FCC certification in the United States

1、 Introduction to FCC certification:

FCC stands for Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and FCC certification is a mandatory certification for electronic products entering the US market. Involving over 50 states, Colombia, and territories within the United States.

FCC certification is a mandatory EMC certification in the United States, mainly for electronic and electrical FCC certified products from 9KHz-3000GHz. The content involves various aspects such as radio and communication, especially the radio interference problem of wireless communication equipment and systems, including radio interference limits and measurement methods, as well as certification systems and organizational management regulations. Products regulated by FCC, such as personal computers, CD players, copiers, radios, fax machines, video game consoles, electronic toys, televisions, and microwave ovens. These products are divided into two categories based on their use: CLASSA and CLASSB. Category A is products used for business or industrial purposes, while Category B is products used for household purposes. The FCC has stricter regulatory requirements for Category B products, with lower limit values compared to Category A. For most electronic and electrical products, the main standards are FCCPart15 and FCCPart18.

2、 The form of FCC certification:

The FCC has three certification modes for different products, namely Verification Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and Certification. Different certification modes require testing laboratories to obtain FCC accreditation and have different application, testing, and declaration requirements.

1 Verification： Namely, self verification, where manufacturers or importers ensure that their products have undergone necessary testing to confirm compliance with relevant technical standards and retain testing reports, testing laboratories FCC LISTEE, and all accredited sites are published on the official website. The FCC has the right to require manufacturers to submit testing data for equipment samples or products. Devices suitable for self verification include commercial computers, TV and FM receivers, as well as industrial, scientific and medical equipment used by non mass consumers under FCC Rule Part 18.

2 DeclarationofConformity(DoC)： The conformity statement states that the equipment responsible party (usually the manufacturer or importer) tests the product at a qualified testing agency designated by FCC to ensure that the equipment complies with relevant technical standards and retains the testing report. The certification agency must have authorization from NVLAP/A2LA. FCC has the right to require responsible parties to submit samples of equipment or testing data of products. The equipment applicable to the declaration of conformity includes home computers and peripherals, civilian broadcast receivers, super regenerative receivers, other receivers of FCCRule Part 15, television interface devices, cable system terminals, and industrial, scientific, and medical equipment used by the general consumer of Part 18.

3 Certification： That is, ID authentication, Certification is the process by which FCC signs device recognition based on application and testing data. The FCC reviews the samples (or photos) and test data submitted by applicants, and if they meet the requirements of FCC rules, grants the device an FCCID number. The devices suitable for certification include low voltage transmitters such as cordless phones, remote controls for automatic doors, wireless remote control toys and safety alarm systems, devices intentionally emitting radio frequency energy in Part 15, industrial, scientific and medical equipment used by mass consumers in Part 18, automatic frequency conversion receivers and super regenerative receivers, television interface devices, as well as home computers and their peripherals. The responsible party shall ensure that the equipment is marked with FCCID.

3、 The main standards of FCC

Among them, FCCPART15 and PART18 are the most widely used:

Scope of application of FCC standards

FCCPART15C/E/F Intention Radiation Device Test

FCCPART18 Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

FCCPART22 Public Mobile Communication Service

FCCPART24 Personal Communication Service

FCCPART25 satellite communication service

FCCPART27 Other FCC Wireless Communication Services

FCCPART68 Telecommunications Terminal Equipment

FCCPart15 provides regulations for launch devices that are intentional, unintentional, or instantaneous and do not require a personal license for use. It includes technical specifications, administrative requirements, and other market access conditions. The products are mainly divided into four categories: unintentional launch devices, intentional launch devices, personal communication devices without licenses, and basic information devices for countries without licenses.

FCCPart18 specifies the electromagnetic energy emitted by industrial, scientific, and medical equipment (ISM) operating on a certain frequency spectrum to avoid harmful interference to authorized wireless communication services.

4、 The specific steps for clients to apply for FCC certification are as follows:

1. The customer submits an application form (our company provides a blank application form);

2. The client signed a commissioned testing contract with our company;

3. Send samples for testing, and prepare electrical schematics, external/internal photos, oscillator circuit diagrams, user manual nameplates, working principle explanations, etc. (depending on the product);

4. After passing the inspection, if it is FCC VOC certification, our company will directly issue a certificate of conformity and report. If it is FCC DOC or ID certification, our company will submit the application materials to the FCC authorized certification agency;

5. After obtaining FCC certification, companies can use the FCC logo on their products.  

Note: FCC ID certification requires the submission of the following list of documents and requirements:

1) FCC application form: The application company name, address, contact information, product name and model, usage standards, and other information must be accurate and correct;  

2) FCC authorization letter: must be signed and stamped by the contact person of the applying company and scanned into an electronic file;

3) FCC Confidentiality Letter: A confidentiality letter is an agreement signed between the applicant company and the TCB agency to keep product information confidential. It must be signed, stamped, and scanned into an electronic file by the applicant company's contact person;  

4) Block diagram: All crystal oscillators and their frequencies need to be drawn and consistent with the circuit diagram;  

5) Circuit diagram: It must be consistent with the crystal frequency, crystal quantity, and crystal position in the block diagram;  

6) Line description: It is required to be in English and clearly describe the principle of the product's functional implementation;

7) User manual: requires FCC warning language;

8) Label and label location: The label should have FCC ID number and Statement, and the position of the label should be prominent;

9) Product interior and exterior photos: require clear and concise images, and add notes if necessary;

10) Test report: Require completion of testing and comprehensive evaluation of the product according to standard terms;  

5、 Scope of FCC certified products

1. FCC certification for power supply: communication power supply, switch power supply, charger, display power supply, LED power supply, LCD power supply, uninterruptible power supply UPS, etc;

2. FCC certification for lighting fixtures: pendant lights, track lights, courtyard lights, handheld lights, tube lights, LED street lights, light strings, table lamps, LED spotlights, LED bulb lights, grille lights, aquarium lights, street lights, LED tubes, LED lighting fixtures, energy-saving lamps, T8 tubes, etc;

3. FCC certification for household appliances: fans, electric kettles, speakers, televisions, mice, vacuum cleaners, etc;

4. Electronic FCC certification: earplugs, routers, mobile phone batteries, laser pens, vibrators, etc;

5. FCC certification for communication products: telephones, wired telephones, wireless primary and secondary machines, fax machines, answering machines, data machines, data interface cards, and other communication products.

6. FCC certification for wireless products: Bluetooth BT products, tablets, wireless keyboards, wireless mice, wireless readers, wireless transceivers, wireless intercoms, wireless microphones, remote controls, wireless network devices, wireless image transmission systems, and other low-power wireless products;

7. FCC certification for wireless communication products: 2G mobile phones, 3G mobile phones, 3.5G mobile phones, DECT mobile phones (1.8G, 1.9G frequency), wireless intercoms, etc;

8. Mechanical FCC certification: gasoline engines, welding machines, CNC drilling machines, tool grinders, lawn mowers, washing equipment, bulldozers, elevators, drilling machines, dishwashers, water treatment equipment, gasoline welding machines, printing machinery, woodworking machinery, rotary drilling machines, lawn mowers, snow sweepers, excavators, printing machines, printers, cutting machines, rollers, trowels, irrigators, straighteners, food machinery, lawn mowers, etc;  

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