SIIA Statement on FCC Covered List Expansion to Include Foreign Routers and Drones

The following statement from the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) can be attributed to Chris Mohr, President.

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) is closely monitoring the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent decisions to expand its Covered List to include consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries, following a similar expansion in December 2025 covering foreign-produced uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS).

We share the Administration's commitment to national security, cybersecurity, and strengthening domestic manufacturing of critical technologies. However, we have significant concerns about the approach the FCC has taken in these actions. The use of sweeping, category-wide restrictions on entire classes of devices - applied without regard to the nationality or security posture of individual manufacturers - risks producing serious unintended consequences for American businesses, consumers, and the broader technology ecosystem.

We believe a more precise, evidence-based, and procedurally sound approach is necessary. In light of these concerns, we urge the Administration to adopt the following principles as it charts a path forward:

Future actions should be entity-based, not country-of-origin-based.

Security threats generally stem from specific actors, not entire countries or regions. The FCC's recent actions depart from the targeted approach that has long undergirded the Covered List policy, which historically has focused on named companies and their specific equipment. A blanket prohibition on all foreign-produced devices runs the risk of sweeping in trusted, responsible companies whose products pose no risk. Because of this, we urge the Administration to return to a firm-specific framework for future Covered List determinations, based on individual risk assessments rather than categorical exclusions.

The definitions of "router" and "drone" should not be expanded beyond their current scope.

Technology product categories are inherently overlapping and tend to evolve rapidly. Broadening the definitions of "consumer-grade router" or "uncrewed aircraft system" beyond their current scope could inadvertently capture enterprise networking equipment, Wi-Fi access points, IoT devices, and other connected hardware never contemplated in the original determinations. To avoid such outcomes, the Administration should provide clear, narrow, and durable definitions that offer industry the regulatory predictability it needs.

No additional orders should be issued without a robust public comment process.

Both the router and UAS actions were taken without prior notice-and-comment rulemaking, eschewing the procedural safeguards that exist to ensure wide-reaching policy decisions are informed by the full range of affected stakeholders. We remain concerned with reports that future actions could expand to additional consumer, business, and infrastructure products and components, including those critical to building the infrastructure and devices needed for the U.S. to continue leading on artificial intelligence. We strongly urge the FCC to make sure that any future Covered List expansions will be preceded by a formal rulemaking proceeding that affords industry and the public a meaningful opportunity to submit comments.

We look forward to continuing to work constructively with the Administration to develop supply chain security policies that are effective, targeted, and grounded in due process.