The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that “updated its Covered List to include two new categories of devices—“advanced robotic devices” (defined as mobile robots, such as humanoids and quadrupeds) and, separately, connected power inverters produced in foreign countries.” The July 28, 2026 Fact Sheet entitled “FCC Updates Covered List to Include Foreign-Produced Advanced Robotic Devices and Power Inverters” ( https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423682A1.docx) included these comments:
The action follows determinations, for both robots and inverters, by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise, which determined that these foreign-made products, regardless of the nationality of origin, “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.”
In their determinations, national security agencies referenced, among other things, unacceptable risks, including that these devices could create supply chain vulnerabilities that could disrupt U.S. economic and national security and could create a cybersecurity risk that threatened American critical infrastructure.
The determination included an exemption for advanced robotics devices and power inverters that the Department of War (DoW) or (in the case of power inverters) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have granted “Conditional Approval” after finding that such device or class of devices do not pose such unacceptable risks. Producers of advanced robotics devices and power inverters are encouraged to submit an application for Conditional Approval using the guidance for advanced robotics devices and power inverters attached to the determination. Applications should be submitted to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov.
Interesting, but no surprises here!