The FCC’s “covered list” of banned foreign technology continues to grow. What began with drones and network routers has now widened to include power inverters and robotic devices, categories broad enough to include products people use at home, including portable battery systems and robot vacuums.
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Like their router declaration, the FCC’s order extends to any new foreign made product irrespective of where it was made but does not pull existing devices off the market. New products, however, face a different path. Unless a company secures a waiver which includes a commitment to onshore its manufacturing, those devices cannot legally enter the U.S. market.
The power inverter order appears aimed in part at grid-connected equipment. The rationale cited in the FCC order refers to a report alleging that a Chinese inverter manufacturer remotely disabled their products in several countries during a distributor dispute.
But the language does not stop at utility-scale or commercial gear. It will also apply to consumer backup power products and solar-capable battery units that many households use during outages. If a device converts DC to AC or AC to DC and includes some form of remote connectivity like a Bluetooth connection to an app, it will fall under the order. That means a product intended for emergency use in a home could end up in the same regulatory framework as larger infrastructure equipment.
The robotics order is similarly expansive. The FCC’s definition includes mobile robots with obstacle avoidance, navigation, or autonomous movement, as long as they exceed a modest weight threshold and include sensors, connectivity, and software that governs movement or data collection. In practice, that could capture a large number of consumer devices, including robot vacuums and robotic floor cleaners, not just industrial machines or security robots.
The waiver process appears to follow the same model used recently for routers. Companies seeking approval for new products must provide detailed supply-chain disclosures, including components, software, and firmware origins. They also need to present a U.S. manufacturing or onshoring plan. Without both, the FCC is unlikely to allow those products to continue entering the market.
Some companies are already getting waivers in other categories. Netgear, Adtran, Eero, and Nokia all have received permission for their routing products. Also noteworthy is that Flock, the controversial surveillance technology company known for its license plate tracking camera systems, received a drone waiver.
In the case of DJI, Congress specifically banned the company’s “surveillance products” along with those from Autel in legislation last year. The law goes beyond just drones and includes other products like their popular Osmo cameras.
DJI attempted to launch two shadow brands to skirt the ban: Skyrover for drones and Xtra for cameras. The FCC has now added those companies to the list as well, cutting off that route. An Osmo Pocket 4 Pro camera sold under the Xtra name was expected this fall, with deposits had reportedly been taken. But refunds were later issued after it became clear the product would not be allowed into the United States.
For consumers, the immediate effect may be limited. Existing products can still be bought. Gray-market imports may still circulate. Individuals may even be able to bring some products back from overseas for personal use. But over time, these restrictions could narrow choices, delay new releases, and push manufacturers to restructure supply chains around U.S. compliance demands which will undoubtedly drive up prices.
The bigger question is: what consumer products will be targeted next?