Move FCC Testing to the United States

For electronics manufacturers selling products in the United States, the location of FCC compliance testing is becoming a more important part of regulatory planning.

The FCC has strengthened oversight of the laboratories and certification bodies that participate in its equipment authorization program. Recent actions have restricted participation by laboratories owned, controlled or directed by prohibited entities, while additional FCC action has created a priority pathway for certain applications involving testing performed at U.S.-based or other qualifying “Trusted Test Labs.”

For manufacturers that currently depend on overseas testing, this is a good time to review where FCC testing is performed, who controls the laboratory, whether the laboratory remains recognized for the required scope, and whether moving future programs to the United States could reduce regulatory and operational risk.

Compliance Testing can help you make that transition without unnecessarily repeating work or disrupting your product launch schedule.

Why the Location of FCC Testing Matters

Choosing a test laboratory has never been only about price.

Your testing partner may receive prototypes, schematics, operating descriptions, technical exhibits and other sensitive product information. The laboratory also needs the right accreditation, technical scope and regulatory experience to generate test data that can support the applicable FCC authorization procedure.

Recent FCC actions have added another consideration: the integrity and eligibility of organizations participating in the equipment authorization process.

This does not mean that every laboratory outside the United States is prohibited. However, manufacturers should no longer assume that a laboratory used successfully in the past will automatically remain the best choice for future programs.

A U.S.-based testing strategy can give your engineering and compliance teams greater confidence around:

• Current FCC laboratory recognition and applicable testing scope
• Direct communication with U.S.-based engineers and regulatory specialists
• Handling of prototypes, documentation and intellectual property
• Coordination between testing and certification
• Future programs affected by FCC changes concerning laboratory eligibility
• Continuity across multiple products and annual testing programs

Moving Your FCC Testing Does Not Mean Starting Over

Manufacturers sometimes delay changing laboratories because they expect the transition to be complicated.

It does not need to be.

The first step is to review your existing product, authorization pathway and documentation. Depending on the project, useful materials may include previous test reports, FCC grants, schematics, block diagrams, operational descriptions, user manuals, antenna information, software or firmware details, and information about modifications since the product was last tested.

Our team can review the available information and help determine what can be reused, what needs to be updated, and what testing is appropriate for the next authorization or product revision.

The objective is not to repeat testing unnecessarily. It is to establish a clean, defensible path forward.

A Practical Transition Process

A typical move to U.S.-based FCC testing can be handled in four stages.

1. Review Your Current Approvals and Documentation

We assess your existing FCC documentation, device configuration, applicable rule parts and planned changes. This helps identify gaps before equipment arrives at the lab.

2. Confirm the Appropriate Testing and Authorization Path

Different devices can require different procedures depending on their RF functions, modules, frequencies and intended use. We help establish the testing scope and determine whether certification, Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity, a permissive change or another path applies.

3. Plan Testing Around Your Product Schedule

Once the scope is clear, testing can be scheduled around prototype availability and launch requirements. If engineering issues arise, working directly with the lab can make troubleshooting and retesting more efficient.

4. Coordinate Testing and Certification

Compliance Testing provides FCC testing and also operates as a U.S. Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB). For products requiring certification, keeping testing and certification closely coordinated can reduce handoffs and simplify communication throughout the process.

Protecting Sensitive Product Information

For many manufacturers, regulatory testing occurs before a product is publicly released. That can mean sending highly sensitive prototypes and technical documentation to a third party.

Moving testing to the United States can support internal security, procurement and vendor-management policies, particularly for organizations that prefer to keep unreleased product information within U.S. facilities and under U.S. business relationships.

Compliance Testing performs testing at our U.S.-based laboratory in Mesa, Arizona. We have worked with electronics manufacturers since 1963 and support FCC, EMC, RF and international compliance programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do FCC rules require all testing to be performed in the United States?

No. The FCC continues to recognize qualifying laboratories outside the United States. However, laboratory eligibility and the FCC’s policies surrounding trusted and reciprocal testing relationships have changed, and further changes have been proposed. Manufacturers should verify the current status of the laboratory and the requirements applicable to each project.

Will We Need to Repeat All of Our Previous FCC Testing?

Not necessarily. The answer depends on the product, the existing authorization, the changes being made and the quality and applicability of the available documentation. A transition review can determine what existing work remains useful.

Can Compliance Testing Handle Both FCC Testing and Certification?

Yes. Compliance Testing provides FCC testing services and is a U.S.-based FCC-recognized Telecommunications Certification Body for applicable certification scopes.

When Should We Review Our Current Testing Strategy?

Ideally, before the next RFQ or prototype is ready. Reviewing existing documentation in advance gives your team time to identify potential issues without putting a launch deadline at risk.

Request a U.S. Testing Transition Review

If your company currently performs FCC testing overseas, we can review your existing testing and certification approach and help you determine whether moving future work to the United States makes sense.

Send us your current FCC grant, test report or product information and our team can help identify the next steps.

Request a U.S. Testing Transition Review.