The FCC's Mission
The Federal Communications Commission regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. An independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress, the Commission is the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing America’s communications law and regulations.
FCC Certification Services
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates the airwaves, under the order that created the Commission in 1934. The purpose of the FCC is to assure that communications systems can be operated without interference. Certification is required for most transmitters that are used in the United States and its territories. The FCC’s Rules are found under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47.
Shanghai GOM can help navigate the FCC certification requirements and the FCC process.
The FCC maintains a Knowledge Data Base system that is used to provide guidance and interpretation for compliance with the Rules. This system is a large trove of information. It is also used to communicate with the FCC staff about technical inquiries and requests for information.
TCBs are allowed to certify all manner of radio transmitters. Some equipment, notably Master Devices utilizing Dynamic Frequency Selection, must first be allowed under the FCC's "Permit But Ask" or PBA process. This is a process that requires a TCB to first request permission to grant Certification. If your device falls under this provision, it is first necessary for us to send a request under the KDB system.
About Radiation Hazards and Human Health: Certain devices must comply with Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) or Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing. These requirements are used to protect users from hazards of radiation energy from intentional emitters. The levels that must be met depend on the frequency and output power of the device. It is important, too, to understand the use of the radio emitter and the modes of operation. Today's devices include multiple transmitters, often requiring additional testing to measure simultaneously-transmitted power across multiple frequency bands.
Applicable Product of FCC
1. Personal computers and their peripherals
2. Household electrical equipment, power tools
3. Audio Video Products
4. Lamps and lanterns
5. Wireless Products
6. Toy products
7. Security Products
8. Industrial machinery
Type of Approvals
Type of Equipment | Standard |
Information Technology Equipment l Personal computers l Printers l Fax machines l Electronic games | FCC Part 15 UL1950 |
Telecommunications Equipment | FCC Part 15 FCC Part 68 UL 1950 |
Home Appliances | UL(many standards) |
Medical Equipment | FCC Part 15 UL 2601 |
Lights | UL |
Industrial Equipment | UL |
Radio Transmitters Remote control devices | FCC Part 15 |
Radio-controls for games(airplanes) | FCC Part 95 |
Calculators and Watches | NONE |
Battery powered electronics | Maybe FCC Part 15 |
Approval procedure
CERTIFICATION (47 CFR Section 2.907)
Certification is the most rigorous approval process for RF Devices with the greatest potential to cause harmful interference to radio services. It is an equipment authorization issued by an FCC-recognized Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) based on an evaluation of the supporting documentation and test data submitted by the responsible party (e.g., the manufacturer or importer) to the TCB. Testing is performed by an FCC-recognized accredited testing laboratory. Information including the technical parameters and descriptive information for all certified equipment is posted on a Commission-maintained public database. In addition, equipment subject to approval using the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) procedure can optionally use the Certification procedure.
SUPPLIER’S DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY (47 CFR Section 2.906)
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is a procedure that requires the party responsible for compliance ensure that the equipment complies with the appropriate technical standards. The responsible party, who must be located in the United States, is not required to file an equipment authorization application with the Commission or a TCB. Equipment authorized under the SDoC procedure is not listed in a Commission database. However, the responsible party or any other party marketing the equipment must provide a test report and other information demonstrating compliance with the rules upon request by the Commission. The responsible party has the option to use the certification procedure in place of the SDoC procedure.
ONE OR BOTH PROCEDURES
The procedure that is applicable for equipment authorization, depends on the applicable FCC rule part(s) that apply to the radio frequency functions. Except when otherwise stated in a rule, an intentional radiator (transmitter) is required to be approved using the certification procedure. Unintentional radiators (digital circuitry) are approved using the SDoC procedure. Today for example, devices such as mobile phones; wireless local area networking equipment, notebook computers, and tablet computers are a combination of radio transmitters requiring approval using the certification procedure and unintentional digital circuity requiring use of the SDoC procedure.
Equipment that consists of only a radio transmitter (not a transceiver) – such as remote control transmitters; land mobile radio transmitters and wireless medical telemetry transmitters – are required to be approved using the certification procedure.
Equipment that only contains digital circuitry (does not contain a radio transmitter) – such as computer peripherals, microwave ovens consumer ISM equipment, switching power supplies, LED light bulbs, radio receivers and TV interface devices – are subject to approval using the SDoC procedure or may optionally use the certification procedure.
TRANSITION PERIOD
Radio frequency devices that would have been considered eligible for authorization under either the verification or Declaration of Conformity procedures that were in effect prior to November 2, 2017 may continue to be authorized until November 2, 2018 under the appropriate procedure in accordance with the requirements that were in effect immediately prior to November 2, 2017. For a copy of the 2016 rules that specified the verification and Declaration of Conformity procedures see: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/cfr/2016/title47/chapterI
FCC ID
Products subject to certification are required to be uniquely identified by an identifier known as FCC ID. The FCC ID consist of two parts: (1) grantee code; and (2) product code.
The grantee code, as specified in Section 2.926, is a three or five character alphanumeric string representing the Grantee / Applicant for certified products.
* Grantee Codes that begin with an alpha character (A-Z) consist of three characters.
* Grantee Codes that begin with a number (2-9) consist of five characters.
* The grantee code does not contain the numbers “one” and/or “zero”. The grantee code is assigned by the Commission permanently to a company for use in the identification of radio frequency equipment authorized under the certification procedure.
The product codes are uniquely established by the Grantee to identify each product approved by a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB). The product code can be up to 14 alpha numeric characters. Hyphens (–) separated by an alpha numeric character are permitted; consecutive hyphens (-) are not permitted.
FCC certification required documents
Application form
Letters of Agency
Test Report
Schematics
Block Diagram
Attestation Forms
User Manual
Warning Statements (depends on the type of device)
SAR Report (if required)
These documents and support information can be easily uploaded to our website (securely).
Shanghai GOM can help guide you through the FCC certification process. We have experience with new certifications as well as permissive change applications.
Contact us: 021-34122669, info@cegaomeng.com