The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a significant expansion of its Covered List, adding foreign-produced connected power inverters and advanced robotic devices to the list of equipment considered to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. The announcement was published by the Federal Communications Commission and is available at: FCC Adds Foreign-Produced Power Inverters and Robots to the Covered List⁠. This action represents another step in the FCC’s continuing effort to secure America’s communications, energy, and artificial intelligence infrastructure from potential cyber and supply-chain threats. 

Executive Summary

The FCC’s action expands the federal government’s national security review beyond traditional communications equipment to include technologies that increasingly form the foundation of the modern economy. Connected power inverters are essential components of solar energy systems, battery storage installations, electric grid infrastructure, and many large data centers. Advanced mobile robots—including humanoid and quadruped robotic systems—are rapidly becoming important tools in manufacturing, logistics, warehouses, security, healthcare, and industrial automation.

Under the new policy, these categories of foreign-produced equipment are added to the FCC Covered List, preventing new product models from obtaining the FCC equipment authorizations required for importation and marketing in the United States. Existing authorized products generally remain unaffected unless the FCC later determines that additional restrictions are necessary. The action is intended to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and improve resilience across critical infrastructure. 

Background

The FCC Covered List was created under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019. Originally focused on telecommunications equipment produced by specific companies determined to present national security risks, the list has steadily expanded as new categories of connected technologies have become integral to critical infrastructure.

Recent additions have included:

* Foreign-produced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
* Foreign-produced consumer routers
* Foreign-produced connected power inverters
* Foreign-produced advanced robotic systems

This progression illustrates the FCC’s shift from protecting only communications networks toward safeguarding the broader digital ecosystem supporting artificial intelligence, energy systems, manufacturing, transportation, and industrial automation. 

What Are Power Inverters?

Power inverters convert direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used by homes, businesses, industrial facilities, electrical grids, and computing infrastructure.

Examples include:

* Residential solar installations
* Commercial solar farms
* Utility-scale renewable energy facilities
* Battery energy storage systems
* Microgrids
* Data center backup power systems

Modern inverters are no longer simple power converters. Many include:

* Internet connectivity
* Remote management
* Software updates
* Cloud monitoring
* Fleet management
* Grid control capabilities

Because they are connected devices controlling large amounts of electrical power, the FCC concluded they could become targets for cyberattack or remote manipulation if compromised. 

Why Robots Are Included

The FCC also expanded the Covered List to include advanced connected robotic devices.

The rule primarily addresses robots capable of autonomous navigation, environmental sensing, wireless communications, and sophisticated AI-assisted operation.

Examples include:

* Humanoid robots
* Quadruped inspection robots
* Industrial autonomous mobile robots
* Warehouse robots
* Security patrol robots
These systems contain multiple cameras, microphones, wireless communications equipment, location sensors, artificial intelligence processors, and cloud connectivity.

Federal officials concluded that such systems could potentially be exploited for:

* Surveillance
* Data collection
* Mapping sensitive facilities
* Industrial espionage
* Cyber intrusion
* Remote disruption of critical infrastructure

As robotic systems become more common in factories, warehouses, utilities, and data centers, securing those platforms is increasingly viewed as a national security concern. 

Impact on Manufacturers

Manufacturers of products covered by the new rules face several important consequences.

New models generally cannot receive FCC equipment authorization if they fall within the Covered List, preventing lawful importation and marketing in the United States. Product revisions that normally require updated FCC approvals may also become difficult or impossible without an applicable exemption.
 Manufacturers may respond by:

* Moving production into the United States
* Relocating manufacturing to approved facilities
* Redesigning products to satisfy applicable requirements
* Seeking conditional approvals or waivers where available

The policy also encourages greater investment in domestic production capacity and more secure supply chains for strategically important technologies. 

Impact on Customers

For businesses and consumers, the immediate impact is relatively limited.

Existing products that were previously authorized generally remain legal to own and operate. Current owners are not required to replace installed equipment solely because of this action.

Over time, however, customers may experience:

* Fewer imported product choices
* Increased availability of U.S.-manufactured equipment
* Changes in supplier relationships
* Greater emphasis on cybersecurity certifications
* Increased investment in secure software maintenance

Organizations operating critical infrastructure—including utilities, renewable energy providers, manufacturers, transportation companies, and data center operators—may increasingly evaluate equipment based not only on performance and cost but also on cybersecurity, supply-chain resilience, and regulatory compliance. 

Broader Impact on the AI Economy

One of the most significant aspects of this decision is its connection to artificial intelligence.

Power inverters support the electrical infrastructure powering AI data centers, while advanced robots represent one of the fastest-growing applications of AI in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and service industries.

By addressing both technologies simultaneously, the FCC signals that AI infrastructure extends beyond computer processors and networking equipment to include the physical systems that provide energy, mobility, sensing, and automation. Protecting those systems is increasingly viewed as essential to maintaining a secure and resilient AI ecosystem. 
 Conclusion

The FCC’s decision to expand the Covered List to include foreign-produced connected power inverters and advanced robotic systems marks another milestone in the evolution of U.S. technology policy. As communications, energy systems, artificial intelligence, robotics, and industrial automation become increasingly interconnected, regulators are broadening their focus from traditional telecommunications equipment to the full range of connected technologies that underpin the nation’s economy and critical infrastructure.

Looking forward, the FCC is expected to continue reviewing emerging technologies as they enter widespread commercial use. Future rulemakings will likely examine additional classes of connected devices, autonomous systems, AI-enabled equipment, industrial control technologies, and next-generation infrastructure. This continuing evolution of the FCC’s regulatory framework reflects a recognition that protecting national communications networks now requires safeguarding the broader digital and physical technologies that power modern society, ensuring that innovation can continue while maintaining security, resilience, and public confidence.