FCC updates Covered List to include foreign-produced power inverters
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.
The action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of devices they previously acquired. Nor does it prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market relevant models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process. By operation of the FCC’s Covered List rules, the restrictions imposed today apply to new device models. It also does not impact purchase or use by the federal government at all.
Chairman Carr issued the following statement: “I welcome these Executive Branch national security determinations, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign produced advanced robotics and power inverters to the FCC’s Covered List. Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part to secure America’s critical supply chains and, with today’s action, the FCC is acting in lock step with our national security agencies to do just that.”
