*Question E1F11:
[97.317] Which of the following best describes one of the standards that must be met by an external RF power amplifier if it is to qualify for a grant of FCC certification?*  

*Correct Answer is  D: It must satisfy the FCC’s spurious emission standards when operated at the lesser of 1500 watts or its full output power*  

### AI Response: (may contain errors)  

To understand why the correct answer is correct, let's break down the requirements for an external RF power amplifier to qualify for a grant of FCC certification:

### Correct Answer: D
- **Explanation**: The FCC requires that external RF power amplifiers meet specific spurious emission standards. This means that when the amplifier is operating, it should not produce unwanted signals (spurious emissions) that could interfere with other communications. The standard applies when the amplifier is operated at the lesser of 1500 watts or its full output power. This ensures that the amplifier is compliant with regulations designed to minimize interference.

### Why Other Choices Are Incorrect:

- **Choice A**: "It must produce full legal output when driven by not more than 5 watts of mean RF input power"
  - **Explanation**: This choice is incorrect because the FCC does not specify a requirement for the input power needed to achieve full legal output. The focus is on spurious emissions, not the input power level.

- **Choice B**: "It must have received an Underwriters Laboratory certification for electrical safety as well as having met IEEE standard 14.101(B)"
  - **Explanation**: While safety certifications like those from Underwriters Laboratory are important, they are not part of the FCC's certification requirements for RF power amplifiers. The FCC focuses on emissions and interference, not electrical safety standards.

- **Choice C**: "It must exhibit a gain of less than 23 dB when driven by 10 watts or less"
  - **Explanation**: The FCC does not set a specific gain limit for RF power amplifiers in terms of dB. The concern is with spurious emissions, not the gain of the amplifier.

### Useful Rule of Thumb:
- **Spurious Emissions**: These are unwanted signals emitted by a transmitter outside its assigned frequency band. The FCC sets limits on these emissions to prevent interference with other communications.

In summary, the key requirement for FCC certification of an RF power amplifier is compliance with spurious emission standards, ensuring that the device does not interfere with other radio services.