RFID – Shipping Containers

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a rule increasing the maximum field strength and transmission duration for 433 MHz radio frequency identification (RFID) systems used to identify contents of commercial shipping containers in commercial and industrial areas. Improved RFID systems could benefit commercial shippers and have significant homeland security benefits by enabling the contents of containers to be easily and immediately identified and by allowing a determination of whether tampering of the contents has occurred during shipping. Conditions, though, have been placed on use of the new system. The rule comes into effect on June 23. 69 Fed. Reg. 29459 (HK Law).