Tait Talks: Tait Communications Continues to Invest in Solution Certification, Authorization and Standards

Tait recently made significant investments to ensure our products and services continue to be tested to the highest standards and achieve all other certifications necessary for our customers and partners to maintain confidence around product quality, safety, and radio interoperability.

Tait Communications is currently upgrading its test laboratory in Christchurch, New Zealand. This major initiative is primarily to safeguard important Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification and Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) authorization.

The old Open Air Test Site (OATS) system to be replaced

The FCC is the U.S. telecom regulatory body and requires radio frequency (RF) devices to be properly authorized under 47 CFR part 2 prior to being marketed or imported into the United States. ISED, part of Industry Canada, is Canada’s telecom regulator responsible for regulating electronic devices and setting standards for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

To support this, Tait is purchasing a new EMC measurement system, centered around a 3-meter semi/fully anechoic test chamber. This indoor test site will replace Tait’s current open-air facility located in a noisy urban area.

Due to evolving standards from ISED, which are expected to be adopted by the FCC, these tests must now be conducted in a controlled indoor chamber to shield devices under test from external interference. The new system will be installed in a building approximately 250 meters from Tait’s main campus. David Jackson, Tait’s test laboratory manager, is overseeing this lab transformation.

David Jackson in the Tait Test Lab

Tait understands the critical importance of meeting global authorizations and certifications. The new EMC system and test chamber are essential tools in ensuring our mission-critical communications technology meets global benchmarks. We're proud that most of our radio testing and accreditation activities are conducted in New Zealand by our own experienced engineering team, rather than relying on third parties.

The P25 CAP Refresh

Another key program supporting Tait’s commitment to standards is the P25 Compliance Assessment Program (CAP). Tait operates an accredited P25 CAP laboratory at its Christchurch headquarters, where we test Phase 1 and Phase 2 subscriber and repeater performance in alignment with P25 compliance requirements.

Overseen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the P25 CAP program ensures interoperability of P25 digital radio equipment from different vendors. All equipment must be tested under the latest Compliance Assessment Bulletin (CAB), which mandates RF performance requirements and a range of interoperability test cases defined in TIA-102 standards. Equipment must pass the “rule of three” — interoperability with three other vendors’ products — to qualify.

Testing must be completed by CAP-accredited laboratories listed on the DHS website. Manufacturers submit Summary Test Reports (STRs) and Supplier’s Declarations of Conformity (SDOCs), which, once approved, are listed on the DHS P25 CAP Grant-Eligible Equipment page. U.S. federal agencies and other funding recipients must select equipment from this list when purchasing new P25 systems.

In late 2022, P25 CAP mandated the expiration of interoperability test reports older than four years (trunking) or five years (conventional). DHS required resubmission of STRs and SDOCs in updated formats, verifying up-to-date testing. Tait completed this refresh in June 2025, collaborating with Compliance Testing LLC, a U.S.-based CAP-accredited lab, to conduct supervised test sessions and generate the necessary documentation.

In total, Tait resubmitted 36 updated SDOCs and new STRs to the P25 CAP program.

Continued Commitment to Standards

The new EMC lab and chamber, along with our proactive compliance with evolving P25 interoperability and documentation requirements, are clear indicators of Tait’s ongoing investment in maintaining high standards for its LMR solutions and broadband communications.

Tait’s customers and global partners can be confident that every product undergoes rigorous testing for certification and interoperability. We remain committed to ensuring our mission-critical communications solutions meet or exceed industry expectations through continuous investment in radio testing and accreditation, lab infrastructure, and global compliance.

Tait Communications is proud to prioritize global certifications, standards adherence, and interoperability — now and into the future.