FCC Bans New Foreign Robots, Inverters Over Espionage Fears

The FCC has expanded its Covered List to include new foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters, restricting their import, marketing, and sale in the U.S. Existing authorized devices can still receive software and firmware updates until 2029. This decision stems from national security concerns regarding espionage and cyber vulnerabilities. The Covered List, established under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, aims to manage risks related to foreign technologies.

The FCC's waiver allows already authorized devices to continue receiving essential updates while still adhering to existing regulations. This action reflects the FCC's ongoing scrutiny of foreign technologies across various device categories.