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FCCUnited StatesBluetooth speakers

Do Bluetooth speakers need FCC certification?

Updated

Short answer

Yes.

Bluetooth is a radio transmitter, so a Bluetooth speaker is an intentional radiator under Part 15. 47 CFR 15.201(b) requires intentional radiators to be certified by a Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) before marketing. The result is a grant and an FCC ID that must appear on the product. The speaker's digital circuits also need authorization as an unintentional radiator, usually by Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC).

What changes the answer

  • Certified Bluetooth module. If the speaker uses a module with a full modular grant under 47 CFR 15.212, you can rely on the module's FCC ID instead of certifying the radio again. The product label must then say "Contains FCC ID" followed by the module's ID, and the host still needs SDoC testing for its own emissions.
  • Module used outside its grant conditions. A modular grant lists antenna types and other limits. If the host changes the antenna or the grant is a limited modular approval tied to specific hosts, the speaker may need its own certification or a permissive change by the grantee.
  • Extra radios. Wi-Fi, FM transmitters, NFC or a 2.4 GHz party-link radio each need to be covered by a grant.
  • Covered List equipment. Gear produced by an entity on the FCC Covered List must use certification for all parts, not SDoC (47 CFR 15.103(j)), and new grants for some listed entities are barred.

What to do

  1. Ask the factory for the FCC ID of the Bluetooth module or of the finished speaker. Look it up in the FCC equipment authorization database and check the grantee, model and frequency range.
  2. If the speaker is not yet certified, an accredited lab tests it against Part 15 Subpart C (15.247 for Bluetooth) and a TCB issues the grant. The grantee is whoever applies, often the brand owner.
  3. Test the host as a Class B digital device under Subpart B and supply the SDoC compliance information described in 47 CFR 2.1077, naming a U.S. responsible party.
  4. Label the speaker with the FCC ID under 47 CFR 2.925 and the two-condition Part 15 statement under 15.19. Electronic labeling is allowed for devices with a display.
  5. Do not import or list the speaker before the grant is issued. 47 CFR 2.803 counts importing and marketplace listings as marketing, and 2.803(c) requires online marketplaces to show a valid FCC ID at the point of sale.
Common HTS lines for Bluetooth speakers
  • 8518.22.00.00

    8518: Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio-frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets; parts thereof

    Loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures / Multiple loudspeakers, mounted in the same enclosure

    Multiple loudspeakers in one enclosure, the usual line for portable Bluetooth speakers.

    General rate
    Free
  • 8518.21.00.00

    8518: Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio-frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets; parts thereof

    Loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures / Single loudspeakers, mounted in their enclosures

    Single loudspeaker mounted in its enclosure.

    General rate
    Free

Next steps

Frequently asked questions

Is an FCC ID the same as FCC certification?
Yes, in practice. The FCC ID is the identifier assigned in the grant of certification. If a product has a valid FCC ID for its radio, that radio is certified. SDoC products do not get an FCC ID.
Can I reuse my supplier's FCC ID under my brand?
Yes, if the product is identical to the certified one. The grantee stays responsible for compliance under 47 CFR 2.909(a). If you change the hardware or the antenna, talk to the grantee about a permissive change or file your own application.
Does a Bluetooth speaker also need a CPC or GCC?
Not for FCC reasons. A general use speaker usually has no CPSC rule that requires a GCC. If it is designed for children 12 and under, it is a children's product and needs third-party testing and a Children's Product Certificate.

Sources

  1. 47 CFR 15.201, Equipment authorization requirement for intentional radiators, eCFR, National Archives
  2. 47 CFR 15.212, Modular transmitters, eCFR, National Archives
  3. 47 CFR 2.925, Identification of equipment, eCFR, National Archives
  4. 47 CFR 2.803, Marketing of radio frequency devices prior to equipment authorization, eCFR, National Archives
  5. 47 CFR part 15, Radio frequency devices, eCFR, National Archives

This is general information drawn from the official sources linked above. It is not legal advice. Rules change and often turn on the facts of your product, so confirm your test plan with an accredited lab and your obligations with qualified counsel before you import or sell.