frequently refers operations issues to ATIS committees for recommended solutions. Members of ATIS and committee participants include, but are not limited to, telecommunications service providers, suppliers, software developers, resellers, enhanced service providers, and providers of operations support.

Information on ATIS is available on the World Wide Web at www.atis.org, or by contacting the ATIS headquarters at 202/628-6380, or by writing to: ATIS, 1200 G Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20005.

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TIA is the leading trade association servicing the communications and information technology industry, with proven strengths in market development, trade shows, domestic and international advocacy, standards development and e-commerce. Through its worldwide activities, the association facilitates business development opportunities and a competitive market environment. The association provides a market-focused forum for its more than 1,100 member companies that manufacture or supply the products and services used in global communications. TIA represents the communications sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). Visit them at www.tiaonline.org.

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