technology
FCC Extends Software Update Waiver for Existing Covered Routers and Drones to 2029
The Federal Communications Commission on Friday lengthened its waiver allowing foreign-made routers and drones on the Covered List to receive software and firmware updates until January 1, 2029. The agency also expanded the waiver to Class II permissive changes and signaled it may make the relief permanent.
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The Federal Communications Commission announced a waiver extension on Friday allowing foreign-made routers and drones to receive software and firmware updates until January 1, 2029. The agency simultaneously expanded the waiver to cover more types of software updates, including Class II permissive changes.
Ars Technica reported that the Friday update lets devices on the Covered List continue receiving patches that mitigate harm to consumers.
Previously the FCC set a software update cutoff date of March 1, 2027 for routers already on the market. The FCC announced the original rules including the software update cutoff in March. Those rules imposed a ban on new hardware for routers made outside the US, a restriction that affects virtually every router maker with the possible exception of Starlink.
The Trump administration is handing out exemptions to hardware makers it decides are safe enough. Netgear and the Amazon-owned Eero have received exemptions.
U.S. Can continue to be imported and sold without a special exemption. The new 2029 cutoff date applies to foreign-made routers and foreign-made drones added to the Covered List. Devices on the Covered List are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons.
Under the waiver, all Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), UAS critical components, and routers produced in a foreign country that were authorized for use in the United States prior to being added to the Covered List may continue to receive software and firmware updates until at least January 1, 2029.
