FCC rules for electronics sold in the US

The FCC rules are about radio interference. Almost every product with electronics inside can cause some, so almost every one is covered.

Under the FCC rules, you need approval before you market a device, and listing it for sale counts as marketing.

Three kinds of device

The FCC sorts devices by how they use radio frequency energy.

FCC device types and the approval each needs

	What it is	Examples	Approval
Incidental radiator	Not designed to use radio frequency energy at all	Basic motors, mechanical light switches	None, but it must not cause harmful interference
Unintentional radiator	Uses digital logic or radio frequencies inside, but is not meant to transmit	Most gadgets with a chip, LED drivers, power supplies, computers	Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity or certification
Intentional radiator	Sends radio signals on purpose	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and smart home devices, remote controls	Certification by a Telecommunication Certification Body

A product with a Bluetooth chip is an intentional radiator, even if the radio is a small part of it.

SDoC or certification

Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC). The product is tested against the FCC limits, and a responsible party declares that it complies.

That responsible party must be located in the United States. Its name and US contact details go in the compliance information that comes with the product. A seller with no US company needs a US importer or another US party to take this role.

Certification. A Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) reviews the test report and grants certification. The device then carries an FCC ID, and the grant is public in the FCC’s database.

Buyers and marketplaces can look up an FCC ID. A missing or wrong ID is easy to spot.

The 2025 rule on test labs

In 2025, the FCC adopted rules on who may take part in its approval program. It is no longer enough for a lab to be accredited.

• Labs, TCBs and accreditation bodies owned by, controlled by or under the direction of a prohibited entity may not take part. Prohibited entities include foreign adversary governments.
• A stake of 10% or more by a prohibited entity counts as ownership.
• The ban covers both routes: certification and SDoC.
• Parties using the SDoC route must keep a record that no prohibited entity owns, controls or directs the lab that did the testing.

The FCC then began proceedings to withdraw recognition from seven labs it found to be owned or controlled by the Chinese government.

So check the lab before you book. A report from a banned lab cannot support your approval.

Before you list

• Know which kind of device you sell.
• Use a lab the FCC still recognises, and keep a record of who owns it.
• For an SDoC, name a responsible party in the US.
• For a radio device, get certification and put the FCC ID on the product.

Selling toys with electronics? They also need CPSC testing. See our guide to toy testing for the EU, UK and US.

Get it checked

Send us the product page link. We tell you which FCC route your product needs and give you one fixed price before any test starts.

See our product testing service. VAT+ is your contact from the first call to the last report.