What is FCC Compliance? FCC compliance refers to conforming to the regulations set forth by the Federal Communications Commission, the United States government agency responsible for regulating communications by wire, radio, and television. These regulations encompass a wide range of products, ensuring they meet technical standards for electromagnetic interference, radio-frequency emissions, and other considerations. Compliance with the relevant FCC regulations is essential to ensure that your products can be legally marketed and sold in the United States.
Focus of This Guide: Non-Licensed Products In this guide, our primary focus will be on non-licensed electrical products (the majority). Non-licensed products refer to devices that do not require users to obtain a specific FCC license for operation. Instead, these products must adhere to FCC regulations to obtain certification, demonstrating their compliance with technical requirements. Whether you’re a manufacturer or a distributor, understanding the FCC compliance journey for non-licensed products is essential for bringing safe and interference-free products to the market.
Throughout this guide, we will delve into the key aspects of FCC compliance for non-licensed electrical products. We’ll cover regulations, certification processes, testing considerations, and provide insights to help you navigate the intricacies of achieving FCC compliance effectively.
I. Understanding Intentional and Unintentional Radiators
In the realm of FCC compliance for electrical products, it’s essential to grasp the distinction between intentional and unintentional radiators. These categories define how devices emit radiofrequency energy and determine the specific regulations that govern them. In this section, we’ll shed light on the key differences between intentional and unintentional radiators, providing a foundation for your understanding of FCC compliance. The distinction between intentional and unintentional radiators significantly affects the regulatory requirements applicable to your electrical products.
Intentional Radiators
Devices that intentionally emit radiofrequency energy for communication purposes fall under the category of intentional radiators. These devices encompass a wide range of wireless technologies, including but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks, and more. Intentional radiators transmit signals intentionally and are designed for wireless communication, data exchange, or similar functions. This requires compliance with specific FCC regulations tailored to those technologies. This includes meeting emission limits, frequency range constraints, and other technical criteria to ensure efficient communication while minimizing interference.
Unintentional Radiators
Contrastingly, unintentional radiators are devices that emit radiofrequency energy incidentally, not as a primary function. These devices, often electronic products not designed for wireless communication, emit radiofrequency energy as a byproduct of their operation. Examples include personal computers, electronic appliances, and certain industrial equipment. Unintentional radiators must adhere to FCC regulations that focus on preventing unintended radiofrequency emissions that could disrupt other electronic devices. These regulations often encompass emission limits and technical standards that safeguard the electromagnetic spectrum’s integrity and the smooth operation of various electronic devices.
II. Two Forms of FCC Compliance
Verification (Declaration of Conformity) also FCC SDoC
Verification is a process through which you, as the manufacturer or responsible party, declare that your product complies with the applicable FCC technical standards. This process is typically used for products that don’t require a formal FCC certification. Products subject to verification include many unintentional radiators and certain low-power intentional radiators.
Key Points about Verification:
– You need to create a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) stating that your product meets the FCC requirements. This document should be signed by a party based in the US, like a local distributor.
– Testing can be done by your company or by a third-party testing laboratory.
– The FCC can request documentation demonstrating compliance, so keeping records of your testing is important.
Certification (Grant of Equipment Authorization) also FCC ID
Certification is a more formal process that involves testing and approval by an FCC-approved testing laboratory. This process is required for products that could potentially cause more interference, particularly intentional radiators operating at higher power levels or within certain frequency bands.
Key Points about Certification:
– Testing must be performed by an FCC-approved laboratory.
– If this is your first time filing for FCC Certification, you will need to apply for a Grantee Number (which is your company code), the cost is 65USD.
– FCC Certification applications requires a local agent, this often is a local distributor or partner.
– The laboratory will submit a Grant of Equipment Authorization application on your behalf to the FCC requesting certification to a FCC Telecommunication Body (TCB) who will review the testing report and documentation.
– Upon approval and acceptance from TCB, the FCC issues a Grant of Equipment Authorization (also known as FCC certification) and you can find your FCC filing on the public FCC directory under your FCC ID.
– The product must be labeled with the FCC ID and compliance statement.
III. Pre-Certified Modules
These modules are pre-tested and certified by the module manufacturer to comply with FCC regulations for specific wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other communication protocols. Products that use pre-certified modules are subject to both FCC Certification and Verification requirements.
The advantage of using Pre-Certified Modules is that when you integrate a Pre-Certified Module into your product, it simplifies the certification process for your overall product. However, it’s important to note that the certification responsibility is shared between the module manufacturer and your company, as the final product integrator.
Module Certification:
– The module manufacturer conducts testing on the module to ensure it meets the FCC technical standards for the specific wireless technology it supports.
– The module manufacturer obtains FCC certification for the module as an intentional radiator.
– The module manufacturer provides you with the relevant documentation, including the FCC ID for the module and a statement that the module complies with FCC regulations.
– It’s important to work closely with the module manufacturer to understand all restrictions and limitations related to the pre-certified module’s certification use.
– An average of 50% is saved on FCC compliance cost when you use a pre-certified module compared to a non-certified module. The starting cost for FCC Verification Testing project starts from 800USD compared 2300USD for FCC Certification when you work with a non-certified module.
Final Product Integration:
– When you integrate the pre-certified module into your product, you become the “responsible party” for the FCC compliance of the final product.
– You must ensure that the integration and operation of the module within your product still comply with the module’s FCC certification.
– As the final product’s design consists of additional PCB and components, you would need to conduct some testing through the Verification form of compliance to ensure compliance with relevant FCC regulations.
IV. Labeling and Other Information Required to Be Provided to Users
Requirements for FCC SDoC Compliance
1. Product Identification
– Identification of the product, e.g., trade name, model, etc.
– A statement that the product complies with the rules/regulations.
– The name and address, and telephone number, or internet contact information of the responsible party’s contact located in the United States.
2. FCC Logo
3. Compliance Document
A compliance information statement that includes these following compliance information must be provided in a form that an end-user can reasonably be expected to have the capability to access, such as the instruction manual, a separate product insert, computer disk, web page, or the device’s own electronic screen. Compliance information may be provided electronically as permitted in Section 2.935.
– Identification of the product, e.g., trade name, model, etc.
– A statement that the product complies with the rules, as applicable
– The name and address, and telephone number, or internet contact information of the responsible party’s (as defined in Section 2.909(b)) contact located in the United States.
Requirements for FCC ID Compliance
1. FCC Identifier (FCC ID)
– Physical FCC ID labels must be located on the surface of the product, or within a user-accessible non- detachable compartment (such as the battery compartment).
-The font size needs to be minimum of 4, consistent with the dimensions of the equipment and its label area.
*EXCEPTION* When the device is so small, or for such use that it is impracticable to label with a font size that is four- points or larger (and the device does not utilize electronic labeling), then the FCC ID shall be placed in the user manual, and the FCC ID shall also be placed either on the device packaging or on a removable label attached to the device
*ELECTRONIC LABELING* Products with a built-in display, or that only operate in conjunction with another product that has an electronic display, have the option to display on the electronic display the FCC Identifier, any warning statements, or other information that the Commission’s rules would otherwise require to be shown on a physical label attached to the device.
*PACKAGING* Devices displaying their FCC ID, warning statements, or other information electronically must also be labeled, either on the device or its packaging, with the FCC ID and other information (such as a model number) that permits the devices to be identified at the time of importation, marketing, and sales as complying with the FCC’s equipment authorization requirements. Any removable label shall be of a type intended to survive normal shipping and handling, and must only be removed by the customer after purchase.
Requirements for use of Pre-Certified Modules
– Your product must bear the appropriate FCC label, which includes your company’s information, FCC mark, the module’s FCC ID, and provide a compliance document.
– If your product is using multiple intentional radiators (modules), each module’s FCC ID should be listed on the label.