A Conformity Assessment Body Experience

Over the past 10 years, MRAs have opened the market to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). Before the existence of the U.S.-EU MRA, it was nearly impossible for a U.S. test laboratory to operate across the Atlantic Ocean, providing local testing to the manufacturers of products destined for Europe. In the EU, each country had its own regulatory scheme and required national approvals and in-country testing; the market was essentially closed to U.S. SMEs. The individual country approvals presented a barrier to trade and a high cost of entry to those markets. This has changed drastically, and for the better. Today, in many countries, the maturation of regulatory requirements for electronics devices has opened the door for market access, increased transparency of regulations and continues to advance free trade.

And not only have the MRAs improved access for SMEs, but regulatory changes have been enacted inside markets. One example has been the recognition of private Certification Authorities--which has historically been the domain of federal governments. By opening up the product certification to the private sector and its competitive advantages, product development can proceed without undue delays caused by government approval processes. These changes have spurred product innovation. To illustrate, when the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began the Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) program in 2000, the number of FCC Grants of Equipment Authorization issued was approximately 2500—all performed by the FCC—with processing times on the order of one month or better. In 2006, well over 6000 Grants were issued, with 90% of them generated by thirty or so private-sector “TCBs”. This means that introduction of new products can occur at a much faster rate, the market can select those technologies that will be effective, and the cycles of technology development are greatly reduced. This leads to an unleashing of creative power that drives product development. The MRAs have the same effect: opening markets and inspiring innovation.

An important element of this process is to define the system of conformity assessment of devices to ensure that products entering markets are safe and effective. For electronics devices, conformity assessment procedures need to be in place to protect the radio frequency spectrum and ensure that electrical safety is maintained. Regulators work to protect the interests of the consumer, business and the government and, through the process of conformity assessment, products can be evaluated to common criteria and meet the requirements to be sold on the market. However, one of the challenges is effective market surveillance. While private certification bodies have the authority to issue FCC certifications or “grants,” they have limited authority to rescind. In addition, enforcement actions are the purvey of the regulatory authorities.

The role of the private certification body is unique: the first (business) objective is to serve the needs of the customer; the second (regulatory) objective is to observe and enact the policy and procedures of the Regulator. Thus, the certification body/conformity assessment process straddles the divide between the marketplace and the regulator, a positioning that aids both parties.

Michael Violette
Founder and Director
American Telecommunications Certification Body, Inc.
(AmericanTCB) (http://www.atcb.com)