1. ACIL Policy & Practices Conference FCC Update
US Federal Communications Commission
Office of Engineering and Technology
George Tannahill

2. Overview
FCC Update
KDB Publication Updates
Standards Update
Certification Trends
MRA Status
Market Surveillance
Recent considerations
Equipment Authorization System (EAS) Redesign Update
Information Sources
March 27, 2019
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3. FCC KDB 974614 Accredited Lab Recognition
FCC recognizes accredited testing laboratories for 18 scopes
See KDB Attachment D01 for scopes
Proposed Updates
Modify Appendix A1 scope for Microwave and Millimeter Wave Band Radio Services to clarify that Part 90 F and Part 97 operations above 3 GHz are included
Update site validation text for radiated emission measurements in 1-40 GHz for test facility to comply with CISPR as the July 13, 2018 transition date has passed.
March 27, 2019
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4. KDB 974614 FCC Scopes for 17025 Labs Additional Guidance
Test Method(s)
Additional Guidance
Unintentional Radiators (FCC Part 15B)
ANSI C
Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment (FCC Part 18)
FCC MP-5 (February 1986)
Intentional Radiators (FCC Part 15C)
ANSI C
UPCS (Part 15D)
ANSI C
UNII without DFS Intentional Radiators (FCC Part 15E)
KDB Publication
UNII with DFS Intentional Radiators (FCC Part 15E)
KDB Publication D02 UNII DFS Compliance Procedures new rules v02r01
UWB Intentional Radiators (FCC Part 15F)
BPL Intentional Radiators (FCC Part 15G)
White Space Device Intentional Radiators (FCC Part 15H)
March 27, 2019
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5. KDB 974614 Scopes for 17025 Labs II Scope Test Method(s)
Additional Guidance
Commercial Mobile Services (FCC Licensed Radio Service Parts 22(cellular), 24, 25(below 3GHz), and 27)
ANSI/TIA-603-E (2016)
TIA-102.CAAA-E (2016)
ANSI C
KDB Publication
General Mobile Radio Services (FCC Licensed Radio Service Equipment - 22(non-cellular), 90, 95, 97 and 101 (below 3GHz))
Citizens Broadband Radio Service (FCC Licensed Radio Service Equipment – Part 96)
KDB Publication
Maritime and Aviation Radio Services (FCC Licensed Radio Service Equipment – Part 80 and 87)
Microwave and Millimeter Band Radio Services (FCC Licensed Radio Service Equipment – Parts 25,30, 74, 90 (90Z,M DSRC, Y, Z), 95(L, M) and 101)
Broadcast Radio Services (FCC Licensed Radio Service Equipment – Parts 73 and 74(below 3GHz))
RF Radiation Exposure – (FCC devices subject to SAR requirements)
IEEE Std 1528™-2013
KDB Publication
KDB Publication
Hearing Aid Compatibility (FCC Part 20 – HAC for commercial mobile services
ANSI C ; or
ANSI C
Signal Boosters(FCC Part 20–wideband consumer, provider specific & Industrial and Section )
FCC KDB Publication attachments D03, D04, and D05
March 27, 2019
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6. FCC KDB 996369 Modular Approval Guidance
Previously published October 2015 with two guidance attachments
D01 Module Certification Guide v02
D02 Module Q&A v01
Two additional guidance attachments added on February 1, 2019
D03 OEM Manual v01
Grantee/Applicant Guidance
TCB Review Guidance
D04 Module Integration Guide v01
Host Manufacturer Guidance
March 27, 2019
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7. Standards Issues ANSI C63.4-2014 – Testing Unintentional Radiators
ANSI C required since July 13, 2016
Use of C63.4a:2017 allowed per KDB
New version expected this year
FCC reviewing options to update rules
ISO/IEC 17025:2017
Use allowed per KDB
FCC reviewing options to updated rules
Site validation when using ANSI C63.4 or C63.10
30 MHz to 1 GHz - test facilities for radiated measurements required to meet site validation requirements of ANSI C
1 GHz to 40 GHz – test facilities can use either site validation option in ANSI C clause After transition (3 year transition ends July 13, 2018) the test facility is required to comply with CISPR :
March 27, 2019
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8. FCC NPRM 15-92
ET Docket became Second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) 15-92
FCC Report and Order 17-93
Approval procedures-DoC and Verification merged to become SDoC
As of November 2, 2018 FCC equipment authorization processes for Declaration of Conformity and Verification no longer applicable
March 27, 2019
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9. Certification Trends All Grants issued by TCBs
Grants of Certification in 2018 = 26,556
Average/month=2,213
Grants of Certification in 2019 (Thru February 28) = 3,598
Average/month=1,799
Less than 100 grants off last years pace
Annual numbers after new system go live won’t be comparable as new composite grants will be submitted as one 731 for vs multiple 731s for composites in current system
March 27, 2019
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10. Phase I/EMC Arrangement MRA Status
The US has operational MRAs for acceptance of test data with the following countries:
Australia
Canada
Chinese Taipei
European Union
Hong Kong, China
Israel
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Mexico
New Zealand
Singapore
United Kingdom
Vietnam
Region
Number of Labs FCC Recognized
North America
147
Europe 78
Asia
326
Israel 7
Total
558
March 27, 2019
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11. MRA Status
MRA’s for mutual acceptance of approvals are operational with the following countries:
Canada
European Union
Hong Kong, China
Japan
Singapore
United Kingdom
A total of 40 Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) have been recognized by the FCC.
22 domestic TCBs
18 foreign TCBs
March 27, 2019
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12. Market Surveillance Summary
Deferred Grantee Codes
123 Grantees deferred 2018/2019
More deferred from previous years but many resolved
Failure to submit samples
Invalid contact information
Grantees reactivated as soon as issue resolved
TCB Surveillance 2018
Required to audit/sample test 1328 devices
TCB Reports for 2018 calendar year due January 31, 2019
Reports in process of being evaluated by FCC
March 27, 2019
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13. Recent Concerns/Issues
5G (fifth generation) mobile devices
Spectrum Horizons Services
FCC 19-19
Adopted March 15, 2019
Operation from 95 GHz to 3 THz
Experimental Licenses
White Space R&O and Order on Reconsideration
FCC 19-24
Released March 20, 2019
Changes to improve accuracy and reliability of fixed white space device data
Address petition for reconsideration issues
March 27, 2019
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14. Equipment Authorization Electronic Filing System (EAS) Redesign
Background
Current EAS became operational April 15, 1998
End of life predicted by end of year
Redesign, requirements gathering and programming ongoing for about year
New system is a complete redesign of database and user access interfaces
Only minor changes to required information
There are system changes for new processes
Look and feel very different
March 27, 2019
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15. EAS Redesign Overview Scope and Development Cycle Status
Phase 1-Entity Management
Test firms, TCBs, Grantee, Accrediting Bodies, and Designating Authorities
Phase 2-Form 731
Phase 3-KDB
Phase 4-Market Surveillance, Samples and other cleanup
Status
Phase 1-3 being UAT tested by FCC
Phase 4 – Programming Pending
Go Live Date - TBD
March 27, 2019
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16. EAS Redesign Overview II
Why is the FCC redesigning?
Current system over 20 years old
Current system will reach database maximum capacity by end of year
Incorporate better security
Incorporate all EAS operations into one platform with better flow and user experience
Reduce maintenance costs
Reduce efforts required for OET to manage processes
Take advantage of new technology
Improved search capabilities
March 27, 2019
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17. EAS Redesign Process Changes
Each User will have their own username
Usernames based on address
Each Test Firm will have to have a user with a valid username/login associated with their test firm
This will be a significant transition to associate ~558 test labs with a username
Entities may have more than one contact
Usernames obtained at
This can be done now
Usernames are managed by different part of FCC
Username must be associated with FCC Registration Number (FRN) to allow entity association with user name
FRN/Username association can be done now at CORES site
All test firms already have FRN
Entity/Username association not available until Go Live
March 27, 2019
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18. EAS Redesign Process Changes II
Changes that may impact test firms
TCB scopes changing from 8 to 18 to match test firm scopes
New Form 731 automated validations
TCB and Test Firm recognized for device scope
TCB and Test Firm recognized to test maximum frequency required for device
Composite 731 submissions for new filings are all submitted on one 731
Currently multiple 731s
March 27, 2019
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19. EAS Redesign KDB Considerations
Knowledge Database (KDB)
Users without a username will be able to submit inquiries and review publications
Having a username will allow user to view all of their inquiries on FCC website
Draft Publications will be visible without username
Numerous KDB publications will need revision when new EAS becomes operational.
New KDB will allow inquiries to be viewed and shared by other users associated with same entity
New KDB will allow multiple inquiry contacts for an inquiry
March 27, 2019
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20. EAS Redesign General Considerations
Current EAS will not be publicly available after new EAS goes public
FCC will still have access
All information in current EAS will be migrated to new EAS
All information migrated will need to be validated
FCC will need external user assistance to validate data
Under Consideration
Short EAS shutdown to migrate and validate data
Soft launch to validate data and allow username/entity associations
Implementation Date
March 27, 2019
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21. Training Opportunities
Monthly conference calls with TCB Council
10:30 AM first Tuesday of every month
TCB Meetings
TCB/FCC workshop twice annually to discuss issues and for training.
Next Meeting April 15-18, 2019
April 15 – Basic Training for TCB Staff
April Regular meeting
Demo of new EAS 731 and some other new processes
Other training opportunities as necessary
FCC Knowledge Database
Beta Test/Practice Website
March 27, 2019
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22. Information On Line Equipment Authorization Webpage
Measurement techniques, explanation of EA programs, filing information, MRAs, TCBs, EA announcements, etc.:
Procedures for information sharing and distribution
Updated Interpretation Database & new contact desk for web based inquiries:
OET Info on line (Orders, Public Notices, etc.)
FCC Rules and Regulations:
General FCC Information:
FCC MRA Webpage
March 27, 2019
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23. Questions and Answers
Thanks!
March 27, 2019
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