# Presentation: 795090

## Conformity Assessment OptionsFederal Communications Commission William S. HurstOffice Engineering and TechnologyDecember 3, 2001

***Conformity Assessment Options******Federal Communications Commission ******William S. Hurst******Office Engineering and Technology******December 3, 2001***

** **

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## Equipment Authorization Program

**The FCC currently has three equipment approval programs**
**Verification**
**Declaration of Conformity (DoC)**
**Certification**
**The product approval requirement is specified in the rule part under which equipment operates **
**All three programs involve the use of the private sector to varying degrees**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## Equipment Authorization Program

**     ****(Self-approval)     **

**Certification**
** ****(Approved by FCC  **
**or TCB)**

**Declaration of**
**Conformity**
**(Self-approval using**
**an accredited lab)**

***Equipment Authorization Program***

***The type of approval ***
***is specified in the rules***
***for the particular ***
***type of device***

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## FCC Authorization Requirements

**(2) A TCB may certify this equipment**

***FCC Authorization Requirements***

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## Why Use the Private Sector? 

**Speed at which technology is changing and shorter product life cycles require faster product approvals**
**The private sector has the technical expertise and ability to certify equipment. **
**Increase the resources performing conformity assessment**
**Efficiencies in designing and approving product in the same geographic location**
**Reduce uncertainty and delay in obtaining certification**** **

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## Objectives

**To meet the Commission’s Mission: **
**“****The FCC's mission is to encourage competition in communications and to promote and support access for every American to existing and advanced telecommunications services.”**
**ET Docket 98-68 provided for:**
**Private Certification Bodies known as Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs); and**
**Permit the certification of equipment by private organizations outside of the United States through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## What is a TCB?

**A Telecommunication Certification Body is a Certification Body that has been accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65 by a recognized Accrediting Organization and designated by the FCC to approve equipment subject to certification. **
**A TCB is not a test laboratory, nor should it function in that capacity.  **
**As a TCB, it has certain rights and responsibilities. **
**Foreign entities may become a TCB in accordance with the terms of a government-to-government Mutual Recognition Agreement/Arrangement.**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## New Rules for TCBs

**FCC GEN Docket 98-68 **
**Establishes procedures for designating a Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB)**
**Manufacturers have the option to choose a TCB or the FCC to obtain approval of a product subject to certification**
**NIST identified as the accrediting organization Authority for US Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs)**
**A TCB must be accredited to ISO Guides 25 & 65**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## TCB Scope of Responsibility

** ****A TCB (see § 2.962 (e) and Public Notice, DA 99-1640) **
**Is empowered to certify products in accordance with the FCC rules**
**Must provide fair and equitable treatment**
**Must accept test data from any source, subject to subcontracting clause in ISO Guide 65 and shall not unnecessarily repeat tests**
**May assess fees for processing applications**
**May rescind grant within 30 days**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## TCB Limitations

- FCC review

***TCB Limitations***

**A TCB cannot (see §2.962(e)(5))**
**Waive the rules**
**Take enforcement actions (refer to FCC)**
**Certify a unique product for which there are no Rules **
**Revoke a grant after 30 days**
**Authorize transfer of control of a grantee**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## TCB Implementation

**TCB Training Course - December 1999 **
**Accreditation and designation of TCBs - January - May 2000**
**Designation of first group of TCBs - June 2000 **
**European Union designates first foreign TCBs - January 2001**
**Total of 30 operational TCBs in the United States and Europe - October 2001**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## Application Filing Trends

***Application Filing Trends***

**Since June 2000, the TCBs have granted over 2300 certifications**
**The number of applications granted by TCBs have been steadily increasing since June of last year.**
**One year since the program started the number of grants issued by TCBs exceeds the number of grants issued by the FCC.**
**TCBs are granting approximately 75% of the total number of grants issued.**

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## Slide 13

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001

## Thank You

**William S. Hurst**
- Federal Communications Commission
- Office of Engineering and Technology
- Tel: (202) 418-7266
- Fax: (202) 418-1944
- whurst@fcc.gov

- Federal Communications Commission

- 3 December 2001