Follow-Up: FCC Adopts Device Test Lab Reciprocity Rules, Limiting Recognition From December 1, 2028 to Labs in the U.S. or Reciprocal Economies
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted final rules on October 29 in Washington changing the regime that governs testing of electronic devices used by U.S. consumers. Every electronic device must be tested at an FCC-recognized lab before it can be used or marketed in the United States. Starting December 1, 2028, the FCC will limit its recognition of test labs to those located in the United States or in countries that grant U.S. labs reciprocal recognition, and all testing, certifying and accreditation activities will occur in the U.S. or a reciprocal economy. GSM reported on October 7 and October 15 that this proposal was scheduled for an October 29 vote; this is the adopted result.
The FCC said the U.S. abandoned reciprocity in this area over recent decades, pushing the overwhelming majority of testing to non-reciprocal economies and offshoring the U.S. test lab industry, undermining FCC oversight. Today, less than 4 percent of all electronic devices are tested in labs inside the U.S.
The rules follow last year's Bad Labs rules, which barred test lab ownership or control by entities deemed national security threats, such as foreign adversaries; 29 labs have lost FCC recognition over such ties. The FCC has also withdrawn recognition from two labs in non-reciprocal economies and begun the process for two more, where labs had copied and pasted test results.
The Commission gave three principles for the reciprocity rules: it lacks confidence in the integrity of testing in non-reciprocal economies, where oversight frameworks are absent and a pattern of egregious violations has been observed; abandoning reciprocity created a dangerous overconcentration threatening the equipment authorization program; and reciprocity is a critical principle of international trade that should apply to device testing as a matter of fairness and to protect the U.S. industry.
The action was taken by Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 26-73, in ET Docket No. 24-136, with Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioners Anna Gomez and Olivia Trusty approving; Carr and Trusty issued separate statements.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：检测实验室内的技术人员操作精密检测设备（资料图）。经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A technician operates precision testing equipment in a laboratory (file photo). Via Wikimedia Commons.
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