FCC blocks new foreign-made power inverters and advanced robots over national security risks - Fox Business

What the report says

Fox Business reported that the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday expanded its Covered List to include foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices, including humanoid and quadruped-style mobile robots. The action means new models in those categories will generally be unable to obtain FCC equipment authorization, a prerequisite for importation, marketing and sale in the United States.

According to the report, the decision followed national security findings from a White House-convened interagency process. Officials concluded that the equipment could pose cybersecurity and supply-chain risks to critical infrastructure. Power inverters, which convert direct current into alternating current, are used in solar installations, battery storage and other distributed energy systems. The concern cited in the article is that remotely connected equipment could be exploited to shut down devices, extract data, enable surveillance or provide cyber access as inverter-based resources become more common on the U.S. grid.

The FCC also cited risks from advanced robots because their sensors and networking features may expose sensitive information or critical infrastructure operations, Fox Business reported. The restrictions apply to new products seeking approval and do not affect devices already owned by consumers or models previously authorized by the commission.

Manufacturers may seek exemptions through a new Conditional Approval process if relevant federal agencies determine that a specific device or class of devices does not present national security risks. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr welcomed the executive branch determinations, according to the report. The additions broaden a Covered List that already includes certain equipment or services linked to Huawei, ZTE, Hikvision, Dahua, Kaspersky, Chinese telecom providers, foreign-made routers and some foreign-produced drones.