FCC To Waive Import Declaration Requirements During Customs Filing Transition

The FCC will temporarily waive its Form 740 certification requirements for RF devices imported after Customs and Border Protection's automated commercial environment (ACE) filing system becomes mandatory for FCC-regulated products July 1, the full commission said in a Monday order. The waiver, which will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2016, allows time for the FCC to consider its proposal to eliminate importer declaration requirements entirely (see 1507210072), without imposing “significant burdens” on importers that would otherwise be forced to file on paper once ACE is required, the FCC said. Given the complexity of the FCC rulemaking, it’s possible the commission will be “unable to reach and publish a final determination” by July 1, when CBP will no longer accept electronic filing of FCC Form 740 via its legacy Automated Commercial System, it said.