FCC CERTIFICATION

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Product Certifications for FCC

Manufacturer’s products must be certified by the FCC for EMC compliance. However, if it is for Part 68 (telecom), then it would not need to be certified for EMC compliance unless it also contains an intentional radiator. The FCC gives manufacturers, designers, or responsible parties options by allowing Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) to approve equipment as per Title 47, Part 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

We provide insight into the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and their authorization methods as well as the rules that cover the marketing of devices in the United States. We provide independent FCC testing and certification services that will help get your products to market faster. To request a quotation, please contact us today .

Information presented here is derived from FCC CFR Title 47. Please see the FCC CFR web page for access to the official rules or you may visit Title 47 at www.ecfr.gov.

2.90125 BASIS AND PURPOSE. –

To carry out its responsibilities under the Communications Act and the various treaties and international regulations, and to promote efficient use of the radio spectrum, the Commission has developed technical standards for radio frequency equipment and parts or components thereof. The technical standards can be found in that part of the rules governing the service wherein the equipment is to be operated. In addition to the technical standards provided, the rules governing the service may require that such equipment be authorized under Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity or receive a grant of certification from a Telecommunication Certification Body.

– FCC Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) , Title 47, Part 2, Subpart J –

Authorization Methods:

1

CERTIFICATION

It is an equipment authorization issued by the Commission, based on representations and test data submitted by the applicant – (As defined in CFR, title 47 Part 2.907) –

2

SUPPLIER’S DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is a procedure where the responsible party, as defined in §2.909, makes measurements or completes other procedures found acceptable to the Commission to ensure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. Submitting to the FCC of a sample unit or representative data demonstrating compliance is not required unless specifically requested pursuant to §2.945.

– CFR Title 47 part 2.906 –
See also FCC SDoC Authorization Guide

For intentional radiators:

Intentional radiators operated as carrier current systems, devices operated under the provisions of §§15.211, 15.213, and 15.221, and devices operating below 490 kHz in which all emissions are at least 40 dB below the limits in §15.209 are subject to Suppliers Declaration of Conformity pursuant to the procedures in subpart J of part 2 of this chapter prior to marketing.

Except as otherwise exempted in paragraph (c) of this section and in §15.23, all intentional radiators operating under the provisions of this part shall be certified by the Telecommunication Certification Bodies pursuant to the procedures in subpart J of part 2 of this chapter prior to marketing.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), title 47 Part 15.201(a)&(b)

For unintentional radiators:

Except as otherwise exempted in CFR Title 47 Parts 15.23, 15.103 and 15.113, unintentional radiators shall be authorized prior to the initiation of marketing, as follows:

Type of device Equipment authorization required
TV broadcast receiver SDoC or Certification
FM broadcast receiver SDoC or Certification
CB receiver SDoC or Certification
Super regenerative receiver SDoC or Certification
Scanning receiver Certification
Radar detectors Certification
All other receivers subject to Part 15 SDoC or Certification
TV interface device SDoC or Certification
Cable system terminal device (CSTD) SDoC or Certification
Stand-alone cable input selector switch SDoC or Certification
Class B personal computers and peripherals SDoC or Certification
CPU boards and internal power supplies used with Class B personal computers SDoC or Certification
Class B personal computers assembled usin authorized CPU boards or power suppliesg SDoC or Certification
Class B external switching power supplies SDoC or Certification
Other Class B digital devices and peripherals SDoC or Certification
Class A digital devices, peripherals and external switching power supplies SDoC or Certification
Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) Certification
All other devices SDoC or Certification

Note to table: Where the above table indicates more than one category of authorization for a device, the party responsible for compliance has the option to select the type of authorization.

Marketing Radio Frequency Devices:

Certification

This section contains excerpts from CFR Title 47, Part 2.803. Other exceptions and details can be obtained from the original text at the www.access.gpo.gov web site.

Marketing of radio frequency devices prior to equipment authorization:

(a)

Marketing, as used in this section, includes sale or lease, or offering for sale or lease, including advertising for sale or lease, or importation, shipment, or distribution for the purpose of selling or leasing or offering for sale or lease.

(b)

General rule. No person may market a radio frequency device unless:

  • For devices subject to authorization under certification, the device has been authorized in accordance with the rules in subpart J of this chapter and is properly identified and labeled as required by §2.925 and other relevant sections in this chapter; or

  • For devices subject to authorization under Supplier's Declaration of Conformity in accordance with the rules in subpart J of this part, the device complies with all applicable technical, labeling, identification and administrative requirements; or

  • For devices that do not require a grant of equipment authorization under subpart J of this chapter but must comply with the specified technical standards prior to use, the device complies with all applicable, technical, labeling, identification and administrative requirements.

- CFR Title 47, Part 2.803 paragraphs (a) & (b) -

Definitions:

CABLE SYSTEM TERMINAL DEVICE (CSTD)

A TV interface device that serves, as its primary function, to connect a cable system operated under Part 76 of CFR Title 47 to a TV broadcast receiver or other subscriber premise equipment. A device which functions as a CSTD in any operating modes must comply with the technical requirements for such devices when operating in that mode – (As in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(e).)

A system (or part of), that transmits RF energy by conduction over the electric power lines. It can be designed such that the signals are received by conduction directly from connection to the electric power lines (unintentional radiator) or the signals are received over-the-air due to radiation of the radio frequency signals from the electric power lines (intentional radiators) – (As defined in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), title 47 Part 15.3(f).)

Any receiver that operates in the Personal Radio Service on frequencies allocated for Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service stations as well as any receiver provided with a separate band specifically designed to receive the transmissions of CB stations in the Personal Radio Services. This includes the following (1) a CB receiver sold as a separate unit of equipment (2) the receiver section of a CB transceiver (3) a converter to be used with any receiver for the purpose of receiving CB transmissions and (4) a multi-band receiver that includes a band labeled “CB” or “11-meter” in which such band can be separately selected, except that an Amateur Radio Services receiver that was manufactured prior to January 1, 1960, and which includes an 11-meter band shall not be considered to be a CB receiver – (As in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(g).)

It is an equipment authorization issued by the Commission, based on representations and test data submitted by the applicant – (As in CFR, title 47 Part 2.907)

A digital device that is marketed for use in a commercial, industrial or business environment, exclusive of a device which is marketed for use by the general public or is intended to be used in the home – (As in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(h).)

A digital device that is marketed for use in a residential environment notwithstanding use in commercial, business and industrial environments. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to, personal computers, calculators, and similar electronic devices that are marketed for use by the general public – (As defined in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(i).)

A circuit board that contains a microprocessor, or frequency determining circuitry for the microprocessor, the primary function of which is to execute user-provided programming, but not including

1. A circuit board that contains only a microprocessor intended to operate under the primary control or instruction of a microprocessor external to such a circuit board; or

2. A circuit board that is a dedicated controller for a storage or input/output device

– (As defined in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), title 47 Part 15.3(bb).)

A Declaration of Conformity is a procedure where the responsible party, as defined in Part 2.909, makes measurements or takes other necessary steps to ensure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. (Submiting of a sample unit or representative data to the Commission demonstrating compliance is not required unless specifically requested pursuant to Part 2.1076 – (As defined in CFR, title 47 Part 2.906)

FCC part 15 sets out the regulations under which an intentional, unintentional, or incidental radiator may be operated without an individual license. In addition, it contains the technical specifications, administrative requirements and other conditions relating to the marketing of Part 15 devices.

It is any device that intentionally generates and emits radio frequency energy by radiation or induction – (As in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(o)

An input/output unit of a system that feeds data into and/or receives data from the central processing unit of a digital device. Peripherals to a digital device include any device that is connected external to the digital device, any device internal to the digital device that connects the digital device to an external device by wire or cable, and any circuit board designed for interchangeable mounting, internally or externally, that increases the operating or processing speed of a digital device, e.g., “turbo” cards and “enhancement” boards. Examples of peripheral devices include terminals, printers, external floppy disk drives and other data storage devices, video monitors, keyboards, interface boards, external memory expansion cards, and other input/output devices that may or may not contain digital circuitry. This definition does not include CPU boards, as defined in paragraph (bb) of CFR Title 47 Part 15.3, even though a CPU board may connect to an external keyboard or other components.

– (As in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(r).)

An electronic computer that is marketed for use in the home, notwithstanding business applications. Such computers are considered Class B digital devices. Computers which use a standard TV receiver as a display device or meet all of the following conditions are considered examples of personal computers

1.Marketed through a retail outlet or direct mail order catalog

2.Notices of sale or advertisements are distributed or directed to the general public or hobbyist users rather than restricted to commercial users

3.Operates on a battery or 120 volt electrical supply.If the responsible party can demonstrate that because of price or performance the computer is not suitable for residential or hobbyist use, it may request that the computer be considered to fall outside of the scope of this definition for personal computers – (As defined in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(s).)

It is a receiver designed to signal the presence of radio signals used for determining the speed of motor vehicles. (not the receiver incorporated within a radar transceiver certified under the Commission’s rules.) – (As defined in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), title 47 Part 15.3(ee).)

It is any device, which in its operation is capable of emitting radio frequency energy by radiation, conduction, or other means. It include, but are not limited to

The various radio communication transmitting devices described throughout CFR Title 47

The incidental, unintentional and intentional radiators defined in CFR Title 47, Part 15

The industrial, scientific and medical equipment described in CFR Title 47, Part 18

Any part or component thereof, which in use emits radio frequency energy by radiation, conduction, or other means- (As defined in CFR), title 47 Part 2.801)

Electromagnetic energy at any frequency in the radio spectrum between 9 kHz and 3,000,000 MHz

– (As defined in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), title 47 Part 15.3(u).)

Please see FCC CFR Title 47, Part 2.909 for the complete definition of responsible party – NOTE For equipment subject to Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity the party responsible for the compliance of the equipment must be located in the United States.

– CFR Title 47 part 2.909

This is a receiver that automatically switches among two or more frequencies in the range of 30 to 960 MHz and that is capable of stopping at and receiving a radio signal detected on a frequency. Receivers designed solely for the reception of the broadcast signals under Part 73 of CFR Title 47, for the reception of NOAA broadcast weather band signals, or for operation as part of a licensed service are not included in this definition.

– (As defined in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), title 47 Part 15.3(v).)

It is a procedure where the responsible party, as defined in §2.909, makes measurements or completes other procedures found acceptable to the Commission to ensure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. (Submitting to the Commission of a sample unit or representative data demonstrating compliance is not required unless specifically requested pursuant to §2.945. – CFR Title 47 part 2.906 –

See also FCC SDoC Authorization Guide

The FCC has designated Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) to approve equipment as required under part 2. Certification of equipment by a TCB shall be based on an application with all the information specified in part 2. The TCB shall process the application to determine whether the product meets the Commission’s requirements and shall issue a written grant of equipment authorization. The grant shall identify the TCB and the source of authority for issuing it

– (see CFR Title 47 part 2.960 for more information)

A device designed to receive television pictures that are broadcast simultaneously with sound on the television channels authorized under Part 73 of CFR Title 47

– (As defined in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), title 47 Part 15.3(w).)

It produces (or translates) and feeds the modulated radio frequency energy by conduction to the antenna terminals (or other non-baseband input connections) of a television broadcast receiver. The signal may be derived from an external or internal signal source. It may include a stand-alone RF modulator, or a composite device consisting of an RF modulator, video source and other components devices. Examples of TV interface devices are video cassette recorders and terminal devices attached to a cable system or used with a Master Antenna (including those used for central distribution video devices in apartment or office buildings) – (As defined in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(y).)

It is any device that intentionally generates radio frequency energy for use within the device, or that sends radio frequency signals by conduction to associated equipment via connecting wiring, but which is not intended to emit RF energy by radiation or induction

– (As defined in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(z).)

A procedure where the manufacturer makes measurements or takes the necessary steps to insure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. Submitting a sample unit or representative data to the Commission demonstrating compliance is not required unless specifically requested by the Commission pursuant to Part 2.957 – (As defined in CFR), title 47 Part 2.902)

It is system installed and operated on an electric utility service as an unintentional radiator that sends radio frequency energy on frequencies between 1.705 MHz and 80 MHz over medium voltage lines or over low voltage lines to provide broadband communications and is located on the supply side of the utility service’s points of interconnection with customer premises. (Access BPL does not include power line carrier systems as defined in §15.3(t) or In-House BPL as defined in §15.3(gg)

– (As defined in CFR, title 47 Part 15.3(ff).)