Meaning
Administrative document permitting a third party to refer to existing modular certification filings. The host authorization letter allows an integrator to use the FCC or ISED grant of a pre-certified radio module within a new finished product. This provides formal permission from the original module manufacturer to the regulatory agency to open the confidential files for review.
Such a document is a requirement in the permissive change process for wireless integration.
Certification Transfer
Relinking of testing data enables a faster path to market for new electronic devices. By providing a host authorization letter, the module supplier confirms that their hardware is being integrated according to the original filing. This avoids the cost of repeating expensive radio frequency characterization tests that were already completed.
Usage Limitation
Specific conditions for the grant must be followed by the party receiving the permission. A host authorization letter does not grant the user the right to modify the radio circuitry or the antenna configuration beyond the limits of the original grant. If the integrator changes the power level or the antenna gain, the letter becomes insufficient.
Full recertification is required when these boundaries are crossed.
Regulatory Submission
Formal filing of the permission occurs during the application for the final product ID. The host authorization letter must be uploaded to the agency database alongside the user manual and external photos. Regulators verify the authenticity of the signature and the validity of the referenced FCC ID.
This step ensures that the legal chain of responsibility for radio emissions remains intact across the supply chain.