US FCC extends software update deadline for banned foreign-made Wi-Fi routers and drones to 2029

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has extended the deadline that allows certain foreign-made Wi-Fi routers and drones to continue receiving software and firmware updates in the United States. The move comes after concerns that millions of devices already being used by consumers could become vulnerable to hacking and security risks if updates were stopped too early. Earlier rules had set the cutoff for updates in 2027, but the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) has now pushed the date to January 1, 2029. The extension applies only to devices that had already been approved before the restrictions were introduced.