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Requirements for NIST Designation of U.S. Conformity Assessment Bodies

NIST, through the Telecom MRA program office (mra [at] nist.gov (mra[at]nist[dot]gov)), designates qualified U.S accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs) to telecom regulatory authorities for specific conformity assessment activities.    

The regulatory authority or other responsible party issues a formal recognition for qualified CABs and then accepts the CAB’s relevant conformity assessment results in accordance with (1) the scope of conformity assessment activities covered by the CAB’s recognition and (2) the economy’s regulatory scheme.  

The administrative and technical requirements for each economy, and the NIST designation application instructions can be viewed by selecting the link in the second column of TABLE 1.     

TABLE 1:  List of Economies & Designation Requirements

Regulatory Authority/Responsible Party*

Economy

 

 Designation Requirements

Additional Information   

Designation of U.S. TCBs to the FCC

United States

 

 

Federal Communication Commission (FCC)

Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs)

NIST designates qualified accredited U.S. Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) to the FCC. Please refer to the FCC TCB Program Roles and Responsibilities DocumentSearch the database of FCC Recognized TCBs here.

The process of FCC testing laboratory recognition is not administered by NIST.  Please refer to the FCC Accredited Testing Laboratory Program Roles and Responsibilities Document . Search the database of all FCC Recognized Labs here.

Designation of NBs

European Union 

 

 

European Commission (EC)* on behalf of the regulatory authorities of the Member States.

Notified Body (NB) Requirements

EMC Directive (EMCD)

Radio Equipment Directive (RED)

United Kingdom    
  UK Approved Body Requirements

Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations (SI 2016/1091)

Radio Equipment Regulations (SI 2017/1206)

Designation of Labs and CBs to Foreign MRA Partners

Australia

 

 

Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

 

Canada

 

 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Testing Laboratory & Certification Body Requirements 

 

Chinese Taipei

 

 

Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

 

National Communications Commission (NCC)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

 

Hong Kong

 

 

Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA)

Testing Laboratory & Certification Body Requirements

 

Israel

 

 

Ministry of Communications (MOC)

Ministry of Economy (MoE)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

 

Japan

 

 

VCCI*

Testing Laboratory Requirements

The VCCI registration process is not administered by NIST.

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)

Certification Body Requirements

 

Korea

 

 

National Radio Research Agency (RRA)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

 

Malaysia  

 

 

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

NIST Designation and MCMC Recognition not required

Mexico

 

 

Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

IFT recognition is only available for 3rd Party Testing Laboratories.

New Zealand

 

 

Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) 

Testing Laboratory Requirements  

NIST Designation and MBIE Recognition not required

Singapore

 

 

Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)

Testing Laboratory & Certification Body Requirements

 

Vietnam

 

 

Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC)

Testing Laboratory Requirements

 

 

 

Contacts

mra@nist.gov

Created April 4, 2017, Updated June 2, 2023