WMTS Initiation Date ApproachingWMTS Initiation Date Approaching

Originally Published MDDI April 2002

NEWS & ANALYSIS

As a result of an FCC ruling issued in June of 2000, all wireless medical telemetry equipment authorized by the agency after October 16, 2002, will be required to operate on the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) bands. Medical equipment authorized after this date will not be permitted to use the Part 15 and Part 90 bands that are currently being shared by wireless medical devices and television broadcasts. FCC issued the WMTS mandate to ensure that wireless medical telemetry devices are able to operate free of harmful interference.

Existing wireless medical telemetry devices and those authorized between now and the mid-October date will still be allowed to operate in frequency bands outside the WMTS; manufacturers are free to make replacement parts for systems operating in the old bands, and hospitals are permitted to operate their existing systems as long as possible.

The frequency ranges for the WMTS are 608–614, 1395–1400, and 1429–1432 MHz.

Copyright ©2002 Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry