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Federal Communications Commission                                DA 12-1121

Before the 

Federal Communications Commission

Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of  
)
File No.:  EB-09-SE-220
)
The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
)
Acct. No.:  201232100033
)
)
FRN:  0004301545

ORDER

Adopted: 

 

July 30, 2012

 Released:  

July 31, 2012

By the Chief, Enforcement Bureau: 
1.
In this Order, we adopt the attached Consent Decree entered into between the 
Enforcement Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) and The 
Chamberlain Group, Inc. (Chamberlain).  The Consent Decree resolves and terminates the Bureau’s 
investigation into Chamberlain’s compliance with Section 302(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended (Act),1 and Sections 2.803, 2.902, 2.1043, and 15.249 of the Commission’s rules (Rules)2
pertaining to the marketing of unlicensed devices that operate in the 902 to 928 MHz band. 
2.
The Bureau and Chamberlain have negotiated the Consent Decree that resolves this 
matter.  A copy of the Consent Decree is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.  
3.
After reviewing the terms of the Consent Decree and evaluating the facts before us, we 
find that the public interest would be served by adopting the Consent Decree and terminating the 
investigation.
4.
In the absence of material new evidence relating to this matter, we conclude that our 
investigation raises no substantial or material questions of fact as to whether Chamberlain possesses the 
basic qualifications, including those related to character, to hold or obtain any Commission license or 
authorization.    
5.
Accordingly, 

IT IS ORDERED 

that, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Act,3 and Sections 
0.111 and 0.311 of the Rules,4 the Consent Decree attached to this Order 

IS ADOPTED

.
 
 
1  47 U.S.C. § 302a(b).
2 47 C.F.R. §§ 2.803, 2.902, 2.1043, 15.249.
3 47 U.S.C. § 154(i).
4 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.111, 0.311.

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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

6.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED 

that the above-captioned investigation 

IS 

TERMINATED

.
7.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED 

that a copy of this Order and Consent Decree shall be 
sent by first class mail and certified mail, return receipt requested, to Eric A. Reeves, Executive Vice 
President and General Counsel, The Chamberlain Group, Inc., 845 Larch Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126, as 
well as to J.G. Harrington, Esq., counsel for The Chamberlain Group, Inc., Dow Lohnes PLLC, 1200 
New Hampshire Ave., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036-2222.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
P. Michele Ellison 
Chief
Enforcement Bureau
2

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Federal Communications Commission                                DA 12-1121

Before the

Federal Communications Commission

Washington, D.C. 20554

)
File No.:  EB-09-SE-220
In the Matter of  
)
)
Acct. No.:  201232100033
The Chamberlain Group, Inc. 
)
)
FRN:  0004301545

CONSENT DECREE  

The Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission and The Chamberlain 
Group, Inc., by their authorized representatives, hereby enter into this Consent Decree for the purpose of 
terminating the Enforcement Bureau’s investigation into possible violations of Section 302(b) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended,1 and Sections 2.803, 2.902, 2.1043, and 15.249 of the 
Commission’s rules2 regarding the marketing of unlicensed radio frequency devices that operate in the 
902 to 928 MHz band, including wireless intercoms and driveway alerts.

I.

DEFINITIONS

1.
For the purposes of this Consent Decree, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) “Act” means the Communications Act of 1934, as amended 47 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.
(b) “Adopting Order” means an order of the Bureau adopting the terms of this Consent 
Decree without change, addition, deletion, or modification.
(c) “Bureau” means the Enforcement Bureau of the Federal Communications 
Commission.
(d) “Chamberlain” means The Chamberlain Group, Inc., its predecessors-in-interest and 
successors-interest.
(e) “Commission” and “FCC” mean the Federal Communications Commission and all of 
its bureaus and offices.
(f) “Communications Laws” means collectively, the Act, the Rules, and the published 
and promulgated orders and decisions of the Commission to which Chamberlain is 
subject by virtue of its business activities, including but not limited to, the Equipment 
Marketing Rules.
(g) “Compliance Plan” means the compliance obligations and compliance program 
described in this Consent Decree at paragraph 10.
 
 
1  47 U.S.C. § 302a(b).
2 47 C.F.R. §§ 2.803, 2.902, 2.1043, 15.249.

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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

(h) “Covered Employees” means all employees and agents of Chamberlain who perform, 
or supervise, oversee, or manage the performance of, duties that relate to 
Chamberlain’s responsibilities under the Equipment Marketing Rules.
(i) “CWP” means Chamberlain Wireless Products Group, Inc., formerly a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Chamberlain.
(j) “Effective Date” means the date on which the Bureau releases the Adopting Order.
(k) “Equipment Marketing Rules” means Section 302(b) of the Act and Sections 2.803, 
2.902, 2.1043, and 15.249 of the Rules and other Commission requirements 
governing the marketing of radio frequency devices within the United States and its 
territories.
(l) “Investigation” means the investigation commenced by the Bureau’s November 9, 
2009 letter of inquiry3 to Chamberlain regarding possible violations of the Equipment 
Marketing Rules.
(m) “Operating Procedures” means the standard, internal operating procedures and 
compliance policies established by Chamberlain to implement the Compliance Plan.
(n) “Parties” mean Chamberlain and the Bureau, each of which is a “Party.”
(o) “Rules” means the Commission’s regulations found in Title 47 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

II.

BACKGROUND

2.
Pursuant to Section 302(b) of the Act4 and Sections 2.803, 2.902, and 2.1043 of the 
Rules,5 radio frequency devices may not be marketed in the United States unless such devices comply 
with the applicable technical standards and administrative requirements relating to equipment labeling 
and consumer disclosure.  Pursuant to Section 15.249 of the Rules,6 unlicensed devices operating in the 
902 to 928 MHz band are required to comply with specified limits on output power.  The radio frequency 
devices marketed by CWP operated within the 902 to 928 MHz band and included wireless portable 
intercoms, wireless indoor/outdoor intercoms, a wireless front doorbell with intercom, and a wireless 
driveway alert (the CWP 900 MHz Product Line).7  
3.
On March 31, 2008, Chamberlain voluntarily disclosed to the Commission that it had 
discovered potential violations of the Equipment Marketing Rules with respect to certain of the CWP 900 
 
 
3 See Letter from Kathryn S. Berthot, Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division, FCC Enforcement Bureau, to Robert 
Keller, Director, Design Engineering, The Chamberlain Group, Inc. (Nov. 9, 2009) (on file in EB-09-SE-220).
4 47 U.S.C. § 302a(b).
5 47 C.F.R. §§ 2.803, 2.902, 2.1043.
6 Id. § 15.249.
7 See Letter from Kevin F. Reed, Counsel for Chamberlain, to Karen Onyeije, Associate Chief, Enforcement Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission (Oct. 26, 2011) (October 26, 2011 Letter) (on file in EB-09-SE-220).
2

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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

MHz Product Line devices.8 Chamberlain supplemented its disclosure of the potential violations on 
August 18, 2009.9 On November 9, 2009, the Bureau issued the letter of inquiry (LOI)10 to Chamberlain, 
directing the company  to submit a sworn written response to a series of questions relating to the CWP 
900 MHz Product Line devices described in the March 31, 2008 Letter and the August 18, 2009 Letter.  
Chamberlain responded to the LOI on December 16, 200911 and updated its LOI Response on October 26, 
201112 and April 25, 2012.13  
4.
Chamberlain reported that it has either redesigned the CWP 900 MHz Product Line 
devices to comply with the Equipment Marketing Rules or discontinued the manufacture and marketing 
of such devices.14 Chamberlain also represented that it augmented its Regulatory Compliance 
Management (RCM) program, which incorporates as an integral part the training of Chamberlain 
employees on compliance with Parts 2 and 15 of the Rules, to include new due diligence protocols 
relating to the acquisition of new product lines that are subject to the Equipment Marketing Rules.15 The 
Bureau and Chamberlain entered into tolling agreements to toll the statute of limitations.16  

III.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

5.

Adopting Order

.  The Parties agree that the provisions of this Consent Decree shall be 
subject to final approval by the Bureau by incorporation of such provisions by reference in the Adopting 
Order.    
6.

Jurisdiction

.  Chamberlain agrees that the Bureau has jurisdiction over it and the matters 
contained in this Consent Decree and that the Bureau has the authority to enter into and adopt this 
Consent Decree.
7.

Effective Date; Violations

.  The Parties agree that this Consent Decree shall become 
effective on the Effective Date as defined herein.  As of the Effective Date, the Adopting Order and this 
Consent Decree shall have the same force and effect as any other order of the Commission.  Any violation 
 
 
8 See Letter from Kevin F. Reed and J.G. Harrington, Counsel for The Chamberlain Group, Inc., to Raymond 
LaForge, Chief, Auditing and Compliance Branch, Laboratory Division, FCC Office of Engineering and 
Technology (Mar. 31, 2008) (March 31, 2008 Letter) (on file in EB-09-SE-220).  Chamberlain acquired CWP 
(formerly International Electronics, Inc.) in 2007 and subsequently renamed the company “Chamberlain Wireless 
Products Group, Inc.”  Id. at 1.
9 See Letter from Kevin F. Reed and J.G. Harrington, Counsel for The Chamberlain Group, Inc. to Raymond 
LaForge, Chief, Auditing and Compliance Branch, Laboratory Division, FCC Office of Engineering and 
Technology, (Aug. 18, 2009) (August 18, 2009 Letter) (on file in EB-09-SE-220).
10 See supra note 3.
11 See Letter from Kevin F. Reed and J.G. Harrington, Counsel for Chamberlain, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission (Dec. 16, 2009) (on file in EB-09-SE-220). 
12 See October 26, 2011 Letter. 
13 See email from J.G. Harrington, Counsel for Chamberlain, to Linda M. Nagel, Attorney Advisor, Spectrum 
Enforcement Division, FCC Enforcement Bureau (Apr. 25, 2012, 14:32 EDT) (on file in EB-09-SE-220).
14 See October 26, 2011 Letter at 2.
15 Id. 
16 See, e.g., Tolling Agreement Extension, EB-09-SE-220, executed by and between John D. Poutasse, Chief, 
Spectrum Enforcement Division, FCC Enforcement Bureau, and Eric A. Reeves, Executive Vice President and 
General Counsel, Chamberlain Group, Inc. (Apr. 30, 2012) (on file in EB-09-SE-220).
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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

of the Adopting Order or of the terms of this Consent Decree shall constitute a separate violation of a 
Commission order, entitling the Commission to exercise any rights and remedies attendant to the 
enforcement of a Commission order.  
8.

Termination of Investigation

.  In express reliance on the covenants and representations 
in this Consent Decree and to avoid further expenditure of public resources, the Bureau agrees to 
terminate the Investigation.  In consideration for the termination of the Investigation, Chamberlain agrees 
to the terms, conditions, and procedures contained herein.  The Bureau further agrees that in the absence 
of new material evidence, the Bureau will not use the facts developed in this Investigation through the 
Effective Date, or the existence of this Consent Decree, to institute on its own motion any new 
proceeding, formal or informal, or take any action on its own motion against Chamberlain concerning the 
matters that were the subject of the Investigation.  The Bureau also agrees that in the absence of new 
material evidence it will not use the facts developed in this Investigation through the Effective Date, or 
the existence of this Consent Decree, to institute on its own motion any proceeding, formal or informal, or 
take any action on its own motion against Chamberlain with respect to Chamberlain’s basic 
qualifications, including its character qualifications, to be a Commission licensee or to hold Commission 
licenses or authorizations. 
9.

Compliance Officer

.  Within thirty (30) calendar days after the Effective Date, 
Chamberlain shall designate a senior corporate manager with the requisite corporate and organizational 
authority to serve as Compliance Officer and to discharge the duties set forth below.  The person 
designated as the Compliance Officer shall be responsible for developing, implementing, and 
administering the Compliance Plan and ensuring that Chamberlain complies with the terms and 
conditions of the Compliance Plan and this Consent Decree.  In addition to the general knowledge of the 
Communications Laws necessary to discharge his/her duties under this Consent Decree, the Compliance 
Officer shall have specific knowledge of the Equipment Marketing Rules prior to assuming his/her duties.
10.

Compliance Plan

.  For purposes of settling the matters set forth herein, Chamberlain 
agrees that it shall within sixty (60) calendar days after the Effective Date, develop and implement a 
Compliance Plan designed to ensure future compliance with the Communications Laws and with the 
terms and conditions of this Consent Decree.  With respect to the Equipment Marketing Rules, 
Chamberlain shall implement the following procedures:
(a) 

Operating Procedures on Equipment Marketing

.  Within sixty (60) calendar days 
after the Effective Date, Chamberlain shall review and augment as necessary its 
recently revised Operating Procedures to help ensure Chamberlain’s compliance with 
the Equipment Marketing Rules.  Chamberlain’s Operating Procedures shall include 
internal procedures and policies that all Covered Employees must follow and which 
are specifically designed to ensure that all radio frequency devices marketed by 
Chamberlain comply with applicable technical standards, have been properly 
authorized (via the certification, verification, or declaration of conformity 
procedures, as applicable), and comply with the applicable administrative 
requirements relating to equipment labeling and consumer disclosure.  Chamberlain’s 
Operating Procedures also shall incorporate its augmented RCM program relating to 
the acquisition of new product lines that are subject to the Equipment Marketing 
Rules.
(b) 

Compliance Manual

.  Within sixty (60) calendar days after the Effective Date, the 
Compliance Officer shall develop and distribute a Compliance Manual to all Covered 
Employees.  The Compliance Manual shall explain the Equipment Marketing Rules 
and set forth the Operating Procedures that Covered Employees shall follow to help 
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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

ensure Chamberlain’s compliance with the Equipment Marketing Rules.  
Chamberlain shall periodically review and revise the Compliance Manual as 
necessary to ensure that the information set forth therein remains current and 
complete.  Chamberlain shall distribute any revisions to the Compliance Manual 
promptly to all Covered Employees.
(c) 

Compliance Training Program

.  Chamberlain shall maintain its RCM employee 
training program on compliance with the Equipment Marketing Rules and 
incorporate training on Chamberlain’s Operating Procedures (Compliance Training 
Program).  As part of the Compliance Training Program, Covered Employees shall 
be advised of Chamberlain’s obligation to report any noncompliance with the 
Equipment Marketing Rules under paragraph 11 of this Consent Decree and shall be 
instructed on how to disclose noncompliance to the Compliance Officer.  All 
Covered Employees shall be trained pursuant to the Compliance Training Program 
within sixty (60) calendar days after the Effective Date, except that any person who 
becomes a Covered Employee at any time after the Effective Date shall be trained 
within thirty (30) calendar days after the date such person becomes a Covered 
Employee.  Chamberlain shall repeat the compliance training on an annual basis, and 
shall periodically review and revise the Compliance Training Program as necessary 
to ensure that it remains current and complete and to enhance its effectiveness.
11.

Reporting Noncompliance

. Chamberlain shall report any noncompliance with the 
Equipment Marketing Rules and with the terms and conditions of this Consent Decree within fifteen (15) 
calendar days after discovery of such noncompliance.  Such reports shall include a detailed explanation of 
(i) each instance of noncompliance; (ii) the steps that Chamberlain has taken or will take to remedy such 
noncompliance; (iii) the schedule on which such remedial actions will be taken; and (iv) the steps that 
Chamberlain has taken or will take to prevent the recurrence of any such noncompliance.  All reports of 
noncompliance shall be submitted to the Chief, Spectrum Enforcement Division, Enforcement Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission, Room 3-C366, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, 
with a copy submitted electronically to Linda Nagel at Linda.Nagel@fcc.gov and to Ricardo Durham at 
Ricardo.Durham@fcc.gov.
12.

Compliance Reports

.  Chamberlain shall file Compliance Reports with the Commission 
ninety (90) calendar days after the Effective Date, twelve (12) months after the Effective Date, and 
twenty-four (24) months after the Effective Date.
(a) Each compliance report shall include a detailed description of Chamberlain’s efforts 
during the relevant period to comply with the terms and conditions of this Consent 
Decree and the Equipment Marketing Rules.  In addition, each Compliance Report 
shall include a certification by the Compliance Officer, as an agent of and on behalf 
of Chamberlain, stating that the Compliance Officer has personal knowledge that 
Chamberlain (i) has established and implemented the Compliance Plan; (ii) has 
utilized the Operating Procedures since the implementation of the Compliance Plan; 
and (iii) is not aware of any instances of noncompliance with the terms and 
conditions of this Consent Decree, including the reporting obligations set forth in 
paragraph 11 hereof.
(b) The Compliance Officer’s certification shall be accompanied by a statement 
explaining the basis for such certification and must comply with Section 1.16 of the 
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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

Rules17 and be subscribed to as true under penalty of perjury in substantially the form 
set forth therein.
(c) If the Compliance Officer cannot provide the requisite certification, the Compliance 
Officer, as an agent of and on behalf of Chamberlain, shall provide the Commission 
with a detailed explanation of the reason(s) why and describe fully (i) each instance 
of noncompliance; (ii) the steps that Chamberlain has taken or will take to remedy 
such noncompliance, including the schedule on which proposed remedial actions will 
be taken; and (iii) the steps that Chamberlain has taken or will take to prevent the 
recurrence of any such noncompliance, including the schedule on which such 
preventive action will be taken.
(d) All Compliance Reports shall be submitted to the Chief, Spectrum Enforcement 
Division, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Room 3-
C366, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, with a copy submitted 
electronically to Linda Nagel at Linda.Nagel@fcc.gov and to Ricardo Durham at 
Ricardo.Durham@fcc.gov.
13.

Termination Date

.  Unless stated otherwise, the obligations set forth in paragraphs 9 
through 12 of this Consent Decree shall expire twenty-four (24) months after the Effective Date.
14.

Voluntary Contribution

. Chamberlain agrees that it will make a voluntary contribution 
to the United States Treasury in the amount of thirty five thousand dollars ($35,000) within thirty (30) 
calendar days after the Effective Date.  Chamberlain shall also send electronic notification of payment to 
Linda Nagel at Linda.Nagel@fcc.gov, Ricardo Durham at Ricardo.Durham@fcc.gov, and Samantha 
Peoples at Sam.Peoples@fcc.gov on the date said payment is made.  The payment must be made by check 
or similar instrument, wire transfer, or credit card, and must include the NAL/Account number and FRN 
referenced above.  Regardless of the form of payment, a completed FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) 
must be submitted.18 When completing the FCC Form 159, enter the Account Number in block number 
23A (call sign/other ID) and enter the letters “FORF” in block number 24A (payment type code).   Below 
are additional instructions you should follow based on the form of payment you select:
Ÿ
Payment by check or money order must be made payable to the order of the Federal 
Communications Commission. Such payments (along with the completed Form 159) must be 
mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-
9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank – Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-
GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101.
Ÿ
Payment by wire transfer must be made to ABA Number 021030004, receiving bank 
TREAS/NYC, and Account Number 27000001. To complete the wire transfer and ensure 
appropriate crediting of the wired funds, a completed Form 159 must be faxed to U.S. Bank 
at (314) 418-4232 on the same business day the wire transfer is initiated.
Ÿ
Payment by credit card must be made by providing the required credit card information on 
FCC Form 159 and signing and dating the Form 159 to authorize the credit card payment.   
The completed Form 159 must then be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O. 
Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank –
Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 
 
 
17 47 C.F.R. § 1.16.
18 An FCC Form 159 and detailed instructions for completing the form may be obtained at 
http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159/159.pdf.
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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

63101.
If you have questions regarding payment procedures, please contact the Financial Operations Group Help 
Desk by phone, 1-877-480-3201, or by e-mail, ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.  
15.

Waivers

. Chamberlain waives any and all rights it may have to seek administrative or 
judicial reconsideration, review, appeal, or stay, or to otherwise challenge or contest the validity of this 
Consent Decree and the Adopting Order, provided the Bureau issues an Adopting Order as defined 
herein.  Chamberlain shall retain the right to challenge Commission interpretation of the Consent Decree 
or any terms contained herein.  If either Party (or the United States on behalf of the Commission) brings a 
judicial action to enforce the terms of the Adopting Order, neither Chamberlain nor the Commission shall 
contest the validity of the Consent Decree or of the Adopting Order, and Chamberlain shall waive any 
statutory right to a trial de novo.  Chamberlain hereby agrees to waive any claims it may have under the 
Equal Access to Justice Act19 relating to the matters addressed in this Consent Decree.
16.

Invalidity

.  In the event that this Consent Decree in its entirety is rendered invalid by any 
court of competent jurisdiction, it shall become null and void and may not be used in any manner in any 
legal proceeding.  
17.

Subsequent Rule or Order

.  The Parties agree that if any provision of the Consent 
Decree conflicts with any subsequent Rule or order adopted by the Commission (except an order 
specifically intended to revise the terms of this Consent Decree to which Chamberlain does not expressly 
consent) that provision will be superseded by such Rule or Commission order.
18.

Successors and Assigns

.  Chamberlain agrees that the provisions of this Consent Decree 
shall be binding on its successors, assigns, and transferees.  
19.

Final Settlement

. The Parties agree and acknowledge that this Consent Decree shall 
constitute a final settlement between the Parties with respect to the Investigation.  The Parties further 
agree that this Consent Decree does not constitute either an adjudication on the merits or a factual or legal 
finding or determination regarding any compliance or noncompliance with the Communications Laws.  
20.

Modifications

.  This Consent Decree cannot be modified without the advance written 
consent of both Parties. 
21.

Paragraph Headings

.  The headings of the paragraphs in this Consent Decree are 
inserted for convenience only and are not intended to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Consent 
Decree.
22.

Authorized Representative

.  The individual signing this Consent Decree on behalf of 
Chamberlain represents and warrants that he/she is authorized by Chamberlain to execute this Consent 
Decree and to bind Chamberlain to the obligations set forth herein.  The FCC signatory represents that she 
is signing this Consent Decree in her official capacity and that she is authorized to execute this Consent 
Decree.
 
 
19 Equal Access to Justice Act, Pub L. No 96-481, 94 Stat. 2325 (1980) (codified at 5 U.S.C. § 504); see also 47 
C.F.R. §§ 1.1501-1.1530.
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Federal Communications Commission                               DA 12-1121

23.

Counterparts

.  This Consent Decree may be signed in any number of counterparts 
(including by facsimile), each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be an original, and all of 
which counterparts together shall constitute one and the same fully executed instrument.
_______________________________
P. Michele Ellison
Chief
Enforcement Bureau 
________________________________
Date
________________________________
Mark Karasek
Executive Vice President
Engineering and Chief Technology Officer
The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
________________________________
Date
8

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