FCC Certification

Certification is one of the three methods ofand warlike talkies. Certification requires specific
Equipment Authorisation permitted by the Federaltests to be completed and results filed with the
Communication Commission (FCC).FCC along with details of the product certified
All equipment must be tested to demonstratesuch as Schematic Diagrams, Parts Lists, label
compliance with the relevant part of Title 47 ofinformation, tune-up information and user manuals.
US Code of Federal Regulations (47CFR).Certification is required for both licensed unlicensed
Verification is the procedure followed bydevices:
unintentional transmitters - that is equipment thatA Licensed device is one that can only be
radiates radio frequency energy as a by-productoperated under a separate license issued by the
of what it does, rather than to communicate.FCC to the operator of the service - examples
Examples of equipment subjected to verificationinclude cellular phones and base stations.
include Scientific and Medical (ISM) equipment;An unlicensed device is one that can be bought by
business Class A computer equipment; TV and FMthe general public and used anywhere at anytime
receivers.- examples include WiFi and Bluetooth.
Declaration of Conformity is a similar, but slightlyThere are strict rules covering the amount of
more onerous procedure for unintentionaltesting required for unlicensed devices to
transmitters designed to be used in the home.demonstrate compliance, but there are no such
Examples include Class B personal computers andrules for licensed devices.
peripherals; CB receivers; super-regenerativeFor a licensed device that operates in a number
receivers; TV interface devices.of modes and/or under a number of different
Certification is the process that must be appliedparts of 47CFR, the use of a carefully
to Radio Transmitters, including mobile phones,constructed FCC Test Plan can greatly reduce
Bluetooth, WiFi, WiMAX, microwave transmitterstest time and cost and reduce time to market.