On October 16, 2014 the FCC published 726920 D01 Confidentiality Request Procedures, a new document that details the steps required to ensure proprietary information about your device will be held confidential.
To be granted confidentiality, your application must include a reference to 0.457(d) and 0.459 of the FCC Rules, the reason why the information should be held from the public, specific confidential information by exhibit type, name, and description, an indication if the information is a “trade secret,” a signature, and the type of confidentiality requested. Confidentiality Letters must specifically reference the documents you wish to withhold from the public.
The two types of confidentiality are long term and short term.
Under long term confidentiality, the following exhibits are held private without filing a request:
- Software defined radio, cognitive radio attachments submitted into the SDR software, security info exhibit type
- Scanning receiver information included in one of the exhibits noted as “commonly held confidential” and scanning receiver internal photos
Under long term confidentiality, the following exhibits can be held private upon request:
- Schematics
- Block diagrams
- Operational descriptions
- Parts list/tune up info
Under short term confidentiality, exhibits held private are the same as long term confidentiality, plus:
- External photos
- Test set up photos
- Internal photos
- User manuals
Short term confidentiality can only last up to 180 days. If you request short term confidentiality but market your device before the 180 day period is over, you must notify your Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) so your confidentiality request can be removed.
If you are seeking confidentiality for an exhibit not listed above, you are able to petition the FCC and all approvals are made on a case-by-case basis.
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