[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/FCC Part 68 Telecom FCC Part 68PSTNACTA # FCC Part 68: Certification Requirements for Telecom-Connected Devices While most hardware compliance attention focuses on wireless and consumer electronics, any product that physically connects to the US public telephone network must comply with FCC Part 68 — regardless of whether it contains a radio transmitter. Fax machines, DSL modems, VoIP adapters, building alarm dialers, medical alert systems, and intercoms with PSTN connectivity all fall under Part 68. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Ffcc-part-68-telecom) [Check my US compliance requirements](/platform/new) What Part 68 covers ## The scope of FCC Part 68 terminal equipment rules FCC Part 68 regulates terminal equipment — any device that directly connects to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or functionally equivalent facilities. Covered categories include customer premise equipment (telephones, fax machines, modems, answering machines); data terminal equipment (DSL modems, ISDN terminal adapters, analog modem adapters); alarm and signalling equipment (building security panels, fire alarm communicators, medical alert devices that use the telephone network to transmit alarm signals); and VoIP terminal adapters (analog telephone adapters that convert analog telephone signals to VoIP). The scope specifically covers the physical telephone line connection interface — not VoIP calls that travel purely over internet protocol without any PSTN connection. Building security systems and medical alert devices are among the most frequently overlooked Part 68 product categories — the alarm dialer that calls a monitoring center over a telephone line is terminal equipment subject to Part 68. ACTA and the registration process ## How compliance is demonstrated and equipment registered Unlike most FCC authorizations, Part 68 compliance is not administered directly by the FCC. In 2001, the FCC delegated approval authority to the Administrative Council for Terminal Attachments (ACTA), a non-governmental body. ACTA maintains the Telecommunications Certification Body program under Part 68 and operates the database of registered terminal equipment. Part 68 compliance follows a two-step process. First, the terminal equipment must comply with technical standards developed by ACTA — primarily the Technical Criteria (TC) which incorporate ANSI/TIA-968-x series standards. Second, the product must be registered with ACTA through an ACTA-accredited test laboratory. Products registered under Part 68 receive a Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) — a value between 0 and 5 that represents the load the device places on the telephone line. The REN determines how many devices can be connected to a single telephone line without degrading ring signal quality. Labelling ## Required Part 68 marking on terminal equipment Part 68 registered equipment must display on a permanently affixed label: the FCC registration number in the format 'FCC Reg. No. XXXXXXXXXX' or 'US: XXXXXXXXXX' (assigned by ACTA upon successful registration); the Ringer Equivalence Number: 'REN: \[value\]'; and connector type information (the type of telephone line connector used for the PSTN connection). The label must state that the equipment complies with Part 68 FCC rules and ACTA requirements. For products that contain both Part 68 terminal equipment and FCC Part 15 radio equipment, both the Part 68 registration number and the Part 15 FCC ID must appear on the device. Electronic labelling is not permitted for Part 68 markings — all required information must appear on a physically affixed label on the product. ## Learn this properly, not just for one product In-depth courses and books that teach the process — not a one-off answer you'll need to look up again next time. [Start the course — $149](/courses/02-fcc-authorization-for-hardware-startups)See your free roadmap [Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/02-fcc-authorization-for-hardware-startups) ## Frequently asked questions ### Do VoIP phones need FCC Part 68 compliance? It depends on how the VoIP phone connects to the telephone network. A pure IP phone that only places calls over IP to other IP endpoints is outside Part 68 scope. A VoIP adapter or IP phone that can be configured to connect to a PSTN telephone line, or that has an RJ-11 analog interface, requires Part 68 compliance for that interface. ### What are the technical standards for Part 68? The primary technical standard is ANSI/TIA-968-C (Telecommunications — Technical Requirements for Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network), which specifies electrical protection requirements, harmonic content limitations, on-hook and off-hook signalling requirements, and ringer specifications. ACTA publishes the current applicable Technical Criteria on its website. ### How long does Part 68 registration take? ACTA-accredited TCBs typically complete their review in 5-15 business days for a complete, clean application. Total timeline from test initiation to registration number issuance is typically 4-8 weeks, depending on laboratory availability. Part 68 testing is less complex than FCC radio certification for most common terminal equipment types. ### Is Part 68 required for products that only connect to business phone systems (PBX)? Yes, if the PBX connects to the PSTN. Part 68 applies to equipment connected to the public switched telephone network — which includes equipment that connects to a PBX that itself connects to the PSTN. Equipment connecting to a private internal PBX with no PSTN connection is outside Part 68 scope, but this configuration is rare in practice. 🇺🇸 US roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇺🇸 US compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/02-fcc-authorization-for-hardware-startups)[Prefer to read? Get the book — $24.99](/books/02-fcc-authorization-for-hardware-startups) Related guides * [FCC SDoC Supplier's DeclarationFCC SDoC explained: which devices qualify, required content, responsible party obligations, record-keeping, and when Certificat…](/guides/fcc-sdoc-supplier-declaration) * [FCC TCB Certification ProcessFCC Certification through an accredited Telecommunications Certification Body (TCB) is mandatory for all intentional radiators.](/guides/fcc-tcb-process) * [FCC Part 15 Class A vs Class BFCC Part 15 Class A vs Class B explained: how to classify your digital device, emission limits, residential vs commercial use, …](/guides/fcc-part-15-class-a-vs-b) * [ANSI Standards for the US MarketANSI (American National Standards Institute) accredits organizations to develop American National Standards.](/guides/ansi-standards-us-market) Educational resource only. Part 68 requirements are product-specific. Verify current ACTA Technical Criteria applicability with an ACTA-accredited test laboratory before certification.