FCC Grants Intel One-Year Waiver for Factory Transport Vehicles

Intel may continue using specified automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and make listed changes at its U.S. semiconductor facilities under a one-year Federal Communications Commission (FCC) waiver, while broader restrictions on foreign-produced robotics remain in force.

The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology issued the order Thursday, Oct. 22. It waives 47 CFR sections 2.932 and 2.1043 for AGVs identified in Intel’s filing and a confidential appendix. The relief covers continued use of those vehicles as well as the specified hardware, software and firmware changes described in the request.

The order applies to the listed vehicles and changes. It does not create a general exemption for importing foreign-made robots. The FCC did not publicly identify the covered AGV models, suppliers or number of vehicles.

The FCC said it acted to avoid “potential disruptions in the availability of domestic semiconductor manufacturing services for Intel’s customers.”

Intel filed its request Oct. 16, seeking relief for changes to equipment already in use rather than authorization for a new robot model. The grant follows Intel’s request for an expedited waiver. In its petition, Intel said it was uncertain whether its AGVs fell within the FCC’s definition of covered advanced robotic devices. It also said it knew of no proven domestic alternatives that met its operating requirements and that replacing the vehicles would take years.

Intel described its request as precautionary, saying it sought relief “out of an abundance of caution to ensure the ongoing operation of these specific AGV units.”

The FCC added foreign-produced advanced robotic devices to its Covered List on July 28. Covered models cannot receive new equipment authorizations, though the listing alone does not require factories to stop using previously authorized devices. The FCC also restricts modifications to covered equipment, the issue Intel’s request addressed.

A separate FCC waiver permits certain software and firmware updates for previously authorized covered devices through at least Jan. 1, 2029. Intel’s order applies to the specified AGVs and changes in its filing.