After banning foreign routers, the FCC says existing ones can get updates until 2029

Devices on the List Covered waivers to continue receiving software updates, the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology said in its waiver supplement on Friday.

“Under this directive, all UAS Aircraft Systems (UAS), UAS equipment, and routers manufactured in a foreign country that were approved for use in the United States before these devices were added to the Covered List may until January 1, 2029, in accordance with FCC rules, continue to receive software and firmware updates that minimize harm to US technology consumers,” the FCC office said.

The removal covers “all software and firmware updates to ensure that these devices continue to work, such as those that take risks and help to make them compatible with different systems.” The FCC’s technical office said “as soon as possible, it will recommend to the full Commission to consider these restrictions in rulemaking.”

This means that the exclusion will be permanent, but the FCC can impose different conditions. This can be done through the legislative process where people are invited to comment on the results of the proposed changes. But the ban on the router itself was put in place without public comment, and the idea of ​​making the software update permanent is just an idea at this point.

Allow software updates

Extending the waiver to 2029 “gives the Commission an opportunity to consider rulemaking on this matter,” and minimizes “potential public harm,” the FCC’s technical office said. The agency said it will recommend removing existing devices from the Covered List and “any future covered devices that have similar features.”

Friday’s amendment also added an exemption to so-called “Class II tolerance changes,” while the original regulation covered only Class I changes. The size of the exemption appears to be mainly to ensure that all basic software changes are allowed.

First-class changes include “changes to equipment that do not detract from the manufacturer’s specifications,” which can be made without filing with the commission. Class II change may affect the performance of the manufacturer has already reported to the FCC, but the changes are expected to be minor compared to the changes of the Third Party face and stare to ensure compliance with FCC regulations.