Process Document for the NIST List of Certified Devices 

January 5, 2024 

Version 2.50

By: 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Communications Technology Laboratory 

Public Safety Communications Research Division 

US Department of Commerce 

National Institute of Standards and Technology – NIST | CTL | PSCR 

325 Broadway, MS 670 

Boulder, CO 80305 USA 

 
2 

Table of Contents

1 Introduction and Definitions...................................................................................................................3

1.1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 

1.2 Intended Audience .................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 

1.3 Overview: The Milestones to Add a Device to the NIST List of Certified Devices ......................................................... 3 

1.4 Point of Contact ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 

1.5 Description of SharePoint .................................................................................................................................................................... 5 

1.6 Glossary ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 

2 The Scope Within the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012............................................7

2.1 Where is NIST in the legislation ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 

2.2 Interpretation of the legislation ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 

2.3 Scope of Devices for the List ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 

3 General Industry Phases for Approving a Device for Sale ........................................................................9

4 Appearance of the NIST List of Certified Devices...................................................................................10

4.1 Cover Sheet .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 

4.2 Active List Sheet by Year .................................................................................................................................................................... 10 

5 Process for Adding a Device to the List..................................................................................................11

5.1 Flow Chart for the process ................................................................................................................................................................. 11 

5.2 Detailed Process Description for Adding a Device to the List ............................................................................................. 11 

6 Process for Removing a Device from the List.........................................................................................13

6.1 Flow Chart for the process ................................................................................................................................................................. 13 

6.2 Detailed Process Description for Removing a Device from the List ................................................................................. 13 

7 Process for Maintenance of the List ......................................................................................................15

7.1 Flow Chart for the process ................................................................................................................................................................. 15 

7.2 Detailed Process Description for Maintenance of the List.................................................................................................... 16 

8 Appendix...............................................................................................................................................18

8.1 References ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18 

8.2 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 Relevant Sections ...................................................................... 18 

8.3 Change History ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 
3 

1 Introduction and Definitions

1.1 Executive Summary

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Act) [6] defined responsibilities for the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [7] in regards to the Nationwide Public Safety 

Broadband Network (NPSBN) and the First Responder Network Authority (FN or FirstNet) [2]. AT&T was 

awarded the contract by FN to partner with FN and to build the NPSBN. One requirement of the Act is 

that the Director of NIST shall ensure the development of a list of certified devices that meet appropriate 

protocols and standards for access to, use of, or compatibility with the NPSBN that FN and AT&T build 

and maintain. This requirement is carried out by the Public Safety Communications Research Division 

(PSCR) [9] of the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory. This document describes the process for 

creating and maintaining the list. 

1.2 Intended Audience

The content of this document will evolve and change over time as the relationship between PSCR and 

FirstNet/AT&T evolves. As the FN device approval program changes, so will this document. The intended 

audience for this process document is divided into four distinct groups: 

1. This process document is for the internal purposes of PSCR to create and maintain the NIST List of 

Certified Devices; 

2. This process document is intended as an informative reference for NIST management and the 

director of NIST to better understand industry practices and to know how the NIST List of 

Certified Devices is created and maintained; 

3. This process document is intended as an informative reference for FN and AT&T to know how the 

NIST List of Certified Devices is created and maintained, how it relates to their internal processes, 

and how the points of contact are defined; 

4. This process document is intended as an informative reference for public consumption to know 

how the NIST List of Certified Devices is created and maintained. 

1.3 Overview: The Milestones to Add a Device to the NIST List of Certified Devices

For the purposes of this process, an approved device is defined as a device that has successfully 

completed these milestones: 

1) FCC Equipment Authorization 

A device must obtain FCC Equipment Authorization. In order to obtain FCC Equipment 

Authorization, a device must first be tested in an FCC-recognized ISO/IEC 17025 accredited 

laboratory that has a scope covering the applicable FCC requirements and test methods. Then, the 

device must be certified by an FCC-recognized Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB). 

2) PTCRB Certification Testing 

A device must obtain PTCRB [10] certification. PTCRB testing is conducted by ISO/IEC 17025 

accredited laboratories. Upon successful completion of the specific test suites, a device will obtain 

PTCRB certification status. 

3) AT&T Carrier Acceptance Testing for Public Safety Devices 

A device must be approved by AT&T to be sold for use on the NPSBN. AT&T is responsible for 

defining all of the testing requirements, inclusive of public safety, to complete their carrier 

acceptance process. Carrier acceptance testing is internal to AT&T. Once a device is approved via 

AT&T’s proprietary carrier acceptance testing, AT&T will notify FirstNet of the status. 
4 

4) FirstNet Device Approval 

Per FirstNet’s Device Approval Program, FirstNet will audit and/or verify test results and other 

criteria of a device. FirstNet may also perform test case execution on a device. Once a device has 

completed the agreed-to auditing, verification and/or test case execution, FirstNet will determine 

the device’s status on whether to include it on the NIST List of Certified Devices. FirstNet will 

maintain a spreadsheet titled “Device Summary Spreadsheet” that contains the devices and their 

current status. FirstNet will share the spreadsheet with NIST on a regular basis. In order for a 

device to be included on the NIST List of Certified Devices, the device must be approved by 

FirstNet and the spreadsheet shared with the PSCR point-of-contact (POC) (see section 1.4). 

NOTE: In the “NIST List Recommendation” column of the“Device Summary Spreadsheet”, if the device is 

listed as “YES”, it is implied that Milestones 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been achieved. 

NOTE: Milestones 3 and 4 may occur in parallel. 

5) Posting a Device to the NIST List of Certified Devices 

Upon completion of the above steps, the device will be added to the List by the PSCR POC. 

At the time of the device’s date of entry to the List, the device will be available for purchase through the 

FirstNet AT&T portal and other such means. 

In summary, if a device has successfully completed the milestones defined above, the device will be 

defined as certified (approved) for use on the NPSBN and will be included on the NIST List of Certified 

Devices. This methodology will help ensure that the NIST List of Certified Devices is synchronized with 

the devices that are being sold as part of the FN device portfolio on the FirstNet/AT&T portal. The 

remainder of this document provides detailed information regarding how a device is added to the list. 

 
5 

1.4 Point of Contact

FirstNet and PSCR will need to identify a point of contact (POC) for each organization, respectively. For 

FirstNet, the POC will receive updates to the status of the NIST List of Certified Devices. The FirstNet POC 

will also make requests for changes to the NIST List of Certified Devices, such as the removal of a device 

from the Active List sheet. The PSCR POC will update the FirstNet POC of changes to the NIST List of 

Certified Devices. The PSCR POC will also receive change requests from the FirstNet POC. This will help 

mitigate request conflicts and confusion. The POC and their deputies will be listed in a separate record 

that will be kept in SharePoint [3]. The POC for PSCR does not necessarily have to be a member of PSCR. 

The POC for PSCR does need to be a member of the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL). 

A special email address may be created for communications related to this process. 

 

1.5 Description of SharePoint

SharePoint is an online, cloud-based, file sharing and document storage product. It provides secure 

access of documents. PSCR will use SharePoint to store the NIST List of Certified Devices, this process 

document, and records associated with devices. 

1.6 Glossary

3GPP = 3rd Generation Partnership Project; An international standards body that is made up of seven 

telecommunications standard development organizations (ARIB, ATIS, CCSA, ETSI, TSDSI, TTA, TTC). The 

project creates cellular telecommunication standards, and is responsible for the creation of 4G LTE. 

ACRG = The advanced Communications Research Group within PSCR.		

DOC OIG = Office of Inspector General - Department of Commerce [1] 

FCC = Federal Communications Commission; A federal agency of the USA government that regulates 

interstate communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. 

FN = FirstNet; The First Responder Network Authority was established by Congress to establish and 

maintain a nationwide public safety broadband network. [2] 

GAO = U.S. Government Accountability Office [4] 

IOC = Initial Operational Capability. When AT&T was awarded to be a partner with FirstNet and to build 

out the NPSBN based on their response to FirstNet’s request for proposal, certain timelines for network 

capability were defined. IOC-1 is the first timeline that AT&T must meet as part of the award. IOC-1 has 

minimal public safety features and begins in the third quarter of 2017. IOC-2 is the second timeline and 

contains more public safety features and begins after IOC-1. The current target deadline for IOC-2 is 

March 30, 2018 but will begin in the fourth quarter of 2017. 

LTE = Long Term Evolution; The 4th Generation of wireless communication for mobile devices. 

MNO = Mobile network operator. A wireless communications service provider that builds and maintains 

its own network to provide services for customers. 

MVNO = mobile virtual network operator. A wireless communications service provider that buys time & 

access on another carrier’s network instead of building its own network. 

NIST = National Institute of Standards and Technology; A measurement standards laboratory in the US 

Department of Commerce. 

NTIA = National Telecommunications and Information Administration; An agency in the US Department 

of Commerce that is responsible for advising the President on policy matters regarding 

telecommunications and information. [8] 
6 

NPSBN = Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network; A wireless broadband network, defined in the 

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. 

OEM = Other Equipment Manufacturer 

POC = Point of Contact; A designated representative of an organization. 

PSCR = Public Safety Communications Research; A US Department of Commerce research program 

formed as a joint effort between NIST and NTIA to advance public safety communications 

interoperability. 

PTCRB = PCS Type Certification Review Board; A certification forum that provides the framework for 

device certification for wireless telecommunications technologies, such as LTE. 

SIM = subscriber identification module. An integrated circuit that stores subscriber and authentication 

information, and general information for basic usage of the device by the user. 

TCB = an FCC-recognized Telecommunications Certification Body 

 
7 

2 The Scope Within the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012

2.1 Where is NIST in the legislation

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, section 6206, part c, part 6 states: 

The director of NIST, in consultation with the First Responder Network Authority and the Commission, 

shall ensure the development of a list of certified devices and components meeting appropriate protocols 

and standards for public safety entities and commercial vendors to adhere to, if such entities or vendors 

seek to have access to, use of, or compatibility with the nationwide public safety broadband network. 

2.2 Interpretation of the legislation

The consensus interpretation of Section 6206, part c, part 6 is that NIST must ensure that a list of 

certified devices for use on the NPSBN exists. This requirement is carried out by the PSCR of the NIST 

Communications Technology Laboratory. In order for PSCR to provide due diligence for the responsibility 

of keeping such a list, PSCR must have records to provide as evidence that an objective decision was 

made based upon pre-defined criteria. Therefore, PSCR must have the ability to make the determination 

to add devices to the list or to deny devices from making the list. Appendix section 9.2 for more details 

about the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. 

2.3 Scope of Devices for the List

1) PSCR will require documentation listed in Section 1.3 to confirm the certification status for a 

device as evidence of the decision to include the device on the list. Any device that is placed on the 

List must complete AT&T Carrier Acceptance Testing for Public Safety Devices and obtain FirstNet 

Device Approval. 

2) PSCR will only require evidence of completion of the FirstNet and AT&T device approval process 

and will not impose additional requirements outside of the device approval process. FirstNet and 

AT&T are responsible for the creation and maintenance of the FirstNet and AT&T device approval 

process. 

3) For FCC Equipment Authorization and PTCRB testing, PSCR will only accept results from an 

ISO/IEC 17025 accredited (or similar) laboratory. 

4) PSCR will only include end-user devices on the list that are approved to be sold to public safety for 

use on the NPSBN. 

5) Only end-user devices that can access the 3GPP-based LTE NPSBN will be included on the NIST 

List of Certified Devices. More specifically, 3GPP-based LTE devices that are destined for the FN 

device portfolio will be included on the NIST List of Certified Devices. 

6) In IOC-1, the NPSBN will be operating as mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and FN 

subscriber identification module (SIM) cards will not be available. Therefore, no devices destined 

for the FN device portfolio in IOC-1 will be placed on the NIST List of Certified Devices. 

7) Starting with IOC-2, the NPSBN will be operational and FN SIM cards will be available. Therefore, 

those devices deployed during IOC-1 that are available in subsequent IOCs must be added to the 

NIST List of Certified Devices. Starting in IOC-2, new devices that are added to the FirstNet 

portfolio must be added to the NIST List of Certified Devices. 

8) As an important note, a transmitter with a modular grant can be installed in different end-use 

products (referred to as a host, host product, or host device) by the grantee or other equipment 

manufacturer (OEM), and each host is not required to obtain a separate certification for that 
8 

specific transmitter module. In other words, a modular grant for a device eliminates the need for a 

host product to obtain its own separate certification for the specific transmitter component. This 

is per FCC OET document 996369 D01 Module Certification Guide v01 which provides a guide for 

equipment authorization applications for 47 CFR Section 15.212 Modular transmitters. 

 
9 

3 General Industry Phases for Approving a Device for Sale

This section serves as a reference and describes the general phases or stages that most devices must go 

through in order to be accepted by a mobile network operator (MNO). This section is intended to provide 

background information for those that are unfamiliar with the general industry process. There are 

various testing stages that are divided into three phases for the purposes of this document. The definition 

of phases is not an industry standard and the definition is only used for clarification purposes in this 

document. The first phase is to gain regulatory approval. Then the device moves to various industry 

certifications for the second phase. The MNO defines which industry certifications are needed for its 

certification process. Once a device has regulatory approval and the required industry certifications, the 

device will go through the MNO-specific testing phase. There may be overlap in the timing of each phase. 

1. Regulatory Testing (Phase 1) 

a. This testing is required testing mandated by governments, both federal and local. The most 

important for this process document is FCC Equipment Authorization . 

2. Industry Certifications (Phase 2) 

a. This testing is from the various industry forums. These certifications are not required to 

legally sell the product in the USA, but are often required by MNOs. The most important 

certification for this process document is PTCRB certification. 

3. MNO Testing (Phase 3) 

a. This is testing that is specific to each MNO and differs from the standard industry testing 

described in section 2 above. It could impose stricter limits than what is described in 

section 2 above, add additional testing to the test suites from phase 2, or require entirely 

different test plans that are created by the MNO. This can be divided into pre-lab entry 

requirements and post-lab entry requirements. Typically, pre-lab entry is outsourced to a 

third party lab and post-lab entry is tested by the MNO itself. Examples of testing in Phase 3 

are: 

i. MNO-specific test plans performed in third party labs 

ii. MNO modifications to industry test plans. Examples may be: 

 tighter limits 

 additional samples needed for testing 

 optional tests that are usually not performed 

iii. MNO in-house testing 

 
10 

4 Appearance of the NIST List of Certified Devices

This section describes which items the NIST List of Certified Devices will contain. The NIST List of Certified Devices 

will be a spreadsheet that contains multiple sheets or tabs. The first sheet will be the cover page. The ensuing 

sheets, named the Active List sheets, will show the active list of certified devices by a particular year. For example, 

all devices approved in the year 2019 will be on the Active List Sheet that appears on the tab named "2019". The 

List will be stored in a secured location in SharePoint. A pdf version of the spreadsheet may also be created and 

stored in a secured location in SharePoint. A locked version of the spreadsheet (and if created, a locked version of 

the pdf version of the spreadsheet) will also be made available for viewing publicly on the PSCR website as only 

PSCR personnel will have access to SharePoint. 

4.1 Cover Sheet

The cover sheet or page of the NIST List of Certified Devices must contain (but is not limited to) the following 

information: 

1. The title of the document 

2. The date the NIST List of Certified Devices was last modified 

3. The version number 

a. Official versions need to be in whole numbers. For example, the 2nd official version of the list would 

be 2.00. 

b. Interim versions need to be decimal to the nearest hundredths. For example, the first interim 

version after the second official version would be 2.01. 

4.2 Active List Sheet by Year

The NIST List of Certified Devices shall include the following information for the Active List sheet for each calendar 

year: 

1. Entry line number 

2. Device Manufacturer 

3. Device Model1

4. FCC ID 

5. Date of entry. The date of entry is the date the PSCR POC receives all required documentation along with 

the request for the device to be added to the Active List Sheet. 

6. A comment column. The comment column contains general comments pertaining to the device. Comments 

are optional. 

7. Band 14 support (YES/NO) 

8. A note or disclaimer at the top of a sheet that explains that the devices on the sheet could possibly not be 

supported any longer, could possibly no longer receive software updates, and could perhaps have security 

issues. Other issues can also be outlined. Only sheets for the years prior to the current sheet need to have 

such a note or disclaimer. 

 

1Example: S7 Active, and Samsung S7 Edge would all be unique list entries. 
11 

5 Process for Adding a Device to the List

This section describes the process for NIST to either add a device to the list of certified devices or to deny 

the device from the list. 

5.1 Flow Chart for the process

5.2 Detailed Process Description for Adding a Device to the List

(1) FirstNet Provides Status of Devices & Reports: 

FirstNet will maintain a spreadsheet titled “Device Summary Spreadsheet” that contains the public 

safety devices and their current status. Each device in the spreadsheet will include the status of 

the following, but not limited to: FCC ID, PTCRB certification, AT&T carrier acceptance testing, 

FirstNet’s Device Approval, and NIST List of Certified Devices recommendation. When items have 

been marked as completed, a new version of the spreadsheet will be created. On a regular basis, 

the FirstNet POC will provide this spreadsheet to the PSCR POC. This will inform PSCR that a 

device is ready to be added to the NIST List of Certified Devices. 

NOTE: In the “NIST List Recommendation” column of the“Device Summary Spreadsheet”, if the device is 

listed as “YES”, it is implied that the device has a valid FCC ID, PTCRB certification, sufficiently passed 

AT&T carrier acceptance testing, and obtained FirstNet’s Device Approval. 

(2) Verify Device Certification Info: 

The PSCR POC will verify that a device meets the requirements from section 1.3 based on the 

information listed in the “Device Summary Spreadsheet”. 

(3) Create Record: 

(1) FN Provides

Status of Devices

& Reports

(2) Verify Device

Certification Info

(3) Create

Record

(4) Create a New

Device Record

(5) Add Device to

the LIst

(6) Inform NIST

Director of List

Status

(7) Inform FN of

List Status
12 

The PSCR POC will create a record of the status verification. This record shall be a Microsoft Word 

document or a PDF document stating the following: 

"I, [name of the PSCR POC], have verified the status requirements for the: [Manufacturer] [Model] 

[FCC IDD] 

on this date: 

[Date]." 

(4) Create a New Device Record: 

The PSCR POC will log into SharePoint and create a new device instance. The PSCR POC shall store 

the record and any associated documents from steps 1 through 3 above in SharePoint where only 

approved PSCR personnel can gain access. PSCR will provide a folder in SharePoint for the NIST 

List of Certified Devices records. The folder structure will be as follows: 

NIST List of Certified Devices Records [FOLDER] 

 -> Device Manufacturer [FOLDER] 

 -> Model Number – FCC ID [FOLDER] or Model Number_FCC ID [FOLDER] 

 -> Associated record(s) [DOCUMENTS & RECORDS] 

(5) Add Device to the List: 

The PSCR POC will add the device to the Active List sheet for the current year of the NIST List of 

Certified Devices according to Step 1 of Section 7.2 of this document. 

(6)Inform NIST director of List Status: 

If not already done, the PSCR POC will inform the director of NIST via email or newsletter where 

the list is available for viewing. 

(7)Inform FirstNet of List Status: 

The PSCR POC will inform the FirstNet POC via email that a device was added to the NIST List of 

Certified Devices and where the list is available for viewing. 
13 

6 Process for Removing a Device from the List

6.1 Flow Chart for the process

6.2 Detailed Process Description for Removing a Device from the List

(1) FN Requests to Remove Device: 

If FirstNet wishes that a device be removed from the Active List sheet of the NIST List of Certified 

Devices, then the request must be made to PSCR via email. The email must come from the defined 

FirstNet POC and be sent to the defined PSCR POC. Any reason can be given for the request, such 

as the device is no longer sold & supported or the device is a rogue device. A rogue device is 

described as a device that poses a significant risk to the performance or security (or both) of a 

network. FirstNet is responsible for making the determination that a device needs to be removed 

from the Active List sheet. PSCR shall not remove a device from the Active List sheet without an 

email request from FirstNet. 

(2) Store Request as a Record: 

Upon receiving a request from the FirstNet POC to remove a device from the Active List sheet, the 

PSCR POC will keep a record of the correspondence in the same folder in SharePoint as the status 

verification is stored for the specific device. PSCR will provide a folder in SharePoint for the NIST 

List of Certified Devices records. The folder structure will be as follows: 

(1) FN Requests

to Remove

Device

(2) Store

Request as a

Record

(3) Remove

Device from

Active List

(4) Inform NIST

Director of List

Status

(5) Inform FN of

List Status
14 

NIST List of Certified Devices Records [FOLDER] 

 -> Device Manufacturer [FOLDER] 

 -> Model Number – FCC ID [FOLDER] or Model Number_FCC ID [FOLDER] 

 -> Associated records [DOCUMENTS & RECORDS] 

(3) Remove Device from Active List: 

The PSCR POC will remove the device to the Active List sheet for the particular year of the NIST 

List of Certified Devices according to Step 2 of Section 7.2 of this document. 

(4)Inform NIST director of List Status: 

If not already done, the PSCR POC will inform the director of NIST via email or newsletter where 

the list is available for viewing. 

(5)Inform FirstNet of List Status: 

The PSCR POC will inform the FirstNet POC via email that a device was removed from the NIST 

List of Certified Devices and where the list is available for viewing. If the removal of a device was 

made in conjunction with a normal update of the NIST List of Certified Devices as described in 

section 5.2, the notification from section 5.2 is sufficient. 
15 

7 Process for Maintenance of the List

7.1 Flow Chart for the process

START

Is this a new

device that needs to be

added to an Active List                

sheet?

Does device need to be

removed from theActive

List Sheet?

NO

(1)Add device

information in the

particular Active List

sheet

(3) PSCR informs the

Director of NIST of

the status change of

the list along with

the location where

the list is stored, if

not already done

(4) PSCR informs  

FirstNet ofthe

status change of the

list along with the

location where the

list is stored  

YES

END

NO

(2)Remove the

device entry from

the particular Active

Listsheet

YES
16 

7.2 Detailed Process Description for Maintenance of the List

(1) Add device information in the next available entry row of the Active List sheet: 

A device needs to be added to the Active List sheet of a particular year in the NIST List of Certified 

Devices. 

a. The next available entry row will be used for the device (entry line number) unless a 

different row is specified by FirstNet. 

b. Fill in the information for the columns “Device Manufacturer”, “Device Model”, “FCC ID”, 

and “Band 14 Support”. 

c. Fill in the date of entry in the Date of entry column. The Date of entry is the date when all of 

the required documents were made available to the PSCR POC. 

d. Comments should contain what kind of device is being added. Any additional information 

can be included. Comments are optional. 

e. The Cover sheet will be updated with a new version and the NIST List of Certified Devices 

will be saved in the chosen secured location in SharePoint. PSCR will provide a folder in 

SharePoint for the NIST List of Certified Devices. The folder structure will be as follows: 

FirstNet Authority [FOLDER] 

-> NIST List of Certified Devices [DOCUMENT] 

(2) Remove the device entry from the Active List sheet: 

A device needs to be removed (deleted) from the Active List sheet of a particular year. This is done 

if a device was inadvertently added to the Active List sheet and was never intended to be on the 

NIST List of Certified Devices. A device can also be removed if the device is no longer supported, or 

for any reason given by FirstNet. 

a. Delete the entry for the device from the Active List sheet of the particular year. 

b. Adjust the numbering of the remaining rows after the removed row or leave the removed 

row blank and keep the numbering of the rows after the removed row. If the removed row 

is left blank, then this comment should be inserted into the Comments column: "This row is 

intentionally left blank". 

f. The Cover sheet will be updated with a new version and the NIST List of Certified Devices 

will be saved in the chosen secured location in SharePoint. PSCR will provide a folder in 

SharePoint for the NIST List of Certified Devices. The folder structure will be as follows: 

FirstNet Authority [FOLDER] 

-> NIST List of Certified Devices [DOCUMENT] 

c.

(3) PSCR informs the Director of NIST of the location where the list is stored: 

The Director of NIST needs to know the location of the NIST List of Certified Devices. 

a. If not done already, the director of NIST needs to be notified of where the NIST List of 

Certified Devices may be viewed. 

b. The correspondence in step a above will be stored as a record in SharePoint. 
17 

(4) PSCR informs FirstNet of the status change of the list along with the location where the list is 

stored: 

FirstNet needs to be notified of any changes to the NIST List of Certified Devices. 

a. The PSCR POC will inform the FirstNet POC via email that there was a change to the NIST 

List of Certified Devices (a device was added to the list, removed from the Active List sheet, 

or restored to the Active List sheet) and where the list is available for viewing. 

b. The email correspondence in step a above will be stored as a record in SharePoint. 
18 

8 Appendix

8.1 References

[1] DOC OIG: https://www.oig.doc.gov/ 

[2] FirstNet: http://www.firstnet.gov/

[3] SharePoint: https://nistgov.SharePoint.com/

[4] GAO: https://www.gao.gov/

[5] ISO/IEC 17025: https://www.iso.org/standard/39883.html 

[6] Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112thcongress/house-bill/3630

[7] NIST: https://www.nist.gov/ 

[8] NTIA: https://www.ntia.doc.gov

[9] PSCR: https://www.nist.gov/communications-technology-laboratory-ctl/pscr

[10] PTCRB: https://www.ptcrb.com/

8.2 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 Relevant Sections

Section 6001, part 10 

(10) COMMERCIAL STANDARDS.—The term ‘‘commercial standards’’ means the technical standards 

followed by the commercial mobile service and commercial mobile data service industries for network, 

device, and Internet Protocol connectivity. Such term includes standards developed by the Third 

Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the 

Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), 

and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 

Section 6206, part b.2.B.i 

(b) DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO DEPLOY AND OPERATE A NATIONWIDE PUBLIC SAFETY 

BROADBAND NETWORK.— 

 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this subsection, including 

issuing requests for proposals, the First Responder Network Authority shall— 

 (B) promote competition in the equipment market, including devices for public safety communications, 

by requiring that equipment for use on the network be— 

 (i) built to open, non-proprietary, commercially available standards; 

Section 6206, part c.6 

(c) OTHER SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
19 

(6) NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVICE CRITERIA.— The Director of NIST, in consultation with 

the First Responder Network Authority and the Commission, shall ensure the development of a list of 

certified devices and components meeting appropriate protocols and standards for public safety 

entities and commercial vendors to adhere to, if such entities or vendors seek to have access to, use of, 

or compatibility with the nationwide public safety broadband network. 

Section 6303, part a 

(a) NIST DIRECTED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.— 

From amounts made available from the Public Safety Trust Fund, the Director of NIST, in consultation 

with the Commission, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the National Institute of Justice of the 

Department of Justice, as appropriate, shall conduct research and assist with the development of 

standards, technologies, and applications to advance wireless public safety communications. 

Section 6303, part b 

(b) REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the requirement under subsection (a), the Director of NIST, 

in consultation with the First Responder Network Authority and the public safety advisory committee 

established under section 6205(a), shall— 

 (1) document public safety wireless communications technical requirements; 

 (2) accelerate the development of the capability for communications between currently deployed 

public safety narrowband systems and the nationwide public safety broadband network; 

 (3) establish a research plan, and direct research, that addresses the wireless communications needs of 

public safety entities beyond what can be provided by the current generation of broadband technology; 

 (4) accelerate the development of mission critical voice, including device-to- device ‘‘talkaround’’ 

capability over broadband networks, public safety prioritization, authentication capabilities, and 

standard application programing interfaces for the nationwide public safety broadband network, if 

necessary and practical; 

 (5) accelerate the development of communications technology and equipment that can facilitate the 

eventual migration of public safety narrowband communications to the nationwide public safety 

broadband network; and 

 (6) convene working groups of relevant government and commercial parties to achieve the 

requirements in paragraphs (1) through (5). 

8.3 Change History

Date Change Description

April 4, 2017 Initial Draft Initial Draft 

April 19, 2017 Version 0.20 Updates to Appendix and POC naming rules; other minor 

corrections 

April 26, 2017 Version 0.30 Updated Section 5 – waiver handling 

May 11, 2017 Version 0.40 JM – High level notes and comments and guidance. 

June 2, 2017 Version 0.50 Process flow updates and prose explaining the process steps 

June 2, 2017 Version 0.60 Corrected minor typos, accepted all changes, and deleted all 

comments. 

June 30, 2017 Version 0.70 Revisions based on outcome of ATT device focused meetings 
20 

July 10, 2017 Version 0.80 Revised Section 5 to be more specific of the record that is stored 

and the items in the record. 

July 11, 2017 Version 0.81 Accepted all comments and changes 

July 12, 2017 Version 0.90 Corrected grammar and typos. Made clarifications on concepts 

based on internal reviews. 

July 17, 2017 Version 1.00 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

September 20, 2017 Version 1.01 Changes to how the Director of NIST is notified about the list. 

Changes to how PSCR receives AT&T Carrier Acceptance Testing 

status. 

September 21, 2017 Version 1.10 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

September 27, 2017 Version 1.11 Included comments from Chris Walton and Gerardo Saqueton as 

part of the BERB review 

September 28, 2017 Version 1.20 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

September 28, 2017 Version 1.21 Including comments from Dereck Orr 

September 29, 2017 Version 1.30 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

October 3, 2017 Version 1.31 Removed item in section 2.3 per FN request 

October 6, 2017 Version 1.32 Update of document based on AT&T and FN NPSBNCOR inputs. 

October 11, 2017 Version 1.40 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

March 8, 2018 Version 1.41 Small changes to language of PSCR's role in the process; small 

editorial changes 

March 8, 2018 Version 1.50 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

May 4, 2018 Version 1.51 Clarified FCC Equipment Authorization process and terminology 

May 7, 2018 Version 1.60 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

October 22, 2018 Version 1.61 Updated Scope to clarify modules 

October 23, 2018 Version 1.70 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

February 28, 2019 Version 1.71 Updated process to include Band 14 column in the List 

March 8, 2019 Version 1.80 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

September 25, 2019 Version 1.81 Updated process to include a pdf version of the List and changed 

language to include the location of where the List can be viewed 

rather than where it is stored 

September 26, 2019 Version 1.90 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

October 21, 2019 Version 1.91 Updated the process to where PSCR will only require the Device 

Summary Spreadsheet to add a new device to the LIST. 

November 7, 2019 Version 2.00 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

April 15, 2020 Version 2.01 Updated the process to include options on how to remove a 

device from the Active List sheet 

April 16, 2020 Version 2.10 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

September 9, 2020 Version 2.11 Updated the process to include Active List Sheet by Year and 

removed the Expired List Sheet 

September 12, 2020 Version 2.12 Included disclaimer language for yearly tabs 

October 1, 2020 Version 2.20 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

August 12, 2022 Version 2.21 Edited language in clause 1.4. Edited step 3 of section 5.2 to 

include PDF documents 

August 15, 2022 Version 2.30 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 
21 

September 19, 2023 Version 2.31 Updated the processes to change from Huddle to SharePoint. 

Changes made throughout the document. 

September 20, 2023 Version 2.40 Accepted changes and resolved comments. 

January 4, 2024 Version 2.41 Added clarification for FirstNet Device Approval in sections 1.3 

and 5.2. Added clarification for email notifications in section 6.2. 

January 5, 2024 Version 2.50 Accepted changes and resolved comments.