The Federal Communications Commission on May 12 extended software and firmware updates for Chinese-made drones and home routers sold in the U.S., even as it has barred new imports of some Chinese-made models in recent months. [1]
The agency said the update waiver is meant to address security and functionality risks for U.S. consumers, including fixing bugs and improving compatibility with different operating systems. FCC said all software and firmware updates are allowed “to ensure the continued functionality of devices, such as fixing bugs and promoting compatibility with different operating systems.” [1]
FCC set the extension to run at least through the end of 2028, while Ars Technica reported the agency pushed the deadline to at least Jan. 1, 2029. The discrepancy appears to reflect different descriptions of the same order's end date. [1, 2]
The commission has in recent months banned imports of new models of Chinese-made drones and routers, but it still allows versions that already received approval to keep entering the market and remain on sale. It has also said it is weighing whether to impose a broader ban on equipment from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision and Dahua. [1]
FCC also moved ahead with proposals to ban all Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices intended for use in the U.S. and to bar China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from operating data centers in the country. The agency said about 75% of U.S. electronics are tested in China. [1]
Ars Technica said the FCC had previously set a March 1, 2027 deadline for software updates on existing routers before later extending it. The latest extension comes as President Donald Trump departed for a visit to China on May 13, according to the report. [2, 1]
