The FCC is about to ban 21% of its test labs today. I mapped them all
4 hours ago
- #Hardware Compliance
- #FCC Certification
- #Test Labs
- FCC-accredited test labs are required for any hardware product emitting RF energy to be legally sold in the US.
- There are 591 FCC-recognized test labs worldwide, with less than a quarter located in the United States.
- Test labs conduct physical testing, while Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) review data and issue certifications; only 67 labs combine both functions.
- China and Taiwan together account for 37% of all FCC-accredited labs, reflecting the concentration of manufacturing and testing in these regions.
- A proposal to ban labs in China and Hong Kong could remove 126 labs (21.3% of the total) by April 30, 2026, impacting Western subsidiaries as well.
- When choosing a test lab, key factors include accreditation scope, TCB status for speed, location near manufacturing, multi-market capabilities, and detailed cost breakdowns.