FCC stands for Federal Communication Commission. It’s an agency in the U.S. Federal Government that is structured under Chapter 1 Telecommunication Code of Federal Regulations known as 47 CFR. Its main responsibility is to manage the radio spectrum and to protect against radio and broadcast noise by enforcing standards and regulating the amount of radiated electromagnetic interference.
Electronic products interfere by causing noise. This occurs when you have electric current moving inside of a product that automatically produces electrical waves in the space around it. These “radio waves” are unwanted interference and can cause other nearby components and products to be adversely effected.
The FCC requires that an unintentional radiator (device which creates radio waves energy within itself, which is then unintentionally radiated from the device) need to be tested and operate under the FCC standards and guidelines. The FCC has the ability to impose penalties on manufacturers, importers, retailers and even end users for non-compliant product.
An unintentional radiator is classified into two classes, A and B. Class A is a device that is marketed for use in a commercial or industrial type environment. The class B device is a device that is marketed for use in a residential environment but could be used in a commercial, industrial or business environment. Class B devices have tougher testing parameters to meet.