Register Cell Phone Signal Booster
Cell Phone Signal Booster Registration Guide.
FAQ answer # 1: The registration with manufacturer most recipients try to do upon receiving cell phone signal booster kit is not something that is "required" because you can always show any proof of purchase such as order confirmation email, etc. in case you ever need warranty service from manufacturer during warranty period of 1 to 3 years of purchase (most don't ever even need warranty service).
FAQ answer # 2: The registration with Carrier is something that is "required". If you have not done that, please read this signal booster carrier registration guide for more information and assistance or simply contact your Carrier for help on how to register your booster with them.
FAQ answer # 3: Please note that the serial number required for registration with your cellular service provider or Carrier is on back of the main signal amplifier unit, not on the box in which it came.
Why is booster registration with Carrier important?
The new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations regarding consumer signal boosters commenced May 2014. In the regulations, signal boosters for consumers have to be registered with respective cell phone carrier. Before the rules by FCC on wireless signal boosters, the commission had released an order and report on 20th February 2013 indicating policies and rules aimed at enhancing consumer wireless coverage, particularly in under-served, hard-to-serve, and rural areas. Increase of signal booster's availability was the silver lining on the cloud, but ensuring that they do not affect the wireless networks adversely was the major task on hand.
FCC indicated that robust cellular boosters easily bridge the gaps existing in the wireless infrastructure across the country that lead to low data speeds, loss of a working service entirely and dropped calls.
The signal boosters are critical in these areas with limited coverage, predominantly in critical areas of economy such as hospitals, commercial buildings and homes. Signal boosters have also been cited by FCC as critical in enhancement of public safety through enhanced communications by ensuring important emergency services and 911 calls in areas with poor networks do not lead to destruction of life and property.
Why does FCC regulate consumer signal boosters?
The signal boosters are regulated by FCC given that they also function within cellular frequencies. Some boosters are improperly installed, improperly designed, or simply malfunction and can seriously interfere with cellular/ wireless networks resulting in hindrance of communication and related services. Through the new FCC regulations, this becomes a preventable or controllable risk through detailed technical booster specifications and requiring every consumer cellular booster to be registered. They are automatically approved for use as soon as they are registered with their respective carrier. However, the caveat is that in the rare even they interfere or damage the network, the booster owner can be contacted and asked to power down the booster unless it is repaired or replaced with a certified working unit. Uncertified signal boosters are not registrable. We sell only FCC and IC certified signal boosters at this website.
When it comes to approval, top wireless cellular companies have indicated their approval for signal boosters. From AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile to Verizon plus other cellular carriers falling within the CCA (Competitive Carriers Association) and RWA (Rural Wireless Association), the carrier companies have voiced their commitment to providing a blanket signal booster approval in so far as it meets the technical standards and regulations laid by FCC (in essence, “certified” by FCC). As long as they are certified by FCC, virtually all the wireless boosters sold to consumers today have met the laid out technical standards and thus pre-approved.
What do consumers need to do?
As a signal booster user you're required to register the device with your respective carrier. What this does is ensure that in case of any interference in the future, the carrier can easily have it resolved with the help of contact information and thereby ease of identification of the problematic amplifier unit (each unit is assigned a serial number for identification over the air). Currently, the regulations have been working as required with such carriers as Verizon boasting of over 10K registered users of signal boosters and has reported zero critical interference issues related to booster usage since the May 2014 FCC regulations were enforced.
The process of registration is very simple for any consumer. About five minutes is what you need to complete the process, with everything done online. Generally, networks will request the booster model, address and your name including the phone number you're using for that carrier. Others such as T-Mobile ask signal booster users to indicate the number of individuals using the device. Major carriers in USA are the big four - Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Under FCC requirements, the customers should register before using the signal booster with their cellular service provider. Many smaller carriers and MVNO's are resellers of the top four carriers and may require registration at the top four network owner's websites instead, because they use the networks of those four largest cellular service providers. After registration, the blanket approval enables consumers to begin using their boosters without receiving any response - Unless interference is detected and they are contacted by their carrier with instructions to correct the problem.
How to Register With the Major Cellular Carriers?
Verizon.
Apart from having a standard registration form that needs to be filled out, Verizon has reserved a full section on their site on signal booster and FCC requirements. Verizon has already given approval for all its customers to use any signal booster to the extent that it has met the new FCC network protection guidelines/ standards. You can verify if the device meets FCC standards by looking at the device's label and on the packaging of the booster to ensure it is a “consumer device”.
On the device's package is also a notification to the buyer on the registration requirement among other things, which is a labeling boosters that haven't met the network protection standards lack. Verizon has also gone further and approved, tentatively, consumer cellular signal boosters usage that are already in operation but don’t meet the current new protection standards for networks.
However, this approval for older models is for boosters found not to cause any interference. It can be revoked immediately in case the model or specific booster has been found causing interference on the network. The cellular carrier recommends consumers to avoid potential interferences by replacing the boosters before long with devices that meet the new laid network protection guidelines.
Verizon also requires mobile boosters used in boats, RVs and cars registered using the address in the area where the vehicle will be parked or stored such as a marina for boats and home address for cars. Note that if you wish to register at Verizon website, you need a Verizon account to register the booster. Those using the Verizon network through MVNO, such as Millenicom, need to register their consumer signal booster via that MVNO unless instructed otherwise by that MVNO.
AT&T .
An online signal booster registration for AT&T contains a form to be filled out by the customer and also comes with a section for FAQs. Among the details to be indicated include the full name of the consumer signal booster owner, full name of the operator if they differ from the device owner, and contact phone number. Signal booster information has to be indicated as well, showing the device’s model and make (manufacturer), serial number of the device, the initial operation date as well as indicating if the device is a mobile one installed in an RV, boat, truck or car. A signal booster location also has to be pointed out showing the street address, the city and state, zip code and service.
T-Mobile.
T-Mobile has a registration page for consumer signal boosters with a link to the form to be filled out. The new T-Mobile & Sprint signal booster registration page can be used as well. Some of the details required include full names of the owner, user address of the signal booster, zip, city, state, account number, mobile phone number, manufacturer, model, serial number and number of users.
Sprint.
Sprint had a rather primordial consumer signal booster registration process on their page. There was no form to be filled out online and the entire procedure was completed via email. You needed to send them the Sprint customer name, model and make of the consumer signal booster, the linked Sprint phone number and mailing address. You also had to send Sprint the address that shows the signal booster will be used by the Sprint customer in case it differs from the mailing address. However, that has changed and streamlined after merger with T-Mobile so registration link above redirects to the same T-Mobile registration system.
Millenicom (MVNO).
To use this service using a booster or amplifier, this MVNO carrier requires that they register the device by going to Members Center and logging in. Choose “Order” and submit the filled form from the link shown for Register Signal Booster.
U.S. Cellular.
U.S. Cellular also has an FAQ for booster registration. The form to fill for consumer signal booster registration has areas for customer information, booster location and booster information.
StraightTalk and/or Metro by T-Mobile.
For T-Mobile compatible consumer signal boosters, StraightTalk suggests you use the same T-Mobile signal booster registration link we provided above, particularly for those who have moved from their initial or original address or newly bought their signal boosters.
Google Fi.
If planning to use cell signal booster on Google Fi network, visit Google Fi signal booster registration details page for all the details on how to register after purchase.
For other carriers it is recommended that you contact them directly for the procedure to register a consumer signal booster.
Frequently Asked Questions.
What do I indicate as address for a mobile signal booster for vehicles, RVs or boats?
Indicate the mailing or home address. Some cellular carriers have a box indicating how this is to be done for mobile booster devices.
Do I have to register all the boosters I have in my home?
If you have two or more consumer signal boosters, such as a mobile cellular booster for your boat and another for your home each has to be registered separately.
What if my home uses more than one carrier? Do the boosters need to be registered with all the carriers?
The modern signal booster units are now enhanced with multi-band features and easily boost the signals across diverse networks. You need to register with all the carriers you’re using. For instance, if your children are on Verizon, husband on AT&T and you are using T-Mobile on the same signal booster - the device has to be registered with all three networks.
Do I have to register for my guests and visitors as well?
According to FCC, guests are generally incidental and occasional in their usage and no registration is required. Registration is only compulsory if someone who actually lives in the office or home uses the device in a sustained and regular basis.
What does the E911 warning entail?
When you call 911, the E911 rapidly dispatches your area where you’re making the call from. This is partly determined via the cellular signal tower triangulation. The use of a consumer signal booster could make you appear very close to a cell tower while this might not be the case. As such, while making a 911 call and you’re using a signal booster you must give your location as accurately as you can.
Is it a must that I register my booster? What will happen if I refuse?
FCC requires that all consumer signal boosters be registered. Generally, the process of registration takes less than 5 minutes and usually completed online. It helps a wireless service provider deal with interferences caused by the device by calling and requesting you to switch it off until the interference has passed. Otherwise, it might affect critical 911 calls and other emergencies in your area.
You may be jailed or fined for not registering consumer signal boosters. Either way, you will be required to stop using your booster if it causes network problems. If you ignore a licensed carrier or FCC request to switch off your booster due to its interference you could be asking for even more serious trouble.
Those using signal boosters that are specifically for "industrial usage" and have not documented a carrier’s unequivocal permission to use the device face serious penalties attracting as much as $100,000.
In just 24 months since the new rules came into force, signal booster registration/ automatic approval has been going up. Carriers report that their usage hasn’t brought about any critical interference in communication because FCC certified amplifiers perform as they are programmed to perform per regulations. By registering your device you’re alerting the cellular network that you have a device and the repeater activity is standard and normal.
What if my service provider is not listed here, and they do not have a way to register my signal booster?
Obligation to maintain the registration database falls to the major Carrier such as Verizon, not its reseller (MVNO) such as, for example, Xfinity Mobile. If your service provider is not one of the major service providers and they do not maintain a signal booster registration database, then you much find out from your service provider which major Carrier network they use to provide service to you, in your area.
Then you can contact that major Carrier and register it with that Carrier. If their online method does not facilitate registration by their MVNO or reseller customers, then you must contact that major Carrier by email and submit details by email so they can register your booster in their database manually. Information you must include in your email is shown in the following suggested email template:
My service provider is (MVNO or reseller name) and I need to register my signal booster with you, my actual Carrier network operator. My name is (full name). The linked cell phone number is (phone number with area code). My signal booster location address is (full street address, city, state, zip code). My account number with my service provider is (account #). The model and make of the consumer signal booster is (brand and model number). The signal booster serial number is (serial #). Thank you for entering my signal booster registration information in your signal booster user database.
Do I have to register with my Canadian Carrier?
Canadian government does not require registration of cell phone signal boosters with any Carrier in Canada such as Telus Mobility, Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless nor Freedom Mobile. Requirement to register is limited if using signal booster in USA with USA Carrier. As long as the signal booster is certified by Industry Canada (IC) and approved by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), it can purchased, installed, and used without any consent whatsoever. All of our cell phone signal boosters for Canada are IC certified and approved by ISED.
It says there's blanket consent from carriers to use signal booster, then why do I have to register?
Blanket consent merely means that consumers or end-users don't have to wait to receive any kind of response, approval, or confirmation from the carrier to start using the certified cell phone signal booster from us. FCC regulations do require that end-users or consumers "submit" the registration per their respective service provider's process at their website, or on the phone.
What is the main purpose for registration?
To ensure signal boosters are not interfering with cellular coverage, the FCC has mandated signal boosters be registered with respective Carriers. All major carriers allow the use of signal boosters on their network. Therefore, they must provide a registration system so consumers can register the address of where the booster is used. Registration has been required to be made available since March 1, 2014. The main purpose for registration is so that the carrier can then use this information when troubleshooting network issues. In an event a booster is causing problems on the network, the registration helps carriers identify and locate the booster. Registration helps to protect consumers and carriers by streamlining network troubleshooting ensuring a positive signal experience.