FCC Adds Drones To The Covered List

On December 22, 2025, the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau added uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) produced in foreign countries (commonly known as drones) and UAS critical components produced in foreign countries to the Covered List (Public Notice, DA 25-1086). Note that unlike the FCC's other covered categories of devices (routers, power inverters, advanced robots), the UAS category is the only one to explicitly include components.

This action followed a National Security Determination (NSD) by the Executive Branch that foreign-made UAS and their components pose unacceptable national security risks. Among other reasons, the Determination cited threats to critical infrastructure by UAS incursions and unauthorized surveillance.