FCC Regulatory Testing

Almost every country in the world regulates the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of electronic products within its borders. In the United States, this regulation is overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

According to Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 47), all electronic products entering the U.S. must undergo FCC certification for electromagnetic compatibility. This requirement applies to all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories.

FCC Certification Types

The FCC has two types of certification depending on the type of electronic product:

- fcc sdoc (Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity) – Applicable to general electronic products without wireless functionality. (Previously known as DOC and Verification, which were merged into sdoc in 2017.)

- fcc id (Certification) – Required for electronic products with wireless functionality.

Common Wireless Products Requiring FCC ID:

TWS earphones/Bluetooth earphones, wireless cameras, Bluetooth speakers, wireless chargers, smartwatches, in-car Bluetooth devices, video doorbells, game controllers, remote controllers, all-in-one PCs, advertising displays, smart lighting, voice-activated robots, drones, remote-controlled airplanes/cars/toys, smart home devices, tire pressure monitoring systems, Bluetooth weight scales, Bluetooth trackers, pet trackers, wireless keyboards/mice, Bluetooth selfie sticks, etc.

FCC ID Testing Scope and Timeline

For wireless products, FCC ID testing includes:

- EMC + RF testing for general wireless products.

- EMC + RF + sar testing for close-contact communication devices (if the distance to the human body is less than 20 cm and power exceeds 10 dBm, sar testing is required).

The specific testing requirements vary by product type, with a typical testing timeline of approximately 2-3 weeks.

What is the U.S. Agent Requirement for FCC ID?

According to U.S. regulations, any foreign company that manufactures, prepares, reproduces, assembles, or processes equipment for importation into the United States must designate a U.S. Agent (Authorized Representative).

Role of the U.S. Agent:

1. Acts as the designated authorized representative of the manufacturer to communicate with U.S. regulatory agencies and assist with product-related incident reports, notifications, and recalls.

2. Maintains technical documentation for the manufacturer and responds to inquiries from regulatory authorities.

3. The FCC/FCC ID certification documents must include the U.S. Agent’s name, address, and phone number.

Structure of an FCC ID

An FCC ID consists of two main parts:

1. Grantee Code – A 3- or 5-character alphanumeric code assigned by the FCC to each company. This code is randomly provided by the FCC and remains fixed once issued.

2. Product Code – A 1- to 14-character alphanumeric identifier chosen by the applicant, typically based on the product model number.

Thus, an FCC ID is structured as follows:

[Grantee Code] + [Product Code]

For example, if a company's Grantee Code is XYZ and the Product Code is 12345, the full FCC ID would be:

XYZ12345