The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology issued a waiver extension on Friday that lets foreign‑made routers and critical UAV components keep receiving firmware patches until January 1 2029 for home networks and commercial deployments across the United States. Devices already on the “Covered List” – those authorized before the ban – must obtain a waiver to stay updated. Without it, manufacturers would be forced to cease support, leaving users exposed.

The order expands the original waiver, which only covered Class I “permissive changes,” to include Class II modifications. Class I updates can be made without filing and do not alter a manufacturer’s reported performance, while Class II changes may slightly degrade those specs but are still considered minor. By allowing both classes, the FCC ensures all essential software updates remain legal to address emerging cybersecurity requirements.

The FCC says it will soon recommend codifying the waiver through rulemaking, which could make the provision permanent but also permit new conditions. Public comment would be invited, a contrast to the original router ban that proceeded without notice. For consumers and enterprises relying on legacy equipment, the extension buys valuable time to plan replacements without losing security patches and maintain compliance with FCC regulations.