USA: FCC Covered List Power Inverters Rule Modified

USA: FCC Covered List Power Inverters Entry Modified (August 2026)

On August 20, 2026, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) released Public Notice DA 26-870, modifying the power inverters entry on the FCC Covered List. The action carries out a Second Power Inverter National Security Determination issued by the Department of War (DoW) and received by the Commission on August 19, 2026. It follows the original listing of foreign produced power inverters on July 28, 2026 (Public Notice DA 26-786).

The modification cuts in two directions. It removes several categories of inverters from the scope of the listing, while at the same time broadening the connectivity test that determines which inverters remain covered. For manufacturers, importers, and test labs, the net effect is a more precisely bounded but in one respect stricter equipment authorization restriction.

This article summarizes the operative changes, the new definitions, and the certification steps that follow. It is intended for certification and compliance professionals and complements GMA Labs' existing coverage of the FCC Covered List additions for routers, robotic devices, and power inverters.

What Changed in the FCC Covered List Power Inverters Entry

The Second Power Inverter National Security Determination directed the FCC to make two substantive changes and to amend the underlying definitions.

1. Narrowed scope and new exemptions.

• The listing now reaches only utility interactive inverters electronic devices that change DC power to AC power (including bidirectional devices) intended for use in parallel with an electric utility, as defined in UL 1741 sections 2.1.23 and 2.1.52. Inverters that do not meet that UL 1741 definition (for example, non-utility-interactive inverters that cannot connect to the utility grid) are no longer covered.

• Inverters eligible for the Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit under 26 U.S.C. § 45X for domestic production are no longer considered "foreign produced," and are therefore exempt from the listing.

• Inverters that qualify as a domestic end product under 48 CFR § 25.101(a) U.S. manufactured, with domestic component cost exceeding 65% of total component cost for items delivered in calendar years 2024–2028 (rising to 75% from calendar year 2029) are likewise outside the "foreign-produced" definition.

  
  

2. Tightened connectivity test.

The revised definition covers an inverter that "contains, or is designed, equipped, or configured to accept," a component that enables remote communication, control, sensing, data collection, or monitoring. Two points matter here:

• Coverage now extends to wired connections such as Ethernet, not only wireless links (Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth).

• The connectivity prong is satisfied even if the communications component is not installed at the time of manufacture, as long as the device is designed, equipped, or configured to accept one.

Revised definitions on the FCC Covered List

Power inverters now means a device that both:

(a) changes DC power to AC power (including bidirectional devices) intended for use in parallel with an electric utility to supply common loads and sometimes deliver power to the utility i.e., a utility interactive inverter as defined in UL 1741 sections 2.1.23 and 2.1.52; and

(b) contains, or is designed, equipped, or configured to accept, a component that enables remote communication, control, sensing, data collection, or monitoring through Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth, or other similar connections, whether wired or wireless.

Foreign produced power inverters means power inverters (as defined above) that are not either:

(a) eligible for the Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit in 26 U.S.C. § 45X for domestic production; or

(b) a domestic end product under 48 CFR § 25.101(a).

What This Means for Manufacturers

The practical picture depends on where a given product sits against the two-part definition.

• If your inverter is not utility interactive (it cannot operate in parallel with the utility grid per UL 1741), it now falls outside the listing. This is a meaningful relief for off grid, stand alone, and certain industrial inverter product lines.

• If your inverter is utility interactive but has no connectivity and is not even designed, equipped, or configured to accept a communications component it is outside the definition. In practice, however, most modern grid tied inverters are built to accept monitoring or control modules, so this exclusion is narrow.

• If your inverter is utility interactive and can accept remote connectivity, it remains covered unless it qualifies for a Section 45X or domestic end product exemption, or has received a Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS. Note that the "designed, equipped, or configured to accept" language means a base model without a factory installed comms module can still be covered.

• If your inverter qualifies for the Section 45X credit or as a domestic end product, it is not "foreign produced" and is off the list, even if it is utility interactive and connected.

  
  

Because these entries are identified by place of production, not by entity, the FCC has clarified that the more stringent obligations that attach to entities "identified" on the Covered List (such as certain FCC filing requirements) do not apply here. The core consequence is on equipment authorization.

Manufacturers producing foreign power inverters may request an evaluation from DoW or DHS for a Conditional Approval that would exempt specific devices. Applicants must submit the information called for in the FCC's Power Inverters Guidance Document.

Certification Impact Summary

Change in DA 26-870	Effect on equipment authorization
Scope limited to utility-interactive inverters (UL 1741 §§ 2.1.23, 2.1.52)	Non-utility-interactive inverters no longer prohibited from receiving FCC authorization
Connectivity test broadened to "designed, equipped, or configured to accept," including wired (Ethernet)	More grid-tied inverters including base models without an installed comms module fall within the covered definition
Section 45X-eligible inverters treated as not "foreign-produced"	Exempt from the listing; may be authorized without Conditional Approval
Domestic end products (48 CFR § 25.101(a)) treated as not "foreign produced"	Exempt from the listing
Covered inverters remain prohibited under 47 CFR § 2.903(a)	Cannot receive equipment authorization while covered
Certification under 47 CFR § 2.911(d)(5)(i)	Every authorization application must certify the equipment is not "covered equipment"
Conditional Approval route via DoW/DHS	Path to exempt an otherwise-covered device pending evaluation
July 28 permissive change waiver applied to revised definitions	Software/firmware updates to pre-listing authorized models remain permitted

Timeline and Required Actions

Date	Event / Required action
July 28, 2026	Foreign produced power inverters (and advanced robotic devices) added to the Covered List (DA 26-786); OET permissive change waiver issued (DA 26-789)
August 19, 2026	FCC receives the Second Power Inverter National Security Determination from DoW
August 20, 2026	PSHSB releases DA 26-870; definition revised; Section 45X and domestic end product exemptions take effect; FAQ updated
Immediately	Classify each inverter model against the two part definition (utility interactive per UL 1741 and connectivity capability)
Immediately	Assess Section 45X and domestic end product eligibility for models that would otherwise be covered
Before filing	Confirm the 47 CFR § 2.911(d)(5)(i) "not covered equipment" certification is accurate for each application
As needed	For covered models, prepare a Conditional Approval submission to DoW/DHS using the Power Inverters Guidance Document
For legacy models	Verify prior authorization status; document eligibility to rely on the software/firmware permissive-change waiver
Ongoing	Monitor for further specific determinations and subsequent Public Notices that may again update the list