Who makes it
Every gadget leaves a paper trail.
The FCC ID on a wireless device, the testing lab behind a safety mark, and the trademark owner behind a brand name can tell you a lot about where a gadget really comes from.
The FCC ID
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FCC authorization before sale
In the US, no one may market a radio frequency device unless it's covered by a valid FCC equipment authorization. Marketing includes selling, advertising, and importing for sale.
Source: eCFR, 47 CFR 2.803 (FCC rules)
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Transmitters need certification
Devices that intentionally send out radio signals under the FCC's Part 15 rules generally have to be certified before they're marketed, unless a listed exemption applies.
Source: eCFR, 47 CFR 15.201 (FCC rules)
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The FCC ID label
A certified device has to carry a label showing its FCC Identifier, printed after the words "FCC ID." The label has to be readily visible to the buyer at the time of purchase.
Source: eCFR, 47 CFR 2.925 (FCC rules)
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What the FCC ID tells you
An FCC ID has two parts: a grantee code the FCC assigns permanently to the company that applied, and a product code that company chooses. That's why the ID points back to the applicant, not just the product.
Source: eCFR, 47 CFR 2.926 (FCC rules)
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An FCC ID can't be borrowed
An FCC ID belongs to the company that holds the grant, and it can't be put on equipment without that company's authorization.
Source: eCFR, 47 CFR 2.926 (FCC rules)
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FCC ID on the screen
Devices with a display can show the FCC ID on screen instead of a printed label. If they do, it must be reachable in no more than three steps from the settings menu, with no special codes.
Source: eCFR, 47 CFR 2.935 (FCC rules)
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What the FCC database holds
Certified equipment is listed in an FCC database that includes the application for certification and the test report.
Source: Federal Register, FCC notice on equipment authorization and electronic labeling (2015)
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A US contact on the paperwork
Electronics approved through the FCC's Supplier's Declaration of Conformity route come with a compliance statement naming a responsible party, and that party has to be located in the US.
Source: eCFR, 47 CFR 2.1077 (FCC rules)
Safety marks
OSHA’s lab program is about products used in workplaces, and US law doesn’t require every home gadget to carry a lab mark. A real mark from a recognized lab is still useful to look for.
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What an NRTL is
OSHA's Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) program recognizes private organizations to test and certify certain products. Each lab uses its own registered certification mark.
Source: OSHA, Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory Program
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UL, CSA and Intertek are NRTLs
UL LLC, CSA Group Testing and Certification Inc., and Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc. are all on OSHA's current list of recognized testing labs.
Source: OSHA, Current List of NRTLs
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A lab mark isn't an OSHA endorsement
OSHA recognizing a lab isn't the same as OSHA endorsing the products that lab certifies.
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The CE mark isn't a US safety mark
OSHA says the CE mark is unrelated to US product safety requirements. It's a European Union mark showing the manufacturer declared the product meets EU rules, which may or may not cover safety.
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What the UL mark means
UL Solutions says its safety mark means a product was certified to safety, quality, or security standards, and that it keeps checking products after the original testing.
Source: UL Solutions, Look for the UL safety Mark before you buy
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UL component mark vs. product mark
UL uses a separate Recognized Component Mark for parts that go into a larger UL Certified product or system.
Source: UL Solutions, Look for the UL safety Mark before you buy
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"UL Certified" vs. "UL Listed"
On newer UL marks, the word "Certified" means the same thing as UL's traditional "Listed" or "Classified" marks.
Source: UL Solutions, FAQ on the Enhanced and Smart UL Certification Mark
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Check a UL file number
A UL mark may include a unique identifier or file number. You can type it into the keyword search in UL Product iQ to pull up the certification record.
Source: UL Solutions, FAQ on the Enhanced and Smart UL Certification Mark
Brand names and country of origin
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Who owns a brand name
The USPTO's Trademark Search system supports owner searches, so you can see which trademarks a specific company holds, plus lookups by serial or registration number.
Source: USPTO, Federal trademark searching: Getting started (handout)
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Country of origin on imports
Imported goods must be marked with a foreign country of origin. When several countries are involved, CBP counts the last country where a "substantial transformation" happened.
The lookups
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LookupFederal Communications Commission
FCC Equipment Authorization Search
The FCC's database of equipment certifications, including the application and test report behind each grant.
How to use it: Find the code after "FCC ID" on the device label or in its settings screen, then enter it in the FCC search to see the certification grant and its filings.
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LookupOccupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S. Department of Labor)
OSHA Current List of NRTLs
The testing labs OSHA currently recognizes to test and certify products.
How to use it: Check that the lab behind a product's safety mark, such as UL, CSA, or Intertek, appears on the list.
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LookupUL Solutions
UL Product iQ
UL's searchable database of UL certification records.
How to use it: Type the file number or identifier printed with the UL mark into the keyword search to pull up the certification record.
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LookupUnited States Patent and Trademark Office
USPTO Trademark Search
The federal database of registered and applied-for trademarks.
How to use it: Pick the Owner or Wordmark search, type the brand or company name, and open a result to see who owns the mark.