FCC rule Parts and ANSI C63 test standards

Hugues Orgitello updated 7 Oct 2026 14 min read

FCC technical requirements sit in the rule Parts of 47 CFR, not in a list of harmonised standards. The standards still matter, but only as test methods: 47 CFR 15.31 names the ANSI C63 procedure for each kind of device, and 15.38 and 2.910 fix the exact edition. This page maps each technology to its Part and section, gives the limits as the eCFR prints them on October 7, 2026, and lists the measurement standards in force, including the switch to ANSI C63.10-2020 that became mandatory on October 30, 2025.

47 CFR Parts that matter for electronic products

Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations covers telecommunications. The Parts below are the ones a product team meets most often, with the section that sets the equipment authorization route.

Part	Title in the eCFR	Equipment authorization rule
2	Frequency Allocations and Radio Treaty Matters; General Rules and Regulations	Subpart J sets the Certification and SDoC procedures used by every other Part
15	Radio Frequency Devices	15.101 (unintentional radiators: SDoC or Certification by device type); 15.201 (intentional radiators: Certification, with SDoC for a few listed cases)
18	Industrial, Scientific, and Medical Equipment	18.203: consumer ISM equipment SDoC or Certification; non-consumer ISM equipment SDoC
22	Public Mobile Services	22.377: transmitters must be certificated
24	Personal Communications Services	24.51: Certification
27	Miscellaneous Wireless Communications Services	27.51: Certification
74	Experimental Radio, Auxiliary, Special Broadcast and Other Program Distributional Services	74.851 covers certification of wireless microphones
80	Stations in the Maritime Services	80.203: Certification, with listed exceptions
90	Private Land Mobile Radio Services	90.203: Certification, with listed exceptions
95	Personal Radio Services	95.335: operating a non-certified transmitter is prohibited, with listed exceptions
96	Citizens Broadband Radio Service	96.49: Certification

For most connected products, Part 15 carries the whole file: Subpart B for the digital circuitry, and Subpart C or E for the radio. A cellular module adds the licensed-service Part for each band it transmits in (22, 24, 27). How the authorization is obtained is on FCC procedure; which devices fall in which category is on FCC scope.

Which ANSI C63 edition the FCC enforces

This is the part most summaries get wrong, because the editions move by rulemaking, not by publication. The FCC can enforce only the edition named in the incorporation-by-reference section (15.38 and 2.910 both say so), so a newer IEEE edition or amendment has no legal effect until the FCC publishes a rule in the Federal Register.

Device or task	Rule	Standard and edition in force	Note
Unintentional radiators (Part 15 Subpart B)	15.31(a)(4)	ANSI C63.4-2014, ANSI approved June 13, 2014	Clauses 4.5.3, 4.6, 6.2.13, 8.2.2, 9 and 13 excluded
QP detector and instrumentation	15.35(a)	ANSI C63.4-2014 (clause 4)	Peak detection allowed as an alternative
Intentional radiators other than UPCS	15.31(a)(3), 15.37(s)	ANSI C63.10-2020, ANSI approved September 10, 2020	Mandatory from October 30, 2025; C63.10-2013 was accepted only before that date
UPCS devices, 1920-1930 MHz (Subpart D)	15.31(a)(2)	ANSI C63.17-2013, approved August 12, 2013
Transmitters in licensed services (Parts 22, 24, 27, 90 and others)	2.1041(b)	ANSI C63.26-2015, ANSI approved December 11, 2015	"Acceptable" procedure, not the only one
Radiated test site validation	2.948(d)	ANSI C63.4-2014 clauses 5.4.4 to 5.5, ANSI C63.4a-2017, ANSI C63.25.1-2018, CISPR 16-1-4:2010	C63.4a-2017 and C63.25.1-2018 added as options in 2023
Laboratory accreditation	2.948(e)	ISO/IEC 17025:2017	2005 edition accepted for two years after October 30, 2023
ISM equipment (Part 18)	18.311	FCC MP-5, "FCC Methods of Measurements of Radio Noise Emissions from Industrial, Scientific, and Medical equipment"	Or procedures otherwise authorized by the FCC
Digital devices using the CISPR alternative	15.109(g)	CISPR 22, third edition (1997)	Test procedure still per C63.4-2014 (note 1 to 15.31(a)(4))

The current set dates from the FCC Report and Order published at 88 FR 67108 on September 29, 2023, effective October 30, 2023. It incorporated ANSI C63.10-2020 into 15.31 with a two-year window in which either C63.10-2013 or C63.10-2020 could be used, added C63.4a-2017 and C63.25.1-2018 as site validation options, and moved laboratory accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The FCC kept ANSI C63.4-2014 for unintentional radiator measurements, finding that it "continues to sufficiently address current needs".

Two points to note on the IEEE side. IEEE lists C63.10-2020 as active, with corrigendum C63.10-2020/Cor1-2023 and amendment C63.10a-2024 (ANSI approved August 8, 2024); 15.38 does not incorporate that amendment. And 15.38(f)(3) still lists C63.10-2013 as approved for 15.31(a) and 15.37(s), yet 15.31(a)(3) now names only the 2020 edition, and 15.37(s) confines the 2013 edition to measurements made before October 30, 2025.

Part 15 structure

Subpart	eCFR title	Typical content
A	General	Definitions (15.3), labeling (15.19), user information (15.21), measurement standards (15.31 to 15.38)
B	Unintentional Radiators	Digital devices, receivers, power supplies: limits in 15.107 and 15.109
C	Intentional Radiators	General limits (15.209), periodic operation (15.231), 902-928 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz (15.247, 15.249), 57-71 GHz (15.255)
D	Unlicensed Personal Communications Service Devices	1920-1930 MHz (15.301)
E	Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure Devices	U-NII 5 GHz and 6 GHz (15.407)
F	Ultra-Wideband Operation	UWB devices
G	Reserved	The Access BPL rules (15.601 to 15.615) were removed effective March 27, 2026 (91 FR 3067)
H	White Space Devices	TV band devices

Part 15 Subpart B: digital devices

15.3 defines a Class A digital device as one marketed for use in a commercial, industrial or business environment, excluding devices marketed to the general public or intended for the home, and Class B as one marketed for use in a residential environment. 15.3 encourages qualifying commercial equipment as Class B when it meets the Class B limits. A Class A device carries the 15.105(a) warning that operation in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference.

Conducted limits (15.107)

Measured on each power line with a 50 μH/50 ohm LISN, 150 kHz to 30 MHz. Battery-only devices that cannot operate from the AC line are exempt from the test (15.107(d)); a device that operates while charging is not.

Frequency (MHz)	Class B quasi-peak (dBμV)	Class B average (dBμV)	Class A quasi-peak (dBμV)	Class A average (dBμV)
0.15-0.5	66 to 56 (decreasing with log f)	56 to 46 (decreasing with log f)	79	66
0.5-5	56	46	73	60
5-30	60	50	73	60

The lower limit applies at the band edges. The bench practice behind these numbers is on conducted emissions and the LISN.

Radiated limits (15.109)

Frequency (MHz)	Class B at 3 m	Class A at 10 m
30-88	100 μV/m (40.0 dBμV/m)	90 μV/m (39.1 dBμV/m)
88-216	150 μV/m (43.5 dBμV/m)	150 μV/m (43.5 dBμV/m)
216-960	200 μV/m (46.0 dBμV/m)	210 μV/m (46.4 dBμV/m)
Above 960	500 μV/m (54.0 dBμV/m)	300 μV/m (49.5 dBμV/m)

The rule gives the limits in μV/m; the dBμV/m values are 20 log of the μV/m figure. The tighter limit applies at band edges (15.109(c)). The upper frequency of the scan comes from 15.33 and the detector from 15.35. As an alternative, 15.109(g) still allows digital devices to meet the CISPR 22 third edition (1997) limits, but compliance above 1000 MHz must still be shown with the 15.109 limits.

Part 15.247: 902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz and 5725-5850 MHz

The section applies only to frequency hopping and digitally modulated intentional radiators (15.247(a)). It is where most 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and BLE products, and many 902-928 MHz LPWAN and RFID reader designs, are certified.

Parameter	Limit in 15.247
Digital modulation: minimum 6 dB bandwidth	500 kHz ((a)(2))
Digital modulation: peak conducted output power	1 W in all three bands; maximum conducted output power (averaged) may be measured instead ((b)(3))
Frequency hopping, 2.4 GHz	1 W with at least 75 non-overlapping channels, otherwise 0.125 W; at least 15 channels ((b)(1), (a)(1)(iii))
Frequency hopping, 902-928 MHz	1 W with at least 50 channels; 0.25 W with 25 to 49 channels ((b)(2))
Frequency hopping, 5725-5850 MHz	1 W, at least 75 channels ((b)(1), (a)(1)(ii))
Antenna gain	Power limits assume a directional gain of 6 dBi or less; above that, conducted power is reduced dB for dB ((b)(4)), with relief for fixed point-to-point links ((c)(1))
Power spectral density, digital modulation	8 dBm in any 3 kHz band ((e))
Out-of-band emissions	20 dB below the in-band peak in any 100 kHz, or 30 dB when power is measured as an RMS average; restricted bands must meet 15.209 ((d))
RF exposure	1.1307(b), 1.1310, 2.1091 and 2.1093 apply ((i))

There is no EIRP cap as such in 15.247: the limit is conducted power plus the 6 dBi antenna rule.

15.247 or 15.249?

15.249 covers the same 902-928 MHz and 2400-2483.5 MHz bands plus 5725-5875 MHz and 24.0-24.25 GHz, with no bandwidth or hopping requirement. The limit is a field strength at 3 m: 50 mV/m for the fundamental and 500 μV/m for harmonics in the three lower bands, 250 mV/m and 2500 μV/m at 24 GHz. Emissions outside the band, other than harmonics, must be 50 dB below the fundamental or meet 15.209, whichever is less strict. 15.249 is not a "periodic operation" rule: periodic transmitters such as alarm and door-opener controls fall under 15.231.

Part 15.407: U-NII 5 GHz and 6 GHz

The limits depend on the band and on the device type (access point, client, and in 6 GHz several categories). The table summarizes 15.407(a) as printed on October 7, 2026.

Band	Device	Power limit	PSD limit	Conditions
5.15-5.25 GHz (U-NII-1)	Access point (indoor, outdoor, fixed point-to-point)	1 W conducted	17 dBm/MHz	Outdoor AP: EIRP above 30° elevation max 125 mW (21 dBm)
5.15-5.25 GHz	Client	250 mW conducted	11 dBm/MHz
5.25-5.35 and 5.47-5.725 GHz (U-NII-2A, 2C)	All	Lesser of 250 mW or 11 dBm + 10 log B	11 dBm/MHz	DFS radar detection required (15.407(h)(2))
5.725-5.85 GHz (U-NII-3)	All	1 W conducted	30 dBm in 500 kHz	Fixed point-to-point: no reduction for gain above 6 dBi
5.85-5.895 GHz (U-NII-4)	Indoor AP / client	36 dBm EIRP / 30 dBm EIRP	20 / 14 dBm/MHz EIRP	Clients only under control of an indoor AP
5.925-6.425 and 6.525-6.875 GHz (U-NII-5, U-NII-7)	Standard power AP and fixed client	36 dBm EIRP	23 dBm/MHz EIRP	Must use an AFC system (15.407(k))
5.925-7.125 GHz (U-NII-5 to U-NII-8)	Low-power indoor AP	30 dBm EIRP	5 dBm/MHz EIRP	Indoor only, integrated antenna, label statement
5.925-7.125 GHz	Client of an indoor AP	24 dBm EIRP	-1 dBm/MHz EIRP	Indoor only
5.925-7.125 GHz	Very low power (VLP) device	14 dBm EIRP	-5 dBm/MHz EIRP	Whole band since May 5, 2025
U-NII-5 and U-NII-7	Geofenced variable power (GVP) AP / client	24 dBm / 18 dBm EIRP	11 / 5 dBm/MHz EIRP	Geofencing system; rules effective April 27, 2026

Above 6 dBi of antenna gain, the 5 GHz conducted limits drop dB for dB. Client devices of a standard power AP are limited to 30 dBm EIRP and 17 dBm/MHz, and must stay 6 dB below their AP. The maximum channel bandwidth in 6 GHz is 320 MHz (15.407(a)(11)). 15.407(d) bars 6 GHz standard power, fixed client and indoor AP operation on vehicles and boats, bars every listed 6 GHz category on oil platforms and aircraft (except VLP devices and low-power indoor APs in large aircraft above 10,000 feet, in 5.925-6.425 GHz), and prohibits control of drones in the band.

6 GHz changes, dated

Federal Register	Effective	Change
89 FR 874, January 8, 2024	March 8, 2024	VLP devices allowed in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7
90 FR 11373, March 6, 2025	May 5, 2025	VLP devices extended to the whole 5.925-7.125 GHz band
91 FR 9140, February 25, 2026	April 27, 2026	Geofenced variable power devices in U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 (11 dBm/MHz, 24 dBm EIRP)

Cellular Parts: 22, 24, 27

Each Part assigns spectrum blocks; the 3GPP band names below are given only as a reading aid.

Part and section	Spectrum in the rule	Common 3GPP band
22.905 (Cellular, Blocks A and B)	824-849 MHz paired with 869-894 MHz	B5, n5
24.229 (Broadband PCS, Blocks A to F)	1850-1910 MHz paired with 1930-1990 MHz	B2, n2
24.229(c)	1910-1915 MHz paired with 1990-1995 MHz	Completes B25, n25
27.5(c), 27.5(b)	698-746 MHz; 746-758, 775-788 and 805-806 MHz	B12, B17; B13
27.5(l)	600 MHz band: 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz	B71, n71
27.5(h)	AWS: 1710-1755, 2110-2155, 1695-1710, 1755-1780, 2155-2180 MHz	B4, B66, n66
27.5(a)	WCS: 2305-2320 and 2345-2360 MHz	B30
27.5(i)	BRS/EBS band	B41, n41
27.5(m)	3.7 GHz Service, 3700-4140 MHz as currently printed	n77
27.5(o)	3450-3550 MHz	n77

A multi-band module therefore lists several rule Parts on one grant. CBRS (3550-3700 MHz) is a separate Part, Part 96. Test methods for all of these follow 2.1046 to 2.1057, with ANSI C63.26-2015 accepted as the procedure (2.1041(b)).

RF exposure (2.1091, 2.1093)

Every 15.247 and 15.407 device is subject to the RF exposure rules. 2.1093 defines a portable device as one whose radiating structure is generally within 20 cm of the user's body; SAR limits apply from 100 kHz to 6 GHz, and MPE limits above 6 GHz. Compliance can be shown by measurement or validated computation. 2.1093 itself says the KDB guidance "does not necessarily represent the only acceptable methods" and is not binding. In practice, KDB 447498 sets the filing format: since August 13, 2022, and "until further notice", applicants can use either D01 v06 or the interim D04 v01 guidance, but not a mix, and every certification application needs an RF exposure exhibit, even when it claims an exemption. Measurement detail is on SAR procedures.

KDB publications

The OET Knowledge Database (FCC KDB) publishes staff guidance on how to apply the rules. It is not a rule, but TCBs follow it.

KDB	Subject as titled by the FCC
996369	Modules, module certification, 15.212
558074	Section 15.247, DTS and frequency hopping measurement procedures
789033	Part 15 Subpart E, U-NII test procedures
987594	U-NII 6 GHz devices, 5.925-7.125 GHz
905462	U-NII DFS test procedures
447498	Mobile and portable device RF exposure, 1.1307, 2.1091, 2.1093
248227	RF exposure (SAR) measurements for Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11
865664	SAR measurements and reporting, 100 MHz to 6 GHz
178919	Section 2.1043, permissive changes
784748	Labeling and user information (D02 covers e-labeling)
484596	Referencing test data

Mandatory statements

Three Part 15 sections set fixed wording. They do not split by "intentional" versus "digital" as is often written.

Section	Applies to	Where	Wording
15.19(a)(3)	All Part 15 devices under Certification or SDoC, except receivers for licensed services (15.19(a)(1)) and stand-alone cable input selector switches (15.19(a)(2)), which have their own sentence	On the device, in a conspicuous location; manual plus packaging or removable label only if the device is too small for four-point text and has no e-label display	"This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation."
15.105(a) or (b)	Class A or Class B digital devices and peripherals	In the manual, prominent location ("the following or similar statement")	Class B text ends with four corrective measures for the user (reorient the antenna, increase separation, use another circuit, consult the dealer)
15.21	Every intentional or unintentional radiator	In the manual	Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment

A manual supplied only in electronic form may carry the 15.105 and 15.21 text (15.105(e), 15.21). In 6 GHz, 15.407(d)(4) adds a label and manual statement for indoor access points and subordinate devices.

Claims the texts contradict

Common claim (including earlier versions of this page)	What the text says
Intentional radiators are tested to ANSI C63.10-2013	15.37(s): from October 30, 2025, only ANSI C63.10-2020
The latest IEEE edition or amendment applies automatically	15.38 and 2.910: the FCC must publish a Federal Register document to enforce any other edition; C63.10a-2024 is not incorporated
15.249 is the "periodic operation" rule	15.249 is a field strength rule for 902-928 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz and 24 GHz; periodic operation is 15.231
U-NII-1 allows 30 dBm for all devices	1 W (30 dBm) conducted is for access points; clients are limited to 250 mW and 11 dBm/MHz
U-NII-3 allows 36 dBm	The limit is 1 W conducted, reduced above 6 dBi of antenna gain (except fixed point-to-point)
Part 22 cellular "A-band" covers 824-849/869-894 MHz	22.905: that range is split between Block A and Block B
PCS is 1850-1910/1930-1990 MHz	24.229(c) adds 1910-1915/1990-1995 MHz to Part 24
The 15.19 two-condition statement is for intentional radiators, in the manual	It goes on the device and applies to all Part 15 devices except two listed categories
15.247 sets a maximum EIRP	It sets conducted power, PSD and a 6 dBi antenna assumption, not an EIRP cap

In summary

The FCC writes limits into the rule Parts; standards serve as test methods, and only the edition named in 15.38 or 2.910 is enforceable.
Since October 30, 2025, Part 15 intentional radiators are measured to ANSI C63.10-2020; unintentional radiators stay on ANSI C63.4-2014 minus six clauses.
Licensed-service transmitters (Parts 22, 24, 27, 90) can use ANSI C63.26-2015.
15.247 limits are conducted power and PSD with a 6 dBi antenna assumption; 15.407 limits depend on band and device type, with three 6 GHz rule changes between 2024 and 2026.
Fixed user wording comes from 15.19 (on the device), 15.105 and 15.21 (in the manual).

For practical implementation, see FCC procedure and Required tests.