Testing Lab of Power Supply/ IT / AV Products

Bluetooth speakers sold in the United States must comply with FCC regulations for intentional radiators. This guide covers the FCC certification testing requirements for Bluetooth speakers, including RF testing, SAR considerations, and the complete certification process.

FCC Certification Classification for Bluetooth Speakers

Bluetooth speakers contain intentional radiators (Bluetooth radio) and are subject to FCC Part 15 Subpart C rules:

• FCC ID Certification (Section 15.207/15.209):Required for all Bluetooth speakers. Must be tested by an FCC-recognized accredited testing laboratory and certified by a TCB (Telecommunications Certification Body)

• SDoC (Supplier's Declaration of Conformity):For the non-radio portion (audio amplifier, power supply), SDoC may apply. However, since the Bluetooth module requires FCC ID certification, the entire product typically follows the certification route

Bluetooth speakers operating in the 2.4GHz band under FCC Part 15 rules must comply with specific EIRP limits and spurious emission requirements.

RF Testing Requirements

Bluetooth speaker FCC certification requires the following RF tests per ANSI C63.10:

• Peak EIRP:DTS (Digital Transmission System) devices: peak output power must not exceed 1W (30dBm) per FCC 15.247. Most Bluetooth speakers operate well below this limit

• 6dB bandwidth:Must be ≥500kHz for DTS operation per FCC 15.247

• Band edge compliance:Emissions at the 2.4GHz band edges (2400MHz and 2483.5MHz) must meet the specified attenuation levels

• Spurious emissions:Conducted and radiated spurious emissions measured in restricted bands per FCC 15.205/15.209

• Frequency hopping:For classic Bluetooth (BR/EDR), verify frequency hopping sequence compliance per FCC 15.247(a)(1)

SAR and MPE Considerations

Bluetooth speakers are typically used at distances >20cm from the user. Therefore:

• Most Bluetooth speakers qualify for MPE (Maximum Permissible Exposure) evaluation rather than SAR testing

• Calculate the minimum safe distance using the MPE formula based on the speaker's EIRP

• If the speaker includes Wi-Fi operating at 5GHz with higher power, SAR testing may be required

The MPE evaluation result must be included in the FCC filing documentation.

FCC Certification Process

1. ①FCC Registration:Obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) and Grantee Code

1. ②Testing:Send samples to an FCC-recognized accredited laboratory for RF testing

1. ③TCB submission:Submit test report and documentation to a TCB for review and certification

1. ④FCC ID issuance:TCB grants the FCC ID, which is published in the FCC database

Timeline: 4-8 weeks from sample submission to FCC ID issuance. GTG Group provides Bluetooth speaker FCC certification testing and filing services.

This article is AI-assisted and for reference only. It does not constitute any certification commitment or legal advice. Please refer to the latest official regulations.

Contact: 18826804895 | net01@gtggroup.com