FCC PART 15 REQUIREMENTS

About FCC Part 15

FCC (Federal Communications Commission) agency of USA regulates EMC and RF requirements of electronic devices by law. Main article is Title 47 and its Chapter I is related to FCC. Subchapter A has various parts, some of them are listed below:

Part 11 Emergency Alert System (EAS) 11.1 – 11.61
Part 13 Commercial Radio Operators 13.1 – 13.217
Part 14 Access to Advanced Communications Services and Equipment by People with Disabilities 14.1 – 14.61
Part 15 Radio Frequency Devices 15.1 – 15.717
Part 17 Construction, Marking, and Lighting of Antenna Structures 17.1 – 17.58
Part 18 Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment

As seen above Part 15 is related to Radio Frequency Devices. On this page, since we are focusing on FCC Part 15, its location on the legal article is as follows:

Title 47 Telecommunication

  Chapter I Federal Communications Commission

   Subchapter A General

     Part 15 Radio Frequency Devices

        Subpart A General 15.1 – 15.38

        Subpart B Unintentional Radiators 15.101 – 15.123

        Subpart C Intentional Radiators 15.201 – 15.258

       Subpart D Unlicensed Personal Communications Service Devices 15.301 – 15.323

       Subpart E Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure Devices 15.401 – 15.407

       Subpart F Ultra-Wideband Operation 15.501 – 15.525

      Subpart G Access Broadband Over Power Line (Access BPL) 15.601 – 15.615

      Subpart H White Space Devices 15.701 – 15.717

Subparts of FCC Part 15

FCC Part 15 has seven(7) subparts: A to H. On this page, we will only mention about essential items of Subpart A and Subpart B. To see all subparts please check the official website.

Subpart A

Subpart A defines general requirements for Radio Frequency Devices. 

Definitions of some essential terms: 

Intentional radiator: A device that intentionally generates and emits radio frequency energy by radiation or induction.

Incidental radiator: A device that generates radio frequency energy during the course of its operation although the device is not intentionally designed to generate or emit radio frequency energy. Examples of incidental radiators are dc motors, mechanical light switches, etc.

Scanning receiver: For the purpose of this part, this is a receiver that automatically switches among two or more frequencies in the range of 30 to 960 MHz and that is capable of stopping at and receiving a radio signal detected on a frequency.

Radio frequency (RF) energy: Electromagnetic energy at any frequency in the radio spectrum between 9 kHz and 3,000,000 MHz.

Unintentional radiator: A device that intentionally generates radio frequency energy for use within the device, or that sends radio frequency signals by conduction to associated equipment via connecting wiring, but which is not intended to emit RF energy by radiation or induction.

Harmful interference: Any emission, radiation or induction that endangers the functioning of a radio navigation service or of other safety services or seriously degrades, obstructs or repeatedly interrupts a radiocommunications service operating in accordance with this chapter.

Class A digital device: A digital device that is marketed for use in a commercial, industrial or business environment, exclusive of a device which is marketed for use by the general public or is intended to be used in the home.

(i) Class B digital device. A digital device that is marketed for use in a residential environment notwithstanding use in commercial, business and industrial environments. Examples of such devices include, but are not limited to, personal computers, calculators, and similar electronic devices that are marketed for use by the general public.

Note: The responsible party may also qualify a device intended to be marketed in a commercial, business or industrial environment as a Class B device, and in fact is encouraged to do so, provided the device complies with the technical specifications for a Class B digital device. In the event that a particular type of device has been found to repeatedly cause harmful interference to radio communications, the Commission may classify such a digital device as a Class B digital device, regardless of its intended use.

Measurement standards:

ANSI C63.17-2013: “American National Standard Methods of Measurement of the Electromagnetic and Operational Compatibility of Unlicensed Personal Communications Services (UPCS) Devices” 

Other intentional radiators are to be measured for compliance using the following procedure: ANSI C63.10-2013 

Unintentional radiators are to be measured for compliance using the following procedure excluding clauses 4.5.3, 4.6, 6.2.13, 8.2.2, 9, and 13: ANSI C63.4-2014 

Frequency range of radiated measurements:

For an intentional radiator

For an intentional radiator, the spectrum shall be investigated from the lowest radio frequency signal generated in the device, without going below 9 kHz, up to at least the frequency shown in this paragraph:

(1) If the intentional radiator operates below 10 GHz: to the tenth harmonic of the highest fundamental frequency or to 40 GHz, whichever is lower.

(2) If the intentional radiator operates at or above 10 GHz and below 30 GHz: to the fifth harmonic of the highest fundamental frequency or to 100 GHz, whichever is lower.

(3) If the intentional radiator operates at or above 30 GHz: to the fifth harmonic of the highest fundamental frequency or to 200 GHz, whichever is lower, unless specified otherwise elsewhere in the rules.

(4) If the intentional radiator operates at or above 95 GHz: To the third harmonic of the highest fundamental frequency or to 750 GHz, whichever is lower, unless specified otherwise elsewhere in the rules.

(5) If the intentional radiator contains a digital device, regardless of whether this digital device controls the functions of the intentional radiator or the digital device is used for additional control or function purposes other than to enable the operation of the intentional radiator, the frequency range shall be investigated up to the range specified in paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of this section or the range applicable to the digital device, as shown in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, whichever is the higher frequency range of investigation.

For an unintentional radiator

Except as otherwise indicated in paragraphs (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section, for an unintentional radiator, including a digital device, the spectrum shall be investigated from the lowest radio frequency signal generated or used in the device, without going below the lowest frequency for which a radiated emission limit is specified, up to the frequency shown in the following tables.

Subpart B

15.105 Information to the user.

For a Class A digital device or peripheral, the instructions furnished the user shall include the following or similar statement, placed in a prominent location in the text of the manual:

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

(b) For a Class B digital device or peripheral, the instructions furnished the user shall include the following or similar statement, placed in a prominent location in the text of the manual:

Note:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause

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