FCC certification guide

FCC Filing Requirements

FCC Registration Number (FRN)

Please note that for FCC certification, you need to conduct business with the FCC and must register through the FCC’s Commission Registration System (CORES). Once registered, an FCC Registration Number (FRN) will be assigned to your application. This number will be unique to the applicant and it will identify the applicant in all transactions with the FCC. There is no fee to register with the FCC for an FRN.

Register for an FRN at: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

Please also note that the FRN is not your FCC ID Number. Please keep your FRN account number and password safe, as it is required for future modifications to your account information. For further assistance, contact the Commission Registration Systems (CORES) helpdesk at CORES@fcc.gov, or call the toll-free help line: 1-877-480-3201.

FCC Grantee Code

After registering with the FCC for the Federal Registration Number (FRN), the next step is to apply for an FCC Grantee Code. A Grantee Code is assigned to a specific applicant at a specific address, and it is the first part of each FCC Identifier (ID) for devices authorized under the certification procedure (Title 47 CFR, Section 2.926). This three or five character code is owned by your company and stays with your company as long as you are in business selling wireless devices. Once you own a code, you are not required to purchase another one, unless you have multiple addresses. This code is transferable from product to product. This 5-digit alphanumeric code (for example XYZ12) uniquely identifies each applicant and is part of the FCC ID.

FCC ID

Before you can begin creating the FCC ID number, you must obtain the Grantee Code from the FCC. The FCC ID number consists of the Grantee Code and a product identifier. The product identifier is chosen by the grantee. It may be a maximum of 14 characters. The characters are limited to capital letters (A-Z), digits (0-9) and dashes (-) but no other symbols or spaces are allowed.

FCC agent authorization letter

This letter must be prepared on the applicant/manufacturer company letterhead and signed by the authorized signatory listed with the FCC for the company. This letter grants permission to appointed individuals to act as agents in submitting the filing paperwork for a designated period of time.

FCC confidentiality letter

The exhibits provided to the FCC are accessible by the public on their site. A special request letter must be submitted to FCC for confidentiality to be granted to certain exhibits. Both permanent confidentiality (only specific documents allowed – schematics, block diagrams, parts lists, tune-up procedure, operational description) and short-term confidentiality (certain documents are allowed to be held confidential for a maximum of 180 days as long as device is not being marketed). The documents allowed to be held short-term confidential are external and internal photos, test photos, block diagrams, schematics, user’s manual, parts list, tune-up procedure and operational description. Under short-term confidentiality, you must request an extension before the end of the initially requested time frame if you still require this service, for a total of 180 days. Also, if you market before the requested STC timeframe is over, you must notify the FCC to lift the short-term confidentiality. This letter must be prepared on the applicant/manufacturer company letterhead and signed by the authorized signatory listed with the FCC for the company.

Declaration of conformity

When a product is a composite device consisting of an unintentional 15B and an intentional radiator device, the responsible party makes the choice to certify or to follow the sDoC route. SDoC is a self declaration process, where no FCC lab is required and the responsible party must be located in the US. If a manufacturer chooses sDoC for a composite device, then the user manual should contain the 2.1077 requirements for sDoC . The FCC Logo is optional and therefore not mandatory.

The FCC is not requiring a signed statement from the US responsible party that they are in the US and have gone through sDoC. For sDoC 2.1077 the following compliance information is needed to be in the user manual:

1. Identification of the product, e.g., name and model number;
2. A compliance statement as applicable, e.g., for devices subject to part 15 of this chapter as specified in §15.19(a)(3) of this chapter, that the product complies with the rules; and applicable compliance statements for part 15B that is 15.105,etc
3. The identification, by name, address and telephone number or Internet contact information, of the responsible party, as defined in §2.909.The responsible party for Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity must be located within the United States.

Test reports

The following contents must be clearly stated in the test report:

• FCC registration number (accredited test lab with FCC)
• What kind of device
• According to which rule parts it was tested
• Which measurement methods were used
• Information about the antenna
• List of used test equipment and associated calibration information
• Uncertainties

It is important that the documentation of the product and the data in the test report are consistent.

Operational description

A brief description of the circuit functions of the device along with a statement describing how the device operates; to include a description of the ground system and antenna, if any, used with the device. In general you could add the following information:

• Operating frequencies
• Technical description of the block diagram
• Presentation of all technologies used
• Modulation techniques
• Temperature and voltage ranges
• Supported bandwidths and data rate
• Antenna information
• Number of Channels
• Power levels

Block diagram

See also Section 2.1033(b)(5) – Exhibit should contain:

• frequency of all oscillators in the transmitter portion of the device.
• The signal path and frequency shall be indicated at each block.
• The tuning range(s) and intermediate frequency(ies) shall be indicated at each block.
• All the connections must be shown.

Schematics

Schematics and description for ALL circuitry and devices provided for determining and stabilizing frequency, for suppression of spurious radiation, for limiting modulation, and for limiting power. Please ensure that the components and component values are legible on the schematics. If the radio/product has more than one PC board, be sure to title each page. Please provide as ONE legible PDF document.

Test setup photos

Test setup photos must show peripheral or accessory devices connected or installed at time of testing and a brief description of these peripherals and accessories shall be included with test report.

Tune-up procedures

Procedure for ensuring the device is tuned to the correct frequency range and that it is operating at proper level. This exhibit is only required for licensed transmitters.

Parts list

Parts list for the radio device, listing all components and/or identifying the source of OEM modules.

Label artwork and label location

A photo or drawing showing the identification label clearly (you must be able to see the FCC ID number), and the label location on the device. The label cannot be located on a removable part, such as a battery cover. These may be submitted as one document demonstrating both, or two separate documents. Information to be included on the label:

The term “FCC ID:” must be included prior to the XXXYYY and all must be contained on one line and legible (it is recommended that the type be 6-point or larger).

If the product is larger than “palm-sized” (or 8X10cm), the statement according to Section 15.19 (a) must be included on label (15.19 (a) (1) or (2) or (3) depending on device).

If the product is smaller than “palm-sized” (or 8X10cm), the required statement may be included in the User’s Guide/Owner’s Manual.

In addition, pursuant to Section FCC 15.19(b)(5) information regarding the label material and method of permanent attachment to the product should be supplied, i.e. the label must not be paper, and the ink and label material must be a quality and type that must last the life of the device.