The tariff classification of a Nutator System from Taiwan

N130417 December 1, 2010 CLA-2-85:OT:RR:NC:N1:109 CATEGORY: Classification TARIFF NO.: 8517.70.0000 Ms. Joyce A. Ford Import Export Specialist Associated Universities Inc., dba NRAO 520 Edgemont Road Charlottesville, VA 22903 RE: The tariff classification of a Nutator System from Taiwan Dear Ms Ford: In your letter dated November 1, 2010 you requested a tariff classification ruling. The merchandise subject to this ruling is a Nutator System. The Nutator System is used in radio wave receive-only antennas used to study the sky for astronomy. The antennas will explore the universe via millimeter and submillimeter wavelength light. The Nutator System is an opto-mechanical system whose function is to precisely offset the orientation of the antenna’s primary beam by tilting the subreflector and thus redirecting the focus of the antenna to another point in the sky. The term Nutator System collectively refers to all the components which comprise the overall system. The major subassemblies are a nutating mechanism, a subreflector, drive amplifiers, control electronics, and inter-connecting cables. At millimeter and submillimeter radio frequency wavelengths, sensitivity and resolution are limited by fluctuations in the atmospheric brightness and propagation delay. The Nutator System provides the capability to rapidly switch the optical axis of an antenna’s primary beam between an observation source and nearby reference positions. If the switching is sufficiently rapid, the atmospheric brightness is the same for both the target and reference sources so the differential signal measures the flux for the source being observed. The applicable subheading for the Nutator System will be 8517.70.0000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which provides for “Other apparatus for transmission and reception of voice, images or other data, including apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network (such as a local or wide area network), other than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528; parts thereof: Parts.” The rate of duty will be free. Duty rates are provided for your convenience and are subject to change. The text of the most recent HTSUS and the accompanying duty rates are provided on World Wide Web at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/. This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177). A copy of the ruling or the control number indicated above should be provided with the entry documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If you have any questions regarding the ruling, contact National Import Specialist Linda M. Hackett at (646) 733-3015. Sincerely, Robert B. Swierupski Director National Commodity Specialist Division