FCC: What do you mean radio waves are regulated?

Trade compliance professionals love acronyms. Accustomed to an alphabet soup of government agencies and trade programs, trade professionals use acronyms in their jargon frequently. That said, some acronyms, like FCC, are known but their importance, particularly in product importation is not clearly understood.

What is the FCC?

The FCC stands for the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is a US government agency, overseen by Congress that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. FCC is important to trade compliance because it helps protect communications and communication devices in the US.

The FCC has six goals:

• Reliable broadband internet connection
• Communications competition
• Efficient use of radio waves
• Media competition
• Public safety
• Modernize the FCC

Compliance with FCC regulations makes it vital for importers to provide consumers with a properly tested product. Cell phones for example are very susceptible to signal issues and are one of a number of devices the FCC regulates. Although it may seem like an extra hassle to have a radio frequency device imported by following FCC regulations, it is extremely important. If FCC is not declared correctly it can result in fines of up to $250,000, broadcast license revocation and up to five years in prison.

Importing an FCC regulated device

In order for a radio frequency emitting device to be imported properly, it has to be accompanied by FCC form 740. Form 740 is a declaration of the radio frequency device(s), condition and if necessary an FCC ID. There are nine different conditions listed on the form, all of which have a detailed description so that the imported device can be declared correctly by the importer. The form identifies what the product will be used for; if for consumer use, government use, used for testing, etc.

Additionally, US Customs flags a number of Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) codes that require FCC. However, there are circumstances in which a non-flagged code requires FCC. It is up to the importer to make sure that every item imported is checked to make sure it doesn’t require an FCC code or is assigned the proper code.

The penalty makes it that much more vital to declare the correct condition as an importer. Allyn International’s experience and diverse global trade compliance background provides a strong foundation for client support. For more information on the FCC, or to find out about how Allyn International can assist with your Trade Compliance program, contact sales@allynintl.com for more information.