national security

The ink was barely dry on the FCC's vote before China fired back — threatening countermeasures and warning of global supply chain fallout. Here's what the new testing and certification restrictions mean for the electronics industry.

The FCC has closed the door on testing labs and certification bodies in countries without a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the U.S. The new rules, effective June 1, 2026, carry fresh disclosure requirements and enforcement tools that compliance teams will need to understand.

The FCC is set to vote on new rules tightening the integrity and security of electronic device testing, including restrictions on labs in countries lacking trade agreements with the U.S. and new requirements for foreign employee disclosure, enforcement procedures, and expedited review for trusted labs.

The FCC has added foreign-made consumer internet routers to its Covered List following an interagency determination that such devices pose unacceptable national security risks. The action cites supply chain vulnerabilities and links to recent cyberattacks—including the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon incidents—that targeted critical U.S. infrastructure.

The FCC has cleared its first four drone systems from the Covered List after the Department of War determined they pose no national security risk. The move opens a conditional approval pathway for UAS manufacturers seeking U.S. import and sale authorization.