9 Interesting Documents Found in FCC ID Applications

As part of FCC certification and conformance, applicants must submit various documents to demonstrate that they meet the requirements. These documents usually include test reports, photos, and various other pieces of information about the device. They also provide a lot of data about a device like the list of frequencies supported, radio power levels, and the test lab that submitted the application.

In this article, we will look at several types of documents submitted with FCC applications. We’ll also look at what these documents can typically contain, and the insights you can get from them.

Table of Contents

1. Confidentiality Request Letters
2. Label Location
3. External Photos
4. Internal Photos
5. User Manuals
6. RF Test Reports
7. Test Setup Photos
8. RF Exposure Info
9. Schematics & Block Diagrams

Let’s dive in.

Here are 9 different types of documents that you can usually find with an FCC ID application:

1. Confidentiality Requests/Cover Letters

When a company works with a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) to submit an FCC application, there are certain requests that can be made along with it. The company will typically write a “letter” notifying the FCC of what they are requesting.

Two common requests made are for short-term and long-term confidentiality of a device’s submitted documents. Companies choose to request this so that Intellectual Property (IP) and other design secrets can be preserved.

2. ID Label & Label Location Info

This document will detail the location of the FCC ID label on the product. Sometimes, the record will include a representation of what the label will look like or a diagram of the device with the label location highlighted.

3. External Photos

External photos of the device are submitted with FCC applications. Usually, companies will let the test lab take general pictures at different angles around the product on a neutral background. The products shown in external photos are meant to be a production representative.

4. Internal Photos

An application will also require pictures of the internal assemblies of the device. Also typically taken by the test lab, these photos can show the main processor board, antenna placements, or other significant parts of the device. These can be really cool to look through to learn about how a device works!

5. User Manual

A user manual is usually the paper booklet you find annoying and throw out almost immediately after unboxing a device. Before throwing it out, look through the different pages and you will see various regulatory statements and an FCC ID or marking.

6. Test Reports

The main reason devices need to submit for FCC certification or comply with the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is to make sure the radiation of the device does not exceed the limits set by the FCC. Tests are run by an accredited lab (TCB) and reports are then submitted with the FCC application. These test reports will dive into how the device was tested, the test station setup, and the resulting measurements.

7. Test Setup Photos

Sometimes applicants will submit test setup photos as a separate document. It will detail the environment in which the device was tested. The host system and other computer details are also likely to be in this document.

8. RF Exposure Info

By law, the FCC needs to evaluate emissions coming from devices that use radios (e.g wifi, bluetooth, cellular). The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) have issued recommendations for the limits on human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields. The RF exposure document details the testing of emissions compared to the limits.

9. Block diagram & Schematics

Block diagrams of the system and schematics of the internal circuitry are also required for an FCC application for an ID. The block diagram and schematic can (and usually are) be protected under Long Term Confidentiality to protect IP and other sensitive info. This means a device’s block diagram and schematics will not be released publicly with other documents.

Summary: 9 Types of Documents Found With an FCC ID

There are many documents required to be submitted for FCC certification. In this article, we looked at the 9 most common types and what can be cool to find in them. You can learn much about how an electronic device works and what it does by the reports and photos found in it’s fcc documentation. If you want to learn more or take the first steps in making your own device FCC compliant, please consult a compliance service professional.