U.S. FCC Expands the Covered List to Include Foreign-Produced Power Inverters

06 Aug 2026

What Manufacturers Need to Know

Power inverters have become a critical component of the modern electric power infrastructure. They enable renewable energy generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), electric vehicle (EV) charging, microgrids, and data centers by converting direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) for use by the electric grid and connected loads.

It is important for manufacturers to be aware of evolving regulatory requirements that may affect market access in the United States. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to expand its efforts to protect the nation's communications infrastructure and critical technologies from potential national security risks. In a recent Public Notice, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) announced the addition of foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to the Covered List.

What Is the FCC Covered List?

The FCC Covered List identifies communications equipment and services determined to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or to the security and safety of U.S. persons. Products placed on the Covered List may become subject to restrictions regarding FCC equipment authorization, importation, marketing, or use in the United States.

The addition of foreign-produced power inverters reflects increasing attention to the security of equipment that supports critical infrastructure, including the nation's electric power system.

The Covered List is not a direct import ban since the products can still enter the US. Instead, the Covered List operates by restricting FCC equipment authorizations for newly covered products.

What Is Considered a Power Inverter?

For the National Security Determinations, the term “Power Inverter” shall mean a device:

• A bi-directional power device or system that converts direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity, or converts alternating current (AC) electricity to direct current (AC) electricity, to include microinverters, string inverters, central inverters, and hybrid (battery-based) inverters; and
• Contains components that enable remote communication, control, sensing, data collection, or monitoring through Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, or other similar connections.

Examples include inverters used in:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• Utility-scale renewable energy projects
• Commercial and industrial power systems
• Data centers
• EV charging infrastructure

What Does "Foreign-Produced" Mean?

The FCC Public Notice states that "foreign-produced" means any article that does not qualify as a "domestic end product", as defined under the Buy American regulations in 48 C.F.R. § 25.101(a).

This determination focuses on where and how a product is manufactured rather than on a specific certification or technical standard. Manufacturers should carefully evaluate their manufacturing locations, sourcing strategies, and supply chains to understand whether their products may fall within the scope of the FCC's action.

What Are "Conditional Approvals"?

In the context of the FCC Covered List, "Conditional Approvals" are not an FCC equipment certification. Rather, it is a national security exemption granted by the designated Executive Branch agencies that allows certain otherwise covered products to be exempted from the Covered List restrictions.

The Executive Branch interagency body has established a process in which entities producing power inverters or advanced robotic devices in a foreign country can request an evaluation as to whether their devices do not pose unacceptable risks to national security and receive Conditional Approvals that would exempt the devices from the Covered List. The Department of War (DoW) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may evaluate such submissions for power inverters. Entities seeking Conditional Approvals for power inverters must provide the information requested in the Power Inverters Guidance Document.

How Does This Relate to Product Certification?

It is important to distinguish the FCC Covered List from product testing and certification programs.

The FCC Covered List is not a product safety certification program and does not replace or modify existing product compliance requirements. Manufacturers may still need to demonstrate compliance with applicable requirements such as:

• Electrical safety standards
• Grid interconnection requirements
• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements
• Performance and reliability testing
• Functional safety and cybersecurity evaluations, where applicable

Compliance with product safety or performance standards does not automatically satisfy FCC Covered List requirements, and inclusion on the Covered List is independent of third-party product certification.

Conclusion

The FCC's addition of foreign-produced power inverter reflects the growing intersection of national security, critical infrastructure, and emerging technologies. While the action is separate from existing product certification program, it highlights the importance of considering national security requirements alongside established safety, EMC, and performance standards.

As power inverter technologies continue to support the transition toward renewable energy and grid modernization, manufacturers that proactively monitor regulatory developments and evaluate their compliance strategies will be better positioned to navigate future market access requirements.