Router Drone Conditional Approvals
The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announces that Department of War Conditional Approvals require exclusion of specified uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), UAS critical components, and routers from the FCC Covered List.
What it does The Public Notice updates and republishes the Covered List and the related Conditional Approvals list as of May 15, 2026. It identifies new Conditional Approvals for Elevon Aerial AG’s Z30, Z50, and Z80 UAS, terminating December 31, 2026, and Nokia Corporation’s wireless-fidelity 8 router, terminating October 31, 2027. The appendices also list previously approved UAS and router devices, including products from SiFly, Mobilicom, ScoutDI, Verge, Sees.ai, Air6, Netgear, Adtran, eero, and Calix.
Who it affects The action affects manufacturers and suppliers of foreign-produced UAS, UAS critical components, and routers, as well as equipment authorization applicants, testing laboratories, and Telecommunications Certification Bodies. Covered List exclusions apply to the specified devices, while the broader categories remain covered subject to stated exceptions.
Why it matters The notice illustrates how a specific national-security determination by the Department of War can narrow the operational scope of a Covered List category without removing the category itself. PSHSB states that it must maintain and update the list under 47 CFR §§ 1.50002(a) and 1.50003, and offers staff guidance on the updates.
Key dates and numbers
- Released May 15, 2026; DA 26-489.
- Dockets: WC 18-89, ET 21-232, and EA 21-233.
- Elevon approvals terminate December 31, 2026; Nokia approval terminates October 31, 2027.
- UAS were added to the Covered List on December 22, 2025; foreign-produced routers were added on March 23, 2026.