FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
       1919 M STREET N.W.
       WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554
              News media information 202/632-5050.
       Recorded listing of releases and texts
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       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. Cir. 1975)
       
                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                    May 
       4,  1994
       
                            INTERFERENCE FREE TELEPHONES
            
       The FCC receives 25,000 complaints per year from individuals who are unable
       to use their telephones because nearby radio stations interfere with the proper
       operation of the telephones. Whenever the radio stations are on the air, the
       telephones pick up the radio transmissions which then override any ongoing
       telephone conversation.
       
       The FCC's Field Operations Bureau (FOB) has conducted a study to obtain
       information about telephone interference from radio stations.  We are now
       releasing the findings of that study.
       
       The principal findings of the study are that although most residential telephones
       are susceptible to receiving interference, manufacturers can design telephones
       to be interference free.  During this study the FCC tested two models which the
       manufacturers claimed were immune from interference, and in virtually all cases
       they eliminated the interference.  The telephones were the Western
       Electric/ATT Desk Model available from Pro Distributors of Lubbock, Texas; and
       the TPXL-D Desk Model available from TCE Laboratories, Inc. of Canyon Lake,
       Texas.
       
       The study also finds that filters cannot be relied upon to eliminate telephone
       interference.  In two out of three cases in which they were tried during the
       study, they did not work.
       
       To obtain information for the study, 35 FCC offices across the country each 
       investigated three recent complaints of telephone interference.  At the
       transmitting station the offices determined the type of station and the power
       used by the station. At the complainant's location the offices catalogued which
       telephones received interference and which did not. The FCC offices then
       connected commercially available filters  to determine if these filters would
       eliminate the interference.  Finally, the offices tested  the telephones claimed to
       be "interference free". 
       
                                       (over)
       
       The study found that most residential telephones are susceptible to interference
       from nearby transmitting stations. Of 241 telephones tested, 68% received
       interference.
       
       The transmitting stations most likely to be involved in interference complaints
       are citizens band, broadcast, and amateurs. Citizens band stations accounted
       for half the interference, and broadcast and amateur stations accounted for the
       other half.
       
       Station power was not a significant factor. One third of the stations used
       powers less than ten watts.
       
       The Field Operations Bureau believes that the 25,000  telephone interference
       complaints it receives yearly represents only a fraction of the actual instances in
       which this interference occurs. It also recognizes that manufacturers can design
       interference-free telephones. FOB hopes that this study will serve as a catalyst
       for the affected parties to productively address and resolve this problem.
       
       For further information contact Roy Kolly at (202) 632-7090.