FCC Bans 'Bad Labs' from U.S. Equipment Authorization Process

[stanlawj]

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-bans-bad-labs-us-equipment-authorization-process-0

We prohibit FCC recognition of any TCB, test lab, or laboratory accreditation body owned by, controlled by, or subject to the direction of a prohibited entity (as defined by the Order), and prohibit such TCBs, test labs, and laboratory accreditation bodies from participating in our equipment authorization program, not only with regard to the equipment certification process but also the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) process. This prohibition applies regardless of the location of the TCB, test lab, or laboratory accreditation body.

Issued On: May 27, 2025

 

[stanlawj]

Recent news:

Date	Update	Details
September 4, 2025	Rules become effective	The new prohibitions on "bad labs" and TCBs are now enforceable, barring participation by entities tied to foreign adversaries. This follows a notice-and-comment period and aligns with broader FCC efforts to secure telecom infrastructure.
September 8, 2025	First enforcement tranche: Proceedings against 7 labs; denials for 4 others	FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology issued notices to withdraw recognition from 7 Chinese government-controlled labs and denied renewals for 4 more (two of which sought extensions). Affected labs include: - Proceedings initiated: Chongqing Academy of Information and Communications (Chongqing); CQC Internet of Vehicles Technical Service Co. (Shenzhen); CVC Testing Technology (Shenzhen); CVC Testing Technology (Guangzhou); TUV Rheinland-CCIC Ningbo Co. (Ningbo); TTL CAICT (Beijing); UL-CCIC Company Limited (Suzhou). - Renewals denied/expired: CESI (Guangzhou) Standards; China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT); Shanghai Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology (SIMT); CCIC Southern Testing Co. FCC Chair Brendan Carr emphasized that "foreign adversary governments should not own or control the labs that test the devices the FCC certifies as safe for the U.S. market." Existing authorizations from these labs remain valid, but any future device modifications require re-testing by accredited (non-"bad") labs.
September 15, 2025	Tech industry pushes back	Six industry groups (e.g., CTA, ITI, INCOMPAS) urged the FCC against a broad location-based ban on China labs, warning of innovation delays, higher costs, reduced testing capacity, and potential retaliation against U.S. firms abroad. They advocated evidence-based restrictions on ownership/control rather than geography. The FCC is still reviewing comments on expanding rules to all labs in adversary countries and incentivizing U.S.-based testing.
September 26, 2025	Second enforcement tranche: Denials for 4 more labs	In its latest action, the FCC denied recognition applications from another 4 China-controlled "bad labs" due to ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), state-owned enterprises, and military-civil fusion efforts. This expands curbs to prevent potential spyware in U.S. devices. Affected labs: - CCIC-CSA International Certification Co. (Guangdong). - Industrial Internet Innovation Center (Shanghai). - State Radio Monitoring Center (China). - Reliability Laboratory-New H3C Technologies Co. (China). Implications mirror the first tranche: No retroactive invalidation of prior certifications, but heightened scrutiny on supply chains.

 

[stanlawj]

This is move is clearly designed to politically enforce separate industrial supply chains between US and China.

This move already started and will not be reversed in the near future.

Made-in-China high-tech goods (without exemptions) will no longer be exportable to US.
Likewise, expect reciprocal move from China: Made-in-US high-tech goods (without exemptions) will also no longer be exportable to China.

Battle-ground for markets therefore will shift to the other regions:
Europe
LatAm
Africa
South-east Asia