FCC – New Labeling and Manual Requirements

The FCC released new guidance and procedures for manufacturers to show compliance with FCC regulations in June 2017. Some of the changes are in the labeling requirements and, notably, the allowance for the use of a Suppliers Declaration of Conformity, or SDOC. The National Institute of Standards and Technology published some basic information to understand this, here.

Internally at F2 Labs, our Director of EMC and Wireless Operations sent guidance to staff to assist in helping our customers comply with these new FCC procedures. Copied below and in italics is the text from that company correspondence, most of which is taken directly from the published FCC rules and regulations –

Labeling of Equipment

It will be the responsibility of the manufacturer or importer to permanently affix the appropriate label when marketing the equipment.

 The label shall bear the following statement per FCC 15.19(a)(1)-(5):

  • Receivers associated with the operation of a licensed radio service, g.,FM broadcast under part 73 of this chapter, land mobile operation under part 90 of this chapter, etc., shall bear the following statement in a conspicuous location on the device:

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the condition that this device does not cause harmful interference.

  • A stand-alone cable input selector switch, shall bear the following statement in a conspicuous location on the device:

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules for use with cable television service.

(3)     All other devices shall bear the following statement in a conspicuous location on the device:

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

(4)     Where a device is constructed in two or more sections connected by wires and marketed together, the statement specified under paragraph (a) of this section is required to be affixed only to the main control unit.

(5)     When the device is so small or for such use that it is impracticable to label it with the statement specified under paragraph (a) of this section in a font that is four-point or larger, and the device does not have a display that can show electronic labeling, then the information required by this paragraph shall be placed in the user manual and must also either be placed on the device packaging or on a removable label attached to the device.

Note:  If the product contains a pre-approved wireless module, a label is also required to show the product contains an approved wireless module.  The following is an example of what the label should state:

Contains FCC ID: XXXXXXX

  • 2.1074 Identification.

Devices subject to authorization under Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity may be labeled with the following logo on a voluntary basis as a visual indication that the product complies with the applicable FCC requirements. The use of the logo on the device does not alleviate the requirement to provide the compliance information required by §2.1077.

  • 2.1077 Compliance information.

(a) If a product must be tested and authorized under Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity, a compliance information statement shall be supplied with the product at the time of marketing or importation, containing the following information:

(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

(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.

 Exhibit VIII

 Manual Requirements

FCC Manual Statement: §15.21 Information to user.

Note:  This requirement applies to all devices unless exempted by 15.103:

The user’s manual or instruction manual for an intentional or unintentional radiator shall caution the user that changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

FCC Manual Statement: §15.105 Digital Devices Statement

For all Class A Digital Devices, the following statement must be included in the manual:

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

For all Class B Digital Devices, the following statement must be included in the manual:

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

—Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

—Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

—Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

—Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Finally, F2 Labs offers additional guidance as pertains FCC requirements and testing on our website, links are below –

F2 Labs is here to help.

Have a question or a comment? We can be contacted via this link. We can be reached by phone at 877-405-1580 and are here to help you.

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