Overview and Key Findings

The United States of America’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently taken a series of regulatory actions affecting robotics, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), and critical components that are relevant to the SPRINT Robotics community. According to the FCC and the national security bodies supporting the actions, the measures are intended to address issues of national security and safety of U.S. persons. In addition, the FCC and other USA bodies are proposing or have implemented additional changes and tariffs. 

In addition, the FCC is seeking input on several proposed changes. These proposals provide an opportunity for the SPRINT Robotics community to bring relevant industry experience to the attention of the FCC. This document highlights the applicable comment deadlines.

Purpose of the document and restricted distribution

This informational document has been prepared ahead of the SPRINT community virtual discussions on August 27, 2026. It brings together summaries, selected excerpts, and links to source documents relating to recent U.S. regulatory and tariff developments affecting robotics and related technologies. Its purpose is to illustrate the range of issues that may be relevant and to provide starting points for further investigation. It does not provide a comprehensive analysis or conclusions on how these developments may apply to specific organizations, products, or activities. Participants and Associate Participants operating in, supplying to, or otherwise engaged with the U.S. market are encouraged to consult the underlying source documents, assess the potential implications for their own activities, and seek appropriate regulatory, customs, trade, or legal advice where needed.

This document is intended solely for SPRINT Robotics Participants and Associate Participants in connection with the SPRINT community discussions. It is not intended for public distribution or publication. Recipients are asked not to distribute or publish the document outside their organization without prior permission from SPRINT Robotics.

 In this brief

1 Background

1.1 National Security Determinations

The United States government has issued National Security Determinations via a White House-convened executive-branch interagency body. These Determinations, which form the rationale for changes in regulations, are as follows:

• National Security Determination on the Threat Posed by Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and UAS Critical Components Produced in Foreign Countries December 21, 2025 - includes key definitions such as Uncrewed Aircraft (UA), Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS), and UAS Critical Components.
• National Security Determination on the Threat Posed by Foreign-Produced Power Inverters July 27, 2026 - defines inverters to include those with WIFI, cellular, Bluetooth, and similar connections.
• National Security Determination on the Threat Posed by Foreign-Produced Advanced Robotic Devices July 27, 2026 - defines advanced robotic devices to include autonomous mobile robots, humanoid robots, and quadrupeds.

1.2 Which United States government bodies are involved?

Federal Communications Commission. (2025, December 21). National security determination on the threat posed by uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components produced in foreign countries. National-Security-Determination-for-UAS.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 27). National security determination on the threat posed by foreign-produced power inverters. power-inverter-fcc-determination.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 27). National security determination on the threat posed by foreign-produced advanced robotic devices. www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/robots-nsd.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). About the FCC. Retrieved August 24, 2026, from https://www.fcc.gov/about/overview

Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). What we do. Retrieved August 24, 2026, from https://www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/what-we-do

FAA, What We Do. Available at: FAA What We Do. Accessed 24 August 2026.

Adjusting imports of unmanned aircraft systems and unmanned aircraft systems components into the United States. (2026, August 19). Federal Register. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/19/2026- 16979/adjusting-imports-of-unmanned-aircraft-systems-and- unmanned-aircraft-systems-components-into-the

Trump, D. J. (2025, June 6). Executive Order 14307—Unleashing American Drone Dominance. The White House. U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202500670/pdf/ DCPD-202500670.pdf

Trump, D. J. (2025, September 5). Executive Order 14347—Restoring the United States Department of War. The White House. U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/DCPD-202500897/pdf/ DCPD-202500897.pdf

1.3 What is the FCC’s Covered List?

The FCC’s Covered List is “a list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security”. It is maintained together with other government bodies. The list is a key source for identifying the robotics-related restrictions described in this document. A new Covered List addition generally prevents new covered models from receiving FCC equipment authorization but does not automatically prohibit continued use of lawfully purchased devices or continued marketing of previously authorized models, unless the FCC takes further action.The FCC states:

• Equipment on the Covered List (“covered equipment”) is prohibited from getting FCC equipment authorization. Most electronic devices require FCC equipment authorization prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the U.S. Covered equipment is banned from receiving new equipment authorizations, preventing new devices from entering the U.S. market….
• New models of devices on the Covered List are prohibited from receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported or sold in the U.S.  Additions to the Covered List today do not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing device models the FCC previously authorized.
• The Covered List does not restrict the continued use of previously-purchased devices. Consumers can continue to use the devices they lawfully purchased.”

2 Measures in effect

2.1 Foreign-Produced Advanced Robotic Devices and Power Inverters

On July 28, 2026, FCC Public Notice DA 26-786 updated the FCC’s Covered List to include advanced robotic devices and power inverters produced in foreign countries. 

Federal Communications Commission, Covered List, available at https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist  (accessed 24 August 2026).

Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). Covered list. Retrieved August 24, 2026, from https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/drone-aerial-dominance/covered- list

We note that prior authorization does not guarantee continuity (see FCC Public Notice DA-26-635: https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-prohibits-importation- and-marketing-certain-covered-equipment ) For example, on June 26, 2026, the FCC prohibited continued importation and marketing of some equipment that had been previously authorized if it had been added to the Covered List in 2024 or earlier.   

Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). Covered List FAQs: UAS and UAS critical components. Retrieved August 24, 2026, from https://www.fcc.gov/covered-list-faqs-uas-and-uas-critical- components

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 28). Public Notice DA 26-786: Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau updates the Covered List. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-786A1.pdf

As described in detail in the associated FCC Factsheet covered models can no longer receive the FCC equipment authorization required for normal import and marketing in the United States. Previously authorized models are generally not affected by the new listing. 

As described in the related FAQs, “foreign-produced” refers to any article that would not qualify as a “domestic end product,” as that term is defined in 48 CFR § 25.101(a) [i.e. the Buy American Standard under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)]….This has two prongs:

• The device must be “manufactured in the United States” and
• “the cost of domestic components shall exceed 65 percent for items delivered in calendar years 2024 through 2028 and 75 percent for items delivered starting in calendar year 2029.”

Conditional Approval

Foreign-produced advanced robotic devices may be exempted if they receive a Conditional Approval from the Department of War (DoW).  DoW will evaluate national security risk, supply chain resilience, and the applicant’s commitment to establishing trusted manufacturing capacity in the United States. The information required for conditional approval is described in the FCC guidance for Advanced Robotics Conditional Approval applications. Applications must be submitted by 1 January 2028. 

As of August 17, 2026, no advanced robotic system had been Conditionally Approved.
Further information can be found at FCC FAQs for robots and power inverters.

2.2 FCC Waiver for certain software and firmware update

On July 28, 2026, the FCC issued Public Notice DA 26-789, a waiver allowing certain software and firmware updates for already-authorized advanced robotic devices, including updates supporting continued functionality, vulnerability patching, and operating-system compatibility. The notice states that this waiver applies at least until January 1, 2029.

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 28). Fact sheet: FCC updates Covered List to include foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423682A1.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (2026). Guidance for conditional approval applications for foreign-produced advanced robotic devices. https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/robots-ca.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). FAQs on recent updates to the FCC Covered List regarding foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and power inverters. Retrieved August 24, 2026, from https://www.fcc.gov/covered-list-faqs-robots-inverters

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 28). OET announces waiver of prohibitions on certain Class I and Class II permissive changes to covered foreign-produced advanced robotic devices and covered foreign-produced power inverters (DA 26-789). Office of Engineering and Technology. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-789A1.pdf

2.3 Foreign-produced UAS and critical components on the Covered List

The robotics measure followed the addition of foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components to the Covered List on December 22, 2025. 

The FCC’s FAQs for UAS and UAS critical components also address issues such as limited importation for trade-show demonstrations and software or firmware updates for covered UAS.  It also describes some exclusions such as toy drones, federal use drones, etc.

As set out in the FCC Factsheet published on July 21, 2026, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau extended the exemption to the Covered List ban to: “the DoW’s Blue UAS List and those that meet the Buy America standard of being assembled in the U.S. with at least 65% of components by value produced in the U.S. for another year until January 1, 2028.”

Conditional Approval

As with advanced robotic devices, foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components that are not included in a listed exemption may apply for Conditional Approval under the current FCC guidance. 

As of August 17, 2026, there are 17 UAS drones Conditionally Approved. Notably it includes the ScoutDI 137 drone, plus a series of large, small and agricultural drones.

See the full list of approved drones on the FCC’s Covered List. 

Conditional approvals for foreign produced UAS and UAS critical components no longer have a termination date as per the FCC’s Public Notice DA 26-761. However, the notice also explains “The National Security Determination also states that the Conditional Approval will terminate and result in restoration to the FCC’s Covered List if the applicant fails to adhere to the onshoring plan outlined in the application or if the U.S. Government discovers that the applicant made “a false statement or misrepresentation” in the application.”

Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). Covered List FAQs: UAS and UAS critical components. Federal Communications Commission. https://www.fcc.gov/covered-list-faqs-uas-and-uas-critical- components

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 21). Fact sheet: FCC takes action to secure the drone supply chain: Agency extends deadline for trusted drones, seeks comment on banning commercial sales of foreign-made military-grade drones. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423277A1.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 21). FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announces extension of conditional approvals and exemption of certain uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components from FCC Covered List (DA 26-761). FCC.https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-761A1. pdf

3 Open Proposals

3.1 Proposal to prohibit continued importation and marketing of certain military-grade UAS

DA-26-758, released on July 21, 2026, seeks comment on proposed restrictions on the continued importation and marketing of certain foreign-produced military-grade UAS and UAS critical components. Categories on which the FCC has requested comment include swarming drones, thermal-imaging drones, LiDAR-equipped drones, drone docking stations, and UAS weighing 55 pounds or more. These are considered "military grade” per the FCC. See the FCC Fact Sheet.

 Comments due: September 2, 2026

3.2 Equipment authorization and components

FCC-26-50, released on July 23, 2026, adopts new requirements concerning certain logic-bearing hardware components and proposed additional changes covering components and software, importation, marketing, pre-authorization operation and supply-chain requirements.

Comments due: September 8, 2026

3.3 UAS import and marketing proposal

DA 26-832, released on August 10, 2026, covers UAS, seeks comment on a proposed prohibitions on the continued importation and marketing of specifically identified Anzu equipment, which the FCC links to prohibitions to certain communications and video surveillance equipment listed in section 1709 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025 NDAA) and foreign production. The prohibition would not apply to any importation or marketing for the purpose of use by the federal government, nor for the purpose of commercial testing and product development.

Comments due: September 23, 2026

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 21). FCC proposes to prohibit importation and marketing of certain covered equipment. https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-prohibit-import- marketing-covered-equipment-0

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 21). Fact sheet: FCC takes action to secure the drone supply chain—Agency extends deadline for trusted drones, seeks comment on banning commercial sales of foreign-made military-grade drones. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-423277A1.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 23). Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 26-50). See Part III (Third Report and Order) for the adopted requirements and Part IV (Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [FNPRM]) for the proposed additional changes. FCC-26-50A1.pdf

Federal Communications Commission. (2026, July 21). FCC proposes to prohibit import, marketing of covered equipment. https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-prohibit-import- marketing-covered-equipment-1

4 Developing Measures

We are unaware of any open consultations at present for the measures below. This section covers impending issues we would like our participants to be aware of, and where they may find further information to allow them to decide on the best course of action for their own business.

4.1Tariffs proclamation

A presidential proclamation signed on 13 August imposed new tariffs, generally effective 21 days later (around 3 September). It followed the US Secretary of Commerce’s investigation into UAS imports in relation to US national security under Sec. 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.  According to the fact sheet:

• A 100% ad valorem tariff applies to drones of more than 25 kilograms, drones with thermal-imaging capabilities, their docking stations, and certain critical components.
• A 25% ad valorem tariff applies to certain smaller drones without particularly sensitive capabilities and to other drone components.
• Qualifying drones and components are subject to a 15% ad valorem tariff when originating from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, or Taiwan, and 10% when originating from the United Kingdom, provided substantially all hardware, software, and technology originates in those countries and the United States.
• The Secretary of Commerce is directed to establish an onshoring program for companies investing in U.S. drone and component manufacturing.
• Tariffs on non-sensitive drone components take effect 180 days after signing. The same delayed date applies to products and components approved by the Department of War for exemption from the FCC Covered List within 20 days of signing.[27]

4.2 FAA BVLOS drone rulemaking

The FAA proposed new rules for safely normalizing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations.  As described in the FAA’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Fact Sheet, this “includes detailed requirements for operations, aircraft manufacturing, keeping drones safely separated from other aircraft, operational authorizations and responsibility, security, information reporting and record keeping“. Notably this includes operations “at or below 400 feet above ground level, from pre-designated and access-controlled locations.” 

The White House. (2026, August 13). Adjusting imports of unmanned aircraft systems and unmanned aircraft systems components into the United States. See paragraph 1 for the legal basis. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/ adjusting-imports-of-unmanned-aircraft-systems-and-unmanned- aircraft-systems-components-into-the-united-states/

The White House. (2026, August 13). Fact sheet: President Donald J. Trump bolsters national security and strengthens U.S. supply chains by imposing tariffs on drones and their parts and components. https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/08/fact-sheet- president-donald-j-trump-bolsters-national-security-and- strengthens-u-s-supply-chains-by-imposing-tariffs-on-drones- and-their-parts-and-components/

Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations, 90 Fed. Reg. 38212, Federal Register Document 2025-14992, Docket No. FAA-2025-1908, Notice No. 25-07, RIN 2120-AL82. 

2025-14992.pdf

The original comment period closed on October 6, 2025. The FAA reopened it from January 28, 2026 through February 11, 2026. Further extension to the consultation was denied, but the February notice says the FAA received substantial comments on right-of-way, ADS-B Out, electronic conspicuity, and detect-and-avoid issues. 

Although the consultation has closed, we are still awaiting the final rules. 

4.3 Robotics bills before Congress

The following bills are at an early stage and may or may not be enacted.  However, they are included as they may influence the direction of policy.

5 Recommended next steps for SPRINT participants and associate participants

• This document is intended to draw your attention to the changes. You are responsible for verifying information, considering applicability to your specific circumstances, and obtaining appropriate professional advice where necessary.
• Regulations and rules are changing. Monitor the FCC's Covered List and related public notices such as the Federal Register, FCC dockets, Commerce implementation notices, FAA dockets (e.g., those relevant to or affecting FAA-2025-1908, which has a potential relevance to inspection and maintenance UAS) and the status of bills cited in 5.3 for updates or guidance.
• Determine whether exemptions apply in your circumstances, if you wish to apply for Conditional Approval and/or whether FAA operating approval is needed for affected products.
• Factor in the DOW national security determination process and potential delays.
• Consider whether you wish to respond to any proposals. Readers should verify each measure against the linked official source before acting.

6 Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability

This document is provided for general informational purposes and is intended to help identify issues that may warrant further investigation. It brings together selected summaries, excerpts, and links to source documents and does not provide a comprehensive analysis or interpretation of the applicable laws, regulations, tariffs, or other requirements.

Regulatory and trade requirements may change, and the information included in this document may become incomplete or outdated. Readers should consult the underlying official sources and independently determine how the relevant requirements apply to their own products, activities, and circumstances. Appropriate legal, regulatory, customs, trade, or other specialist advice should be obtained where necessary.

National Commission on Robotics Act, H.R. 7334, 119th Congress, introduced 3 February 2026. https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr7334/BILLS-119hr7334ih. pdf   

SPRINT Robotics does not accept responsibility for decisions or actions taken on the basis of this document.