Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Fiscal Year 2020 Agency Report

1. Please provide a summary of your agency’s activities undertaken to carry out the provisions of 

OMB Circular A-119, “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary 

Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities” and the National Technology 

Transfer and Advance Act (NTTAA). The summary should contain a link to the agency’s 

standards-specific website(s) where information about your agency’s standards and 

conformity assessment related activities are available.

Summary

The FCC references many standards in support of the Commission’s regulatory responsibilities. 

These standards, referenced in the FCC rules, range from referencing measurement methods

and conformity assessment procedures to radio carriage requirements for oceangoing vessels to 

promote safety of life. In addition, standards are used to promote compatibility between radios 

and to achieve coordination among Commission licensees. In all cases, the Commission, through 

its public rulemaking process, has proposed and adopted voluntary consensus standards (e.g., 

ANSI, IEEE, 3GPP, etc.) under which licensees and permitees must operate and under which it 

carries out conformity assessment activities.

Voluntary Consensus Standards Examples

For example: In the Hearing Aid Compatibility Report and Order (WT Docket No. 07-250) the 

Commission set a date of March 31, 2011 for the standards development organization, 

Accredited Standards Committee C63® - Electromagnetic Compatibility, to update the standard 

used to determine if a digital wireless phone is capable of operating effectively with hearing aids 

based on certain performance measurement standards contained in the 2007 version of ANSI 

C63.19, “American National Standard for Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between 

Wireless Communication Devices and Hearing Aids” (ANSI C63.19-2007). The applicability of this 

edition of the standard is limited to those air interfaces and frequency bands (800-950 MHz and 

1.6-2.5 GHz) for which technical standards are stated in the standard governing wireless hearing 

aid compatibility.

Another example is the successful use of the Telecommunications Industry Association 

Telecommunications System Bulletin 10-F, "Interference Criteria for Microwave Systems." This 

standard, referenced within several Commission rule parts has become the cornerstone for 

applicants and licensees to successfully coordinate the use of microwave communications 

systems.

Also, on October 2, 2017 the European standard for wireless microphones ETSI EN 300 422-1 

V1.4.2 (2011-08): “Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio Spectrum Matters (ERM); Wireless 

Microphones in the 25 MHz to 3 GHz frequency range; Part 1: Technical characteristics and 

methods of measurement, was incorporated by reference in Section 15.38 of the FCC rules. This 

standard is used for the evaluation of the out-of-band emissions of wireless microphones.

When making measurements to demonstrate compliance with the FCC rules it is required to use 

the appropriate measurement methods as specified in the applicable section of the FCC rules. 

For example, for Part 15 devices see Section 15.31 for a list of required measurement standards. 
Other measurement procedures that have been found acceptable by the Commission, in 

accordance with Section 2.947, may also be used. See Measurement Procedures and 47 CFR 

Section 2.947.

Conformity Assessment.

Radio Frequency (RF) devices are required to be properly authorized under 47 CFR Part 2 prior 

to being marketed or imported into the United States. The Office of Engineering and Technology 

(OET) administers the equipment authorization program under the authority delegated to it by 

the Commission. This program is one of the principal ways the Commission ensures that RF 

devices used in the United States operate effectively without causing harmful interference and 

otherwise comply with the Commission’s rules. All RF devices subject to equipment 

authorization must comply with the Commission’s technical requirements prior to importation 

or marketing. See Equipment Authorization Approval Guide

2. Please list the government-unique standards (GUS) your agency began using in lieu of 

voluntary consensus standards during FY 2020. Please note that GUS which are still in effect 

from previous years should continue to be listed, thus the total number in your agency's 

report will include all GUS currently in use (previous years and new as of this FY): 0