Intentional vs unintentional radiator

This distinction sets your approval path in the US. An intentional radiator generates and emits radio-frequency energy by design: a Wi-Fi radio, a remote control, an RFID reader. An unintentional radiator uses RF energy internally (clock signals, digital processing) and only leaks it. A third category, incidental radiators, such as brushed motors, produce RF noise without deliberately using RF signals and must simply not cause harmful interference.

Intentional radiators need FCC Certification; most unintentional radiators can use the Supplier's Declaration of Conformity. A product with a radio is both: the radio portion is certified, and the whole product is still assessed as a digital device.