FCC Part 15 Subpart C intentional radiator testing

FCC Part 15 Subpart C — Intentional Radiator Testing

FCC Part 15 Subpart C regulates intentional radiators — devices specifically designed to generate and emit radio frequency energy. Compatible Electronics provides comprehensive testing for wireless transmitters operating under Part 15C, using ANSI C63.10 (2013) measurement procedures accredited at all three California locations.

NVLAP Accredited FCC Listed Lab ISO/IEC 17025:2017 FCC ID Support

What are Intentional Radiators?

Intentional radiators are devices designed to transmit RF energy by radiation or induction. This includes WiFi devices, Bluetooth transmitters, Zigbee and Z-Wave modules, LoRa sensors, NFC readers, RFID systems, remote controls, and all other wireless communication devices operating without an individual license. FCC Certification (FCC ID) is required for all Part 15C intentional radiators before they can be marketed in the United States.

Part 15C Frequency Bands

ISM Bands

902–928 MHz ISM band — LoRa, Z-Wave, proprietary sub-GHz
2400–2483.5 MHz ISM band — WiFi 802.11b/g/n/ax, Bluetooth, Zigbee
5725–5850 MHz ISM band — WiFi 802.11a/n/ac/ax U-NII-3

Low Power & Specialty

Low power transmitters below 1 GHz — remote controls, sensors, keyfobs
13.553–13.567 MHz — NFC and HF RFID inductive devices (Part 15.225)
Field disturbance sensors
Cordless telephones and auditory assistance devices

RF Measurements Performed

Conducted output power at antenna port
Radiated field strength and EIRP
Peak and average power
Power spectral density (PSD)
Occupied bandwidth (99% method)

Spurious emissions — harmonics and out-of-band
Band edge emissions
Frequency accuracy and stability
Frequency hopping sequence and channel count verification
Dwell time per channel

Standards We Test To

USA — All 3 Locations

ANSI C63.10 (2013)

Procedures for Compliance Testing of Unlicensed Wireless Devices. Primary measurement standard for FCC Part 15C, 15E, 15F, 15G, 15H.

EU — Brea

ETSI EN 300 328 V2.2.2 (2019-07)

Wideband data transmission at 2.4 GHz. Covers WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee for CE marking.

EU — Lake Forest/Silverado

ETSI EN 300 220-1 / EN 300 220-2 (2012-05)

Short Range Devices 25 MHz to 1000 MHz. Covers Z-Wave and LoRa for CE marking.

Canada — All 3 Locations

RSS-247 Issue 2 (2017) & Issue 3 (2023)

Industry Canada DTSs, FHSs, and LE-LAN devices. Covers WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, LoRa. No DFS testing.

Canada — All 3 Locations

RSS-210 & RSS-Gen

RSS-210 Issue 10 (2019) +A1 — Category I licence-exempt apparatus. RSS-Gen Issue 5 + Amendment 2 (2021) — General requirements for Canadian radio apparatus.

Australia/NZ — All 3 Locations

AS/NZS 4268 (2017)

Australia/New Zealand short range devices. Accredited at all three California locations.

Spread Spectrum Requirements

Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) — minimum channel count and dwell time verification
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) — processing gain requirements
Hybrid spread spectrum systems
Channel hopping sequence verification
Maximum 400 ms dwell time per channel for Part 15.247 FHSS devices

Products We Test

WiFi, Bluetooth & Mesh

WiFi routers, access points, and client modules
Bluetooth and BLE devices (headsets, speakers, peripherals)
Zigbee and Z-Wave smart home products

IoT & Sub-GHz

LoRa and sub-GHz IoT sensors and transmitters
Remote controls and wireless keyfobs
Garage door openers and wireless access control
IoT transmitters and connected devices

RFID & Peripherals

NFC readers and HF RFID initiators
UHF RFID readers (902–928 MHz)
Wireless keyboards, mice, and computer peripherals

Real-World Testing Examples

Bluetooth Audio Device — FCC ID

A consumer audio manufacturer needed FCC Certification for a Bluetooth 5.2 wireless speaker. Compatible Electronics performed FCC Part 15C testing per ANSI C63.10 (2013), measuring conducted output power across all Bluetooth adaptive frequency hopping channels, EIRP with the internal antenna, occupied bandwidth per the 99% method, and spurious emissions from 30 MHz to the fifth harmonic. Parallel RSS-247 testing produced ISED certification documentation from the same session.

Sub-GHz Remote Control — Low Power Part 15C

A home automation manufacturer needed FCC Certification for a 915 MHz RF remote control module embedded in a ceiling fan controller. Testing per ANSI C63.10 covered conducted power at the antenna port, EIRP with the PCB trace antenna, band edge compliance at 928 MHz, and spurious emissions including the third harmonic at 2.745 GHz. The very low transmit power required the use of a shielded anechoic chamber for accurate EIRP measurement. The device passed on the initial test submission.

Zigbee Lighting Controller — Multi-Radio

An LED lighting OEM embedding Zigbee and a proprietary 900 MHz control radio in a commercial lighting controller required FCC Part 15C certification for both intentional radiators. Compatible Electronics tested both radios per ANSI C63.10 in worst-case simultaneous operation, verifying that the 900 MHz radio's second harmonic did not exceed spurious emission limits when the Zigbee radio was also transmitting. Both radios were covered in a single FCC ID application, reducing TCB filing fees and schedule.

Certification Requirements

FCC Certification (FCC ID) required for all Part 15C intentional radiators
Testing by NVLAP accredited laboratory required
TCB (Telecommunication Certification Body) review and issuance of FCC ID
Permanent FCC ID label on device or e-label implementation required
User manual must include FCC interference statement
RF exposure evaluation required — MPE per FCC OET 65; SAR testing coordinated through partner laboratories