FCC laboratory rules could redraw the route to US equipment authorisation

The US Federal Communications Commission plans to vote on further restrictions affecting overseas laboratories and certification bodies involved in approving electronic equipment for the American market.

The proposal would prevent laboratories, telecommunications certification bodies and accreditation organisations in countries without reciprocal treatment from participating in the FCC equipment-authorisation programme. China is expected to be the most significant country affected.

The vote is scheduled for 29 October 2026. Reuters reports that the proposed prohibitions would take effect in December 2028 if adopted.

FCC chairman Brendan Carr said that 82 per cent of electronics submitted to the programme were tested in China during 2025, while fewer than 4 per cent were tested in the United States.

What the authorisation chain covers

Radio-frequency devices sold or imported into the United States may require testing against FCC technical rules. Depending on the product and authorisation route, results are reviewed by an FCC-recognised testing laboratory or telecommunications certification body.

The process affects intentional transmitters such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular and short-range-radio products. It can also cover unintentional radiators whose digital circuitry generates radio-frequency emissions.

A restriction on where recognised testing can take place would not directly change the applicable emissions or radio-performance limits. It would instead change which organisations are permitted to generate or assess the evidence used in an authorisation application.

Capacity and evidence continuity

Manufacturers using an affected laboratory could have to move future work to a recognised facility in the United States or another reciprocal jurisdiction. The transition could involve new bookings, test-plan reviews and repeated testing where existing evidence cannot be transferred or accepted.

The FCC has already introduced a separate priority-review route for applications tested by designated Trusted Test Labs in the United States or reciprocal economies. That measure took effect on 15 June 2026.

The final effect will depend on the adopted text, implementation dates and any transitional treatment for existing reports or pending applications. Until the commission votes, the wider prohibition remains a proposal rather than an operative testing rule.