Overview of the FCC Covered Equipment and Services List

Confused about the current FCC Covered List? The FCC Covered List identifies communications equipment and services considered to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security. While the list initially focused on specific companies, it has expanded to include certain product categories, particularly where foreign production or supply‑chain control is involved. With several updates issued since December 2025, this article provides a practical overview of key Covered List items as of April 9, 2026.If you are evaluating products, pursuing FCC authorization, or assessing supply‑chain risk, this overview can help determine whether additional review or mitigation may be required.

1. Categorical Bans (Recent 2025-2026 Additions)

The FCC now restricts entire classes of technology produced in foreign countries (specifically those including foreign design, development, or assembly)

• Foreign-Made Consumer Routers (Added March 23, 2026): Includes all consumer-grade networking devices intended for residential or small office use
  • Note on General Components: For products like routers produced in the U.S., the FCC has clarified that routers produced in the U.S. do not automatically become "covered equipment" simply by containing a few foreign-made basic components (like resistors or capacitors), provided they are not modular transmitters
• Foreign-Made Drones & UAS (Added December 22, 2025): Includes all uncrewed aircraft systems and critical components like flight controllers, motors, batteries, navigation systems, sensors, cameras, and data transmission devices

2. Specific Companies & Entities

These companies (and their subsidiaries/affiliates) remain on the list for their telecommunications and video surveillance equipment

• Huawei Technologies Company (Telecommunications & Video Surveillance)
• ZTE Corporation (Telecommunications & Video Surveillance)
• Hytera Communications Corporation (Public Safety/Security Video Surveillance)
• Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company (Public Safety/Security Video Surveillance)
• Dahua Technology Company (Public Safety/Security Video Surveillance)
• AO Kaspersky Lab (Information Security/Cybersecurity Services)

3. Telecommunications Service Providers

The following carriers are barred from providing certain services in the U.S. due to national security concerns

• China Mobile International USA Inc.
• China Telecom (Americas) Corp.
• China Unicom (Americas) Operations Limited
• Pacific Networks Corp. & ComNet (USA) LLC

4. Modular Transmitters Produced by a Covered Company (Effective December 26, 2025)

The FCC has clarified and strengthened rules regarding modular radio transmitters and component parts from companies on the Covered List. The core policy is that a finished product cannot receive FCC authorization if it contains a critical radio module produced by a covered entity.

• The "Veto" Rule: If a product's wireless connectivity is provided by a covered module, the entire product is ineligible for new FCC certification
• No Loophole: This rule applies even if the "main" manufacturer of the finished product (like a smart home hub or industrial sensor) is not on the Covered List

5. Exemptions & Conditional Approvals

Certain devices within banned categories may be used if they meet specific "trustworthy" criteria:

• Blue UAS Cleared List: Drones on the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Blue UAS list are exempt until at least January 1, 2027
• Conditional Approvals: As of March 18, 2026, specific models like the SiFly Q12 Drone System and Verge Aero X1 have received temporary exemptions

A Conditional Approval procedure is available in Annex A in the Public Notice for applicants seeking exemption imposed by the restrictions or to maintain FCC authorization while mitigating national security concerns. To obtain approval from the Department of War (DoW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), applicants must provide comprehensive disclosures for an individualized assessment of potential risks (refer to Annex A:

• Full supply chain disclosure
• Ownership and governance transparency
• Component origin details
• Cybersecurity posture
• A plan to transition production to trusted locations

Requests for Conditional Approval for foreign-produced routers are submitted to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov and for UAS requests to drones@fcc.gov. If approved, the authorization remains valid for up to one year.

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@nemko.com. 

Ref: List of Equipment and Services Covered By Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act | Federal Communications Commission