Communications and Technology Alert: RF Exposure Rules Request for Comments; Conditional Approvals for Foreign-Made Robots; Rip-and-Replace Bill; 900 MHz Band Updates [Vol. XXIII, Issue 38]
Commission Seeks Comment on RF Exposure Issues
Last Thursday, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking to refresh the record on the Commission’s RF exposure safety rules. The Commission’s current RF exposure limits and safeguards are developed in conjunction with subject matter experts at the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other bodies. Federal courts have upheld the Commission’s authority to promulgate RF human safety requirements as recent as the 2021 decision in Environmental Health Trust v. FCC, which maintained the Commission’s current standards. Now, the Commission seeks further comment on the justifications of the 2021 decision and the Commission’s RF safety rules, particularly its testing procedures for portable electronic devices, the impact of long-term exposure to RF radiation on children and adults, and the impact of RF radiation on the environment. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Commission Grants Conditional Approvals for Certain Foreign-Made Robots
Last Friday, the Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) announced that in conjunction with Executive Branch Agencies, certain devices manufactured by ANSCER Robotics would be granted Conditional Approvals and be exempt from the Commission’s Covered List. On July 28, 2026, the Commission added “foreign-produced advanced robotic devices” to the Covered List, excepting only those advanced robotic devices which had been granted a Conditional Approval. A Conditional Approval involves producing certain information and disclosures for review by executive agencies, who produce “a specific determination” which states certain devices do not pose risks to national security. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
House Bill Amending Rip-and-Replace Introduced
Last Wednesday, Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY) introduced H.R. 10453, legislation that aims to "amend the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to expand the coverage of such Act and to streamline the processes under such Act, and for other purposes." The original Act created the FCC’s Secure and Trusted Communications Reimbursement Program, commonly known as the “rip-and-replace” program, to fund communications providers removal and replacement of untrusted communications equipment, including equipment purchased from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTA. The new bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
Commission’s CPAAC Adopts Robocall Mitigation Report and Recommendations
Last week, the Commission’s Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee (CPAAC) held its final meeting and adopted a report and 11 recommendations to further robocall mitigation efforts across the country. The report and recommendations encourage industry stakeholders to expand current information-sharing efforts and increase accessibility to robocall mitigation resources, including through a cross-sector working group. The report also urged federal and state collaboration between state attorneys general, federal agencies, and other bodies to update plain-language guidance for consumers, as well as the initiation of public education and awareness campaigns. For more information, please contact Tim Doughty (doughty@khlaw.com; 202.434.4271) or Wes Wright (wright@khlaw.com; 202.434.4239).
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