The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recommended additional changes to its procedures for the authorization of radiofrequency equipment.
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in July 2015, the Commission outlined its intention to make a number of rule changes, including the following:
- Combine the two current product approval programs, Declaration of Conformity and verification, into a single self-approval program;
- Codify and clarify the provisions for the certification of modular transmitters, and for radios in which the RF parameters are controlled by software;
- Clarify compliance responsibilities when a final product may be comprised of one or more certified modular transmitters;
- Codify and expand existing guidance for electronic labeling; and
- For RF devices imported into the U.S., eliminate the requirement to file FCC Form 740 with Customs and Border Protection.
The Commission’s latest proposed rule changes follow its December 2014 release of revised equipment authorization rules that will require responsible parties to file all applications for Certification directly with Telecommunications Certification Bodies (TCBs). Once these rules come into effect, the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) will no longer accept and grant applications for Certification.
