The USA has expanded the list of prohibited equipment

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially made changes to the list of equipment that poses a threat to national security. Two categories of foreign equipment are subject to the ban on import and sale: advanced robotic devices and power inverters that have access to the grid.

New FCC restrictions

The regulator’s decision concerns products manufactured outside the United States. It is important to understand that a device that does not meet the criteria of an American-made end product is considered “foreign” regardless of whether the manufacturer’s brand is domestic. The restrictions apply to all countries, not just China, although it is Chinese tech giants (such as Sungrow and Huawei) that will be most affected.

Criteria for robotic devices

Any mobile robots capable of autonomous movement, bypassing obstacles or navigation without human intervention fall under the regulation. Technical parameters of the device classification:

• The weight of the device with the dock must exceed 4.4 pounds (about 2 kg).
• Availability of sensors and software for remote or autonomous control.
• Availability of network connection.

It is worth noting that even modern robot vacuum cleaners can be included in the list. Exceptions are made for drones, medical equipment, cars, rides, underwater vehicles and stationary industrial robots.

Requirements for power inverters

The ban affects microinverters, string inverters, central and hybrid systems used in solar power plants and energy storage. Models with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular support that provide remote monitoring, data collection or command transmission fall under the sanctions.

Consequences and exceptions to the rules

Devices that have already been purchased and are in use are not subject to forced removal – their owners can use the equipment in the usual way. Restrictions apply to the import, certification and sale of new models. If the equipment has already been certified by the FCC before, it can be resold. The ban also applies to equipment used by the US federal government. Manufacturers can qualify for exemptions by obtaining approval from the US Department of Defense or the US Department of Homeland Security and proving that there are no cybersecurity risks.

Risks of espionage and cyber attacks

The American authorities justify the ban with potential security risks:

• Inverters: the danger of remote shutdown of critical energy infrastructure, data collection and organization of cyber attacks.
• Robots: potential use for espionage, unauthorized information collection and risk of hacking by attackers.