With 332 millions of buyers and a consumption of electronic equipment, Electric and radio in almost constant growth, the US market is profiled as one of the most profitable and safe for manufacturers in the sector.
Products placed on the US market must meet the Technical requirements established by local regulations.
Regulations and compliance requirements can be presented as a Challenging context for companies wishing to enter the US market.
The most effective strategy is to collaborate with a competent laboratory such as Sicom Testing, which offers a complete service of Certifications FCC and ISED, relating to certification and regulatory bodies of which follows an overview.
FCC: standards for electronic and telecommunication equipment
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) It is the competent body that sets the rules and technical standards regarding the various types of electronic equipment, including radio frequency devices, Telecommunications terminals and industrial equipment, scientific and medical.
All the specific regulations, which refer to these and other devices, are contained in the different parts that make up the Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations US (Code of Federal Regulations).
Radio frequency equipment is regulated in Part 15 of the Code. This part specifies the limit amount of electromagnetic interference emitted by equipment containing a digital circuit and operating at a frequency greater than 9kHz and divided into:
- intentional radiators (intentional emitters), devices that intentionally generate and emit radiofrequency energy by radiation or induction;
- unintentional radiators (unintentional emitters), devices that intentionally generate radio frequency energy for use within the device or that send radio frequency signals by conduction to associated equipment via link wiring, but which are not intended to emit radiofrequency by radiation or induction;
- incidental radiators (Accidental emitters), devices that generate radio frequency energy during their operation although not intentionally designed to generate or emit radio frequency energy. Examples of accidental emitters are DC motors, mechanical light switches, etc.
Depending on the type of equipment changes the type of authorisation procedure to be able to market the product on the U.S. market.
How to get permission FCC?
Regulation FCC provides two different Authorisation procedures: the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity it is to Certification.
La Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity is the procedure whereby the product manager follows the necessary steps to ensure that the equipment complies with the applicable technical standards. In this case, It is not necessary to send the documentation to theFCC or register the equipment in the Commission's database.
The equipment authorized by the procedure SdoC must be subjected to technical testing in a test laboratory.
Once passed the tests, The documentation must be collected in a technical file which must be made available to the authorities FCC if requested.
Some examples of equipment that fall under this procedure are:
• Television receivers
• FM transmission receivers
• CB receivers
• TV interface devices
• Personal computers and class B peripherals
• External Class B switching power supplies
• Other Class B digital devices and peripherals
• Class A digital devices, External Switching Peripherals and Power Supplies
La procedura di Certification is the most stringent because it concerns transmitting equipment with the highest probability of interference with radio services.
This procedure requires that the company responsible for the product obtains from FCC an identifier called Grantee Code. this identifier is requested only once and will be the first characters of all codes FCC ID that will be assigned to the different products of that company.
In addition, the Appointment of a FCC US Agent, responsible for representing the manufacturer or importer in all interactions with the FCC regarding the certification and authorisation of their equipment. The staff member must have U.S. based and be authorized to receive legal notices and other official documents on behalf of the manufacturer or importer.
It's’ the equipment must be subjected to applicable testing at an accredited laboratory FCC. All technical documentation and test reports must then be sent to a certifying body for telecommunications, Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB).
The TCB bodies are allowed to verify that the product meets the requirements to receive approval.
After the body has validated the conformity of the product, The administrative procedures necessary for theCertification approval and the identification code will be assigned FCC ID which must appear on the product label.
All documentation will then be uploaded to the database FCC.
Some examples of equipment that fall under this procedure are:
• Bluetooth devices
• WiFi devices
•Remote controls
• RFID devices
Sicom Testing offers its customers a Full service of marking FCC for all the above cases, Included the registration of the company to FCC (Grantee Code) it is to Function of responsible representative agent. Similar services are also offered for Canada in accordance with specific regulations.
To request more information on this topic, write to info@sicomtesting.com
or call +39 0481 778931.
Related Articles
Good morning, I ask you if once I get the FCC certificate it expires and I have to pay again to extend it?
Thank you
Good morning
FCC certification does not expire.
However, it is appropriate that, in case of product changes or regulatory updates, an appropriate verification is made and, if necessary, the certification is reissued, in order to guarantee the conformity of the product over time.
Kind regards
Sicom Test
Good morning
If I wanted to introduce on the US market an apparatus comparable to a loudspeaker ( specifically it would be an exciter ) what procedures do I have to follow?
Good morning,
To market a product of this type, it is necessary to demonstrate its compliance with the FCC regulations, it must be subjected to electromagnetic emission tests such as “Unintentional Radiator”.
Kind regards
Sicom Test
Howdy,
I have a question to ask you,
an FCC approved apparatus is “automatically” legally usable in Italy / Europe ?
in particular I refer to a device that transmits Audio Video stream with low latency in whose specifications it is indicated “FCC approved frequencies (5190/5230/5790/5830)”
Thank you
Good morning,
The FCC procedure is valid for placing the product in the US market but is not valid for the European market; to place the product on the market of the European Union it is necessary to demonstrate its compliance with the European directives under which it falls.
In this specific case, the “FCC approved frequencies (5190/5230/5790/5830)”, do not ensure the correct use of radio spectrum in Europe, therefore the use of the product can create interference with other devices that use the same frequencies.
Kind regards.
Sicom Test
Howdy, i am from mexico and my question is: who must certify the product, the manufacturer or supplier? because they are both in Mexico.
Good morning,
Who is in charge of the certification, according to FCC regulations, he is the one who places the product on the market.
If the Suppliers declaration of conformity procedure is applied to the product (Sdoc) Non-US based companies must identify a responsible party resident in the US; if the Certification procedure is applied to the product, the manufacturer must contact a Telecommunication Certified Body(TCB) to whom you will have to provide the documentation required to obtain an FCC-ID number necessary to market the product in the United States.
Kind regards
Sicom Test
Good morning
How often should FCC product tests be repeated?
Good morning,
FCC tests must be repeated every time a product is modified, before the modified product is placed on the market.
Kind regards
Sicom Test
How a refurbished telecom product is certified, used or repaired in the United States?
Good morning.
Any telecommunications product intended to be marketed in the United States must be FCC certified.
If an already FCC certified product is modified, laboratory measurements may be required, update the documentation and update or redo the FCC certification.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Can I affix the FCC mark required to be certified? Alternatively, I can affix the FCC symbol and in the meantime request certification? The product is a portable charger – power bank, meets EU compliance requirements.
Good morning,
Marketing of the product and marking with the FCC mark can only take place after demonstrating the conformity of the product with US regulations.
Kind regards
Sicom test
Good evening,
for a telecommunications product, which falls within the 47CFR regulatory framework, electrical safety tests similar to those required by EN62368-1 are envisaged?
If so, what are the regulatory references for the USA?
Thank you
Good morning.
It Title 47 of the CFR deals only with the aspects of electromagnetic compatibility, while there is no defined regulatory framework for the safety of this type of product, as safety compliance is verified on a voluntary basis.
Generally the international standards IEC (for example IEC 62368-1) are accepted in the United States, other times the UL mark is required. This depends on the agreements made between the manufacturer and the importer in the United States.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Good day,
If a product is certified to comply with the FCC, must be re-certified annually? or how long the certification lasts?
Good morning,
FCC certification does not expire. However if an FCC certified product undergoes changes, these must be technically evaluated and the product must be tested again, complete or partial, and certified.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Good afternoon, my name is Ing. Ernesto Tamez Escamilla, telecommunications expert in Mexico and certified in radio and television in E.E.CC. I want to certify on the FCC FM radio transmitter equipment in the band from 88 a 108 Mhz, which would be modulated frequency.
What would be the procedure Thanks.
Good morning,
for this request you can contact us at the following link https://www.sicomtesting.com/es/richiesta-di-preventivo/ and we will reply quickly.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Good morning,
If all components (especially the radio modules) used within an industrial panel are FCC certified, the panel must be certified again with FCC part B under unintentional radiation?
Good morning, thank you for writing us.
In order to be marketed, the industrial panel must be certified according to FCC part 15B (or part 15C if it uses more than one radio module inside it) even if all the components are already certified.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Good morning, FCC compliance is mandatory to market a product in the United States?
Good morning Marco, thank you for writing us. To market a product in the United States, FCC compliance is mandatory for electronic equipment that uses frequencies above 9 Khz.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Howdy,
I would be interested to know when ê necessary to carry out certification of a product again.
During production, you may need to replace certain components for various reasons, such EOL or PRODUCt optimization. What are the conditions that guarantee the suitability of the product and the non-necessity of execution of new tests?
Thank you
Good morning
The manufacturer (and alternatively his agent or importer in the cases provided) is responsible for compliance of all replacement products put on the market. It's’ normal that in the life of a product some components may be replaced. For every change you have to assess whether this may have implications on regulatory requirements.
The change of a passive component with one having the same characteristics of a different provider is normally considered a safe modification if this does not happen in a particularly delicate circuits.
The change of a critical component for safety, such as a fuse or an arrester normally require a partial retesting.
When it comes to components at the end of their lives (EOL), It can think of components that perform complex functions and for which takes place an evolution as to impose a succession of models or versions. They are for example components with radio functions, or processors or memories. When these components are changed it is appropriate to a partial retesting.
The changes of layout of printed circuits always require the repetition of the electromagnetic compatibility tests.
This needs a competent person to assess the possible impact of any changes.
For the determination of the test group to be repeated there can be entrusted to a test laboratory.
Sincerely
Staff Sicom Testing
One of our customers uses drones bought online, with FCC marking and bearing plate, for example, the abbreviation CE890 or CE1313, but they have no manual in Italian, CE marking classical, EC declaration of conformity and do not report data on the risks for users, etc. They are considerable outlawed in Italy? They can be used by workers without encountering security-related sanctions on the job?
The CE marking with notified body number suggests the earlier directive R&TTE outdated.
The absence of the declaration of conformity and the manual is in Italian irregularities.
The product, Based on this information, It is outlawed in Italy and Europe.
As for job security, this type of product must be properly certified for the European market, so also Italian.
In addition to this, if the product presents a risk, these must be considered in the company document the risk assessment.
Good morning,
if I make tests and pitch them to the FCC, It can also automatically mark CE?
Good morning Paul,
having passed the FCC tests, It does not allow to apply the CE mark, nor to place the product on the European market. These are two different procedures that provide for the execution of several tests, although in some cases some evidence may be the same or very similar.
In addition to carrying out tests on a representative sample of the product, we must ensure that all parts produced conform to that standard. We must properly store the documents available to the market control authorities. There are rules and fees for the disposal of electronic waste. We must ensure that consumers are respected diitti. Some products have to be registered before being placed on the market.
All of these procedures exist and their variants in both Europe and the United States, but they must be followed according to local rules and at the local offices of competence.
Kind regards
Staff Sicom
Good morning,
we connected a 3G key to one of our products. We would need to receive information concerning the validity of the radio key certification. It is still valid after being installed in a programmable device? Or should again be certified RED, FCC and IC?
Thank you
Good morning,
thanks for contacting us.
In the case of a device containing a radio product already certified, we have the following scenario:
– by FCC and Canada are reported on the exterior of the certificate data radio product inside
– in the case of CE marking, repeat all the radio test
For more information, write us info@sicomtesting.com
Kind regards
Staff Sicom
Good morning,
in general, regarding EMC, The FCC is less restrictive of the CE marking?
And it is possible that a product has passed testing for CE marking fails FCC testing?
Good morning,
thanks for contacting us.
Although FCC and CE related to electromagnetic compatibility are different, there is not one of the other more stringent.
A product tested and found suitable for the EC Party, still it has to be subjected to the tests prescribed for FCC because the tests may differ.
Kind regards
Staff Sicom
Good morning, I would like to know if a product that has already had FCC change brand certification needs to be recertified or the old certification remains valid
Good morning.
As a rule, it is not necessary to repeat tests, but surely the new product must be certified. All product documentation and original tests must be available and these must be in accordance with the current version of the applicable standards.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Good afternoon I would like to know if you me.podrian work with the standard of a known brand of phone Lenovo k8, because it allegedly did not FCC would be a great help for me because here in Colombia these issues are very boring
Hello Oscar,
Thanks for contacting Sicom Testing. If you wish to receive a quote for the FCC certification of its phone can contact us here https://www.sicomtesting.com/richiesta-di-preventivo/
Kind regards
Staff Sicom
Good morning, how can I verify the authenticity of the FCC certification? The import and the company says it has certified FCC.
Hello Roxana,
the authenticity of the FCC approval depends on the type of product certificate. To verify the conformity of the products, the FCC rules lay down different paths depending on the type of product to be certified (radio, electronic, etc). If you need more information about FCC certification of your products, can contact us here https://www.sicomtesting.com/es/richiesta-di-preventivo/
Kind regards
Staff Sicom
Ciao,
what are the steps to get FCC certification
Good morning,
for non-radio electronic equipment it is necessary to carry out the tests in a specialized laboratory and prepare the technical documentation of the product.
For equipment containing non-FCC certified radio modules (i.e. without FCC ID), testing must be performed at an FCC accredited laboratory, prepare the technical documentation of the product and submit the documentation to the FCC Commission, for the product to be included in the official database.
Greetings from Sicom Testing
Good morning,
I would like to have some information about the FCC rules; certification procedures, execution of all the trials and preparation of documentation for certification of different kinds of electronic products.
Thank you.
A greeting
Hello Diego,
can contact us here https://www.sicomtesting.com/richiesta-di-preventivo/, and this way we can evaluate the products requiring certification and prepare a detailed offer.
Kind regards
Staff Sicom
What is the cost to obtain FCC certification?
Miguel Caro,
to get the price of FCC certification of the product can contact us here https://www.sicomtesting.com/richiesta-di-preventivo/.
Kind regards
Staff Sicom