All articles tagged with #covered list
HoverAir’s Versa, a pocket-camera that can attach wings to become a drone, appears blocked in the U.S. after the FCC added foreign drones to its Covered List for national-security reasons, with U.S. shipments limited to non-drone configurations while the fully flying option awaits clearance.
The FCC has expanded its Covered List to bar the sale of all foreign-made drones and DJI cameras that aren’t FCC-certified, revoking approvals for several DJI clones and LiDAR-equipped devices. Drones and cameras already approved remain legal to sell and fly under FAA rules, but future models may be removed from the US market. For buyers, older DJI models and non-LiDAR drones that are already approved remain safer options; beginner picks include the DJI Flip or Potensic Atom 2, while experts might consider the DJI Mavic 4 Pro. The 249-gram threshold affects FAA registration, and importing unapproved drones can create compliance issues. There are a few US-made options for professional use, but consumer drones are largely still imported; parts for currently approved devices should continue to be available. The situation is evolving with ongoing litigation from DJI and anticipated further regulatory moves, including potential effects on Hasselblad equipment and model aircraft.
DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 debuted but won’t be sold in the US because it hasn’t received FCC authorization after the company was added to the FCC’s Covered List; the Pocket 3 remains available and is a cheaper alternative, while some pre-ban DJI products have cleared approval and retailers continue to stock them, making US availability for the Pocket 4 uncertain for the foreseeable future.
The FCC designated consumer routers manufactured outside the US as a security risk, placing all new foreign-made router models on a Covered List. Existing US-based brands with overseas manufacturing are affected, but already-sold routers can still be used and updated through at least March 1, 2027. Conditional approvals may be granted if companies commit to moving some manufacturing to the US. Legal challenges are likely, and shoppers shouldn’t expect new router models on shelves until the policy is clarified.
The FCC added all foreign-made drones and critical components to its Covered List, meaning future DJI, Autel, and other brands’ models won’t receive FCC approval or US sales, though drones already approved remain legal to own and fly under FAA rules. Replacement parts for existing devices will still be available. For buyers, FCC-approved options like Neo 2, Mini 5 Pro, or Mavic 4 Pro are recommended when in stock; legal challenges may follow, but a reversal isn’t expected.