FCC rules strengthen RFID in freight environment

FCC rules strengthen RFID in freight environment    The U.S. Federal Communications Commission issued new rules increasing the capability of radio frequency identification systems used in ports, rail yards and distribution centers to track shipping containers and their contents. The rules ostensibly were passed to help with homeland security efforts so that authorities can tell whether the container was tampered with during transit, but many companies are also using RFID technology to also help them monitor their goods for improved customer service.
   The FCC increased the maximum signal level permitted for RFID systems operating in a certain band to make it possible for tags affixed to containers to transmit a signal to a nearby reader more reliably and with a greater range than previously allowed.
   The rules also increase the maximum permitted transmission duration for these RFID systems from one second to 60 seconds, resulting in a 60-fold increase in the amount of data that can be transmitted to include scanning the contents of an entire shipping container.
   The extra transmission strength, distance and duration only apply to commercial shipping containers in commercial and industrial areas to minimize the risk of interference.