WASHINGTON, October 14 — The Federal Communications Commission voted earlier this month on a proposal to stop recognizing electronic device testing conducted by Chinese laboratories and other countries lacking a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the United States. If the vote passes on October 29, 2026, the ban would take effect on December 1, 2028, after which no electronics sold in the U.S. could rely on test results from labs in non-reciprocal economies. This could affect smartphones, cameras, computers and numerous other devices entering the American market.
The FCC stated that China does not currently have an MRA with the U.S., and the proposed ban aims to ensure the integrity, reliability and resilience of communications devices by preventing potentially dangerous devices from being approved based on untrustworthy testing. The agency claims the action is necessary to secure the integrity of testing results and protect national interests in communications technology.
The U.S. government has previously taken action against China-built tech, including banning routers manufactured in foreign countries earlier in 2026 due to national security concerns, though that ban was later relaxed. If the FCC’s proposed ban is enacted, devices accredited in labs from non-reciprocal economies—including China—would be accepted until December 1, 2028, after which such results would no longer be recognized. The U.S. would then rely on testing agreements with countries that have MRAs, a process described as strenuous due to the need to verify accreditation equipment standards.
The FCC may also establish U.S.-based test labs to avoid overconcentration in any single country and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities. A constantly updated list of countries with reciprocal economies would determine which testing results the FCC recognizes, with countries subject to removal or addition.
While China currently lacks an MRA with the U.S., the FCC indicated openness to a future reciprocal agreement that could allow mutual recognition of test results, potentially facilitating the entry of Chinese electric vehicles into the U.S. market. The FCC’s statement emphasizes that the ban seeks to uphold safety and integrity standards in device testing amid broader U.S.-China technological tensions. The FCC is an independent agency of the United States federal government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, Wi-Fi, satellite, and cable across the United States.
It maintains jurisdiction over broadband access, fair competition, radio frequency use, media responsibility, public safety, and homeland security. The agency was established pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934 to replace the radio regulation functions of the previous Federal Radio Commission and took over wire communication regulation from the Interstate Commerce Commission. The FCC is funded entirely by regulatory fees and had an estimated fiscal-2022 budget of $388 million.
It employed 1,433 federal personnel as of 2022. Its mandate, as specified in the Communications Act of 1934 and amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, is to make available so far as possible, to all the people of the United States, without discrimination, rapid, efficient, nationwide, and world-wide wire and radio communication services with adequate facilities at reasonable charges, while also promoting safety of life and property and supporting national defense.
The FCC is organized into seven bureaus, each headed by a chief appointed by the commission chair. These bureaus process applications, analyze complaints, conduct investigations, develop and implement regulations, and participate in hearings. The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau develops and implements consumer policies, serves as the public face of the FCC through outreach and education, and maintains partnerships with state, local, and tribal governments on emergency preparedness and new technology implementation.
The Enforcement Bureau ensures compliance with FCC rules through investigations and citations.
