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Back of iDevices set to lose ugly FCC markings as E-Label Act signed by President Obama

iphone-6-apple-pic

Apple’s master of minimalism Jony Ive probably hates the fact that the company is legally required to mark the back of iPhones and iPads with a bunch of regulatory stampings, but as of today the largest of them – the FCC approval symbols – will no longer be required.

The E-Label Act first proposed in July has today been signed into law by President Obama. Manufacturers will still be required to display FCC symbols, but can now do so in software rather than cluttering up the rear of the casing.

Apple will probably leave the markings in place on current devices, removing them as of the next generation. Settings > General > About seems the most likely place for them to appear on future iPhones and iPads.

Sadly European iDevices – which don’t need FCC markings – are still saddled with the equally-ugly CE markings for now.

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Comments

  1. Am I missing something? iPhone 6 doesn’t have FCC logo. It does, however, have European CE logo. Does Obama have powers over that, too now?

    • Interesting, the phone in the picture has different logos than mine (Ireland).

    • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

      Irish phones don’t have FCC markings, Danny.

    • True! I’ve just looked at my iPhone 6. Just a huge CE mark on it

      • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

        Yes, European phones don’t need FCC markings

    • driverbenji - 9 years ago

      Perhaps you didn’t read the last paragraph of the article?

      The FCC resides in the US, for the US, so, no other country would need to see this, I’m sure phones made for sale outside US would not have all these symbols on them, but may have different ones.

      • It’s rather interesting, because all iPhones prior to 6 in Europe had FCC markings on them. iPhone 6 is the first one that doesn’t.

      • Mork Duncan - 9 years ago

        I am in Australia and my 5S (A1530) has the FCC & CE marks on the back, Neither of which are required by LAW in our country.

  2. Jezper Söderlund - 9 years ago

    Not limited to iDevices of course.

  3. ncolarusso - 9 years ago

    Will this reduce the price of the iPhone? ;)

  4. 89p13 - 9 years ago

    Thank you, President Obama – I now have a MAJOR REASON to upgrade to next year’s iPhone 6s Plus!

    ;)

    I know myself – I know I will be upgrading to the iPhone 6s Plus next year even now – sight unseen.

  5. juancastim135 - 9 years ago

    I don’t care, not even ugly in my judgement

  6. patthecarnut - 9 years ago

    Thank you President Obama! You’re swell!

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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