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The Federal Communications Commission has added foreign-made advanced robotic devices and connected power inverters to its Covered List, blocking new models in those categories from receiving the equipment authorization required for import, marketing, or sale in the United States. The action followed national security findings from a White House-convened interagency process that concluded the products pose unacceptable cybersecurity and supply-chain risks, particularly because their remote connectivity could enable surveillance, data exfiltration, remote access, shutdowns, or broader operational disruption.
Federal officials warned that connected inverters could potentially be switched off or exploited against the U.S. electric grid, while networked robots—including humanoids, quadrupeds, and other mobile systems—could have both their collected data and physical operations manipulated. The restriction applies to new product models and does not affect devices already owned by consumers or products previously authorized by the FCC, though manufacturers may seek case-by-case conditional approval through review by the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security if specific devices are found not to present national security concerns.
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The FCC expanded its Covered List to include foreign-produced connected power inverters and advanced robotic devices after U.S. national security findings concluded they pose unacceptable cybersecurity, supply-chain, and critical infrastructure risks. The action blocks new models in these categories from receiving FCC equipment authorization needed for import, marketing, or sale in the United States, while leaving previously authorized devices unaffected.
An Executive Branch interagency body sent two National Security Determinations to the FCC concluding that foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices pose unacceptable supply-chain and cybersecurity risks to U.S. national security, critical infrastructure, and public safety. These determinations preceded the FCC's subsequent Covered List expansion.
China’s embassy in Washington criticized the U.S. move to restrict certain foreign robots and power inverters as a politicization of trade, urged the United States to abandon what it called a hegemonic mentality, and said China would take all necessary measures in response.
The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology issued a waiver allowing certain already-authorized foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters on the Covered List to continue receiving software and firmware updates. The waiver suspends application of 47 CFR §§ 2.932(b) and 2.1043(b) for these devices so updates can maintain functionality, patch vulnerabilities, and preserve operating-system compatibility.
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The FCC has added all new foreign-made consumer routers to its **Covered List**, blocking their import and sale in the United States after a White House-led interagency review found they pose an unacceptable national security and public safety risk. U.S. officials said overseas-manufactured routers could be exploited to disrupt the economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense, and linked the concern to activity associated with **Volt Typhoon**, **Flax Typhoon**, and **Salt Typhoon**, which have targeted U.S. networks and infrastructure. The restrictions apply to new devices rather than routers already authorized for sale, meaning existing products can continue to be imported, sold, and used for now. Foreign manufacturers may still seek approval, but must provide detailed disclosures on ownership, supply chains, software and firmware provenance, and any plans to shift critical component production to the United States. The move is expected to tighten availability of new router models and raise costs, while critics argue it does not solve broader router security problems such as insecure firmware, weak patching, compromised update systems, and supply-chain exposure that can persist regardless of where hardware is assembled.
Jun 29, 2026
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has enacted a ban on the import and approval of new foreign-made drones and their critical components, citing significant national security risks. This decision, effective immediately, adds unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and related parts produced in foreign countries to the FCC's Covered List, which already includes companies like Kaspersky, ZTE, and Huawei. The ban specifically targets products from major Chinese manufacturers such as DJI and Autel Robotics, preventing the sale of their latest models in the U.S. while allowing continued use and sale of previously approved devices. The FCC's move follows recommendations from an Executive Branch interagency body with national security expertise and is supported by recent legislative actions, including the Countering CCP Drones Act within the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The FCC and U.S. lawmakers argue that foreign-made drones and their components pose unacceptable risks, including the potential for persistent surveillance, data exfiltration, and destructive operations over U.S. territory, especially during high-profile events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics. The ban covers a wide range of UAS components, such as data transmission devices, communications systems, flight controllers, and smart batteries. The FCC emphasized that this action is intended to safeguard American airspace sovereignty and reduce the risk of direct drone attacks, unauthorized surveillance, and other homeland security threats posed by foreign-manufactured drone technology.
Jun 29, 2026
The FCC issued new rules restricting routers produced in foreign countries unless they receive **Conditional Approval** from the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security, according to discussion citing FCC documentation and the agency’s supply chain covered list. The policy was described as limiting use of foreign-made networking equipment while creating an exception process tied to U.S. government review and commitments around domestic manufacturing. The move drew criticism on the NANOG mailing list, where operators argued that few routers are truly manufactured in the United States and that assembly location does little to improve security compared with software provenance and supply-chain assurance. Participants also linked the policy debate to a recent U.S. law enforcement disruption of major IoT DDoS botnets that the Department of Justice called the world’s largest, crediting the FBI Alaska field office and network operators for helping dismantle infrastructure behind record-breaking attacks against victims worldwide.
Jun 29, 2026