[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":326},["ShallowReactive",2],{"en-post-fcc-first-component-ban-hisilicon-chips-2026":3,"en-related-fcc-first-component-ban-hisilicon-chips-2026":291},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"body":7,"category":271,"date":272,"description":273,"draft":274,"extension":275,"image":276,"meta":277,"navigation":278,"path":279,"seo":280,"slug":281,"stem":282,"tags":283,"translation_slug":264,"updated":289,"__hash__":290},"en_posts\u002Fen\u002Fposts\u002Ffcc-first-component-ban-hisilicon-chips-2026.md","FCC Blocks First Devices Under Chip Ban: HiSilicon Case","Lucas Buzzo",{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":263},"minimark",[10,14,25,28,33,36,44,53,55,59,66,77,80,102,104,108,111,114,181,183,187,194,197,223,231,233,237,239],[11,12,13],"p",{},"The FCC announced on October 22, 2026, its first enforcement of the new Covered List component rules, blocking a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter from the US market because each contained a chip made by HiSilicon, Huawei's chip design subsidiary. The rules took effect October 13 and also apply to drones with DJI or Autel logic-bearing parts.",[11,15,16,17,24],{},"Neither device had been authorized before the decision, and the FCC named no manufacturer, model, or part number, according to ",[18,19,23],"a",{"href":20,"rel":21},"https:\u002F\u002Fdronexl.co\u002F2026\u002F10\u002F22\u002Ffcc-hisilicon-chips-dash-cam-video-transmitter-first-component-ban\u002F",[22],"nofollow","DroneXL's report on the release",".",[26,27],"hr",{},[29,30,32],"h2",{"id":31},"what-did-the-fcc-block-and-why","What Did the FCC Block, and Why?",[11,34,35],{},"The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) refused authorization to two products: a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter. Each contained a HiSilicon system-on-chip. The agency quoted HiSilicon's own marketing, which describes the chip as \"designed for the surveillance market\" and lists built-in face detection.",[11,37,38,39,24],{},"Chairman Brendan Carr called such video devices \"an obvious and unacceptable risk to the nation and our people,\" per the ",[18,40,43],{"href":41,"rel":42},"https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.fcc.gov\u002Fpublic\u002Fattachments\u002FDOC-426130A1.pdf",[22],"FCC news release",[11,45,46,47,52],{},"The legal path is short. Huawei has been on the FCC's ",[18,48,51],{"href":49,"rel":50},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fcc.gov\u002Fsupplychain\u002Fcoveredlist",[22],"Covered List"," since March 12, 2021, and a footnote on the list says named producers include their subsidiaries and affiliates. That puts HiSilicon chips inside the rule, regardless of what the chip actually does.",[26,54],{},[29,56,58],{"id":57},"background-the-component-rule-explained","Background: The Component Rule Explained",[11,60,61,62,65],{},"The ",[63,64,51],"strong",{}," is the FCC's roster of communications equipment and services deemed a national security risk. Equipment from listed producers cannot receive new FCC equipment authorization, which is required to legally market radio-emitting devices in the US.",[11,67,68,69,72,73,24],{},"For years the ban applied to finished products. Under the Third Report and Order (FCC 26-50), adopted July 22, 2026, it now reaches ",[63,70,71],{},"logic-bearing components",": chips and modules that process data, such as flight controllers and radio boards. We covered the drone-specific effects in our ",[18,74,76],{"href":75},"\u002Ffcc-bans-dji-autel-chips-new-drones-2026\u002F","explainer on the DJI and Autel chip ban",[11,78,79],{},"Key points of the rule, as reported:",[81,82,83,90,93,96,99],"ul",{},[84,85,86,87,24],"li",{},"It took effect ",[63,88,89],{},"October 13, 2026",[84,91,92],{},"It is prospective: equipment authorized before October 13 keeps its approval.",[84,94,95],{},"Applications pending on October 13 are exempt unless a logic-bearing component later changes.",[84,97,98],{},"Foreign-produced data transmission devices are treated as critical components.",[84,100,101],{},"A Further Notice asks whether applications should include a hardware and software bill of materials.",[26,103],{},[29,105,107],{"id":106},"what-the-first-case-does-and-does-not-tell-us","What the First Case Does and Does Not Tell Us",[11,109,110],{},"The case answers one question: the FCC will apply the producer-identity test to subsidiaries and chip designers, not just to well-known brands.",[11,112,113],{},"Several things remain unknown. The release does not explain how OET found the chips, whether through applicant disclosure or internal certification photos. It also does not say whether the video transmitter was built for drones. DroneXL's editor-in-chief Haye Kesteloo, in an opinion portion of his report, supports the outcome but argues the FCC should publish FCC IDs or grantee codes so manufacturers can see exactly what was refused.",[115,116,117,130],"table",{},[118,119,120],"thead",{},[121,122,123,127],"tr",{},[124,125,126],"th",{},"Item",[124,128,129],{},"Detail",[131,132,133,142,150,158,166,173],"tbody",{},[121,134,135,139],{},[136,137,138],"td",{},"Announced",[136,140,141],{},"October 22, 2026",[121,143,144,147],{},[136,145,146],{},"Blocked devices",[136,148,149],{},"Dashboard camera, wireless video transmitter",[121,151,152,155],{},[136,153,154],{},"Chip maker",[136,156,157],{},"HiSilicon (Huawei subsidiary)",[121,159,160,163],{},[136,161,162],{},"Listed since",[136,164,165],{},"March 12, 2021 (Huawei)",[121,167,168,171],{},[136,169,170],{},"Rules effective",[136,172,89],{},[121,174,175,178],{},[136,176,177],{},"Prior authorizations",[136,179,180],{},"Unaffected",[26,182],{},[29,184,186],{"id":185},"what-this-means-for-drone-pilots","What This Means for Drone Pilots",[11,188,189,190,24],{},"The direct effect is on manufacturers and importers, not on pilots who already own drones. Equipment authorized before October 13 stays legal to own, fly, and sell. For background on current legality, see our guide on ",[18,191,193],{"href":192},"\u002Fis-dji-banned-in-the-us\u002F","whether DJI is banned in the US",[11,195,196],{},"The practical impact shows up in the supply chain:",[81,198,199,205,211,217],{},[84,200,201,204],{},[63,202,203],{},"New US-built drones"," with a DJI or Autel flight controller or radio module cannot receive new authorization.",[84,206,207,210],{},[63,208,209],{},"Video transmission gear",", including FPV and analog or digital video links, is now in scope if it uses a Covered List chip.",[84,212,213,216],{},[63,214,215],{},"Accessory makers"," sourcing low-cost surveillance-grade SoCs face the same screening.",[84,218,219,222],{},[63,220,221],{},"Buyers"," should expect fewer new low-cost options and more attestation paperwork behind new FCC IDs.",[11,224,225,226,230],{},"If you fly under US rules, it is also worth reviewing ",[18,227,229],{"href":228},"\u002Fdrone-laws-usa\u002F","US drone laws"," when a new device arrives.",[26,232],{},[234,235],"faq",{":items":236},"[{\"question\":\"What did the FCC do on October 22, 2026?\",\"answer\":\"The FCC announced its first enforcement of the new Covered List component rules. It blocked a dashboard camera and a wireless video transmitter from the US market because each contained a HiSilicon chip. HiSilicon is Huawei's chip design subsidiary, and Huawei has been on the Covered List since 2021.\"},{\"question\":\"Does the HiSilicon decision affect drones I already own?\",\"answer\":\"No. The component rules are prospective and took effect October 13, 2026. Equipment authorized before that date keeps its FCC approval, so drones already on the market or in the field remain legal to own, fly, and sell.\"},{\"question\":\"Was the blocked video transmitter a drone product?\",\"answer\":\"Unknown. The FCC release does not say whether the wireless video transmitter was designed for drones, and it named no manufacturer or model. The same rules do apply to new US-built drones that contain DJI or Autel logic-bearing components.\"}]",[26,238],{},[11,240,241],{},[242,243,244,245,249,250,249,254,249,258],"em",{},"Sources: ",[18,246,248],{"href":20,"rel":247},[22],"DroneXL"," | ",[18,251,253],{"href":41,"rel":252},[22],"FCC News Release, Oct. 22, 2026",[18,255,257],{"href":49,"rel":256},[22],"FCC Covered List",[18,259,262],{"href":260,"rel":261},"https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.fcc.gov\u002Fpublic\u002Fattachments\u002FFCC-26-50A1.pdf",[22],"FCC 26-50",{"title":264,"searchDepth":265,"depth":265,"links":266},"",2,[267,268,269,270],{"id":31,"depth":265,"text":32},{"id":57,"depth":265,"text":58},{"id":106,"depth":265,"text":107},{"id":185,"depth":265,"text":186},"news","2026-10-25","The FCC enforced its Covered List component rule for the first time on Oct. 22, blocking two HiSilicon-chip devices. Here's what it means for drone buyers.",false,"md","\u002Fimages\u002Ffcc-american-drone-dominance-2026.jpg",{},true,"\u002Fen\u002Fposts\u002Ffcc-first-component-ban-hisilicon-chips-2026",{"title":5,"description":273},"fcc-first-component-ban-hisilicon-chips-2026","en\u002Fposts\u002Ffcc-first-component-ban-hisilicon-chips-2026",[284,285,286,287,288],"fcc","regulation","covered list","huawei","drone market",null,"ZDFF4T-JCOTI62cjsuLxyDiTijI_yVp1dcZzr_iEP9w",[292,294,305,316],{"title":5,"description":273,"date":272,"category":271,"image":276,"slug":281,"tags":293,"author":6},[284,285,286,287,288],{"title":295,"description":296,"date":297,"category":271,"image":298,"slug":299,"tags":300,"author":6},"Spray Drone Sales Fell 59% as FCC Ban Looms (2026)","US spray drone sales fell 59% in 2025, the American Spray Drone Coalition says, and it wants the FCC to exempt Part 137 drones from its ban. What it means.","2026-10-24","\u002Fimages\u002Fdji-agras-t55-t100-launch.jpg","spray-drone-sales-fell-59-percent-fcc-ban-2026",[301,284,302,303,304],"spray drones","agricultural drones","part 137","dji",{"title":306,"description":307,"date":308,"category":271,"image":309,"slug":310,"tags":311,"author":6},"Massachusetts Drone Delivery Freeze: 16 Lawmakers Ask Healey","16 Massachusetts lawmakers asked Gov. Healey on Oct. 19, 2026 to freeze drone delivery certificates. MassDOT told Amazon it needs state approval. Details.","2026-10-23","\u002Fimages\u002FPrime-Air.jpg","massachusetts-drone-delivery-freeze-healey-amazon-2026",[312,313,314,285,315],"amazon","prime air","drone delivery","massachusetts",{"title":317,"description":318,"date":319,"category":271,"image":320,"slug":321,"tags":322,"author":6},"Amazon Drone Delivery Tallahassee: Mid-November Launch","Amazon Prime Air aims to start MK30 drone delivery in Tallahassee by mid-November, with up to 21 drones and a 7.5-mile range. Here is what's still pending.","2026-10-22","\u002Fimages\u002Famazon-prime-air-ajustes-richardson.jpg","amazon-drone-delivery-tallahassee-november-2026",[323,314,324,325,285],"amazon prime air","mk30","florida",1792970303428]