FCC Extends Update Waiver for Foreign Routers, Drones to 2029

The Federal Communications Commission extended a temporary waiver on May 8, 2026, allowing certain foreign-made consumer routers, drones, and drone components that were previously authorized for use in the United States to receive software and firmware updates until at least January 1, 2029.

The announcement, issued by the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, pushes back earlier deadlines of January 1, 2027, for drones and drone components, and March 1, 2027, for routers. It also expands the waiver to permit Class II permissive changes involving software and firmware updates designed to mitigate harm to consumers, such as security patches and compatibility fixes. These measures apply only to devices certified before their addition to the FCC's Covered List and do not lift broader restrictions on new approvals or remove the products from the list.

The Covered List designations stemmed from rule changes adopted in October 2025, which added foreign-produced unmanned aerial systems, critical components, and routers in late 2025 and early 2026. Officials cited national security risks, including potential espionage and unauthorized access through compromised hardware. The...