FCC Covered List Rule Hits Police Radio Gear Oct 13, 2026

On October 13, 2026, a new FCC rule for radio equipment from its national-security Covered List takes effect, and Hytera, a major maker of public-safety and DMR radio hardware, is on that list. The final rule in ET Docket No. 21-232 (FCC 26-50) was published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2026 at 91 FR 57798 and closes the "permissive change" route for that gear. It is a supplier-side rule. It does not change what a scanner can receive, but it does change how a slice of the professional radio market can be certified and imported heading into buying season.

What the FCC Rule Changes on October 13, 2026

Under the amended rules 47 CFR 2.932(f) and 2.1043(a), any modification to equipment produced by an entity on the FCC's Covered List must go through full equipment certification. The lighter "permissive change" path, which let manufacturers update or alter already-authorized gear without a fresh certification, is no longer available for that equipment. Rule 2.1204's import conditions are also revised (Federal Register, 91 FR 57798).

The sequence matters. Covered List status already blocks new equipment authorizations for the named companies. The October 13 rule closes the second door: it stops existing authorizations from being quietly extended or modified.

Who This Hits: Hytera and Public-Safety Radio Hardware

The Covered List names Hytera Communications Corporation, added March 12, 2021, for telecommunications equipment "to the extent it is used for the purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes" (FCC Covered List).

That wording is why this rule reaches police radio buyers at all. Hytera is a significant supplier in the public-safety and DMR segments, so its hardware now cannot be updated through permissive change, and its imports fall under the tightened conditions. For agencies and dealers, that is certification work and paperwork. For anyone watching radio hardware prices, it is a supply friction point.

What This Rule Does Not Do to Scanner Listeners

Nothing in this rule changes what a scanner can receive. It is not a listening restriction, and it does not encrypt, channel-plan, or gate any frequency. It also does not touch the consumer scanner supply chain directly. If your question is "can I still hear dispatch," this rule is not the one you need to follow.

The rules that actually govern listening are a separate track. For a full picture of where reception stands now, see FCC Scanner Cellular-Block Rule Repealed: What It Means (2026) and the encryption deadlines tracked in CJIS 2027 Deadline: Why Police Radios Are Going Dark.

Why the October 13 Date Lands in Buying Season

Certification and import friction adds lead time. Lead time adds cost. When a chunk of professional radio hardware has to clear a heavier approval path, availability and pricing on that hardware can move, and the fall and holiday window is when agencies, departments, and dealers place orders. The rule is final and dated, and no pending litigation attached to it turned up in the sources reviewed here. The practical effect for listeners is indirect: watch professional hardware pricing, but do not expect consumer scanning gear to change because of this docket.

The Part 15 Proposal Is Still Only a Proposal

Keep the two FCC actions separate. On August 7, 2026, the FCC released a companion Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that floated broader Part 15 certification changes for unintentional radiators. That is a proposal, not law. It has no October 13 effective date, and no compliance obligation attaches to it today.

What to Watch Next

• Any Federal Register notice that amends the October 13 compliance date or the import conditions under 2.1204.
• Public-safety hardware lead times and quotes from dealers in the Hytera segment.
• The Part 15 Further NPRM comment record, which is where the next certification change would come from.
• Your own reception, which this docket does not change. A unit like the Baofeng UV-5R Plus, pre-programmed to your county, still hears exactly what it heard before this rule.

FAQ

What does the FCC Covered List rule do on October 13, 2026?

It ends the permissive-change shortcut for radio equipment made by companies on the FCC's Covered List. Any modification to that equipment must go through full equipment certification under amended 47 CFR 2.932(f) and 2.1043(a), and import conditions under 2.1204 are revised.

Does this rule make police scanners illegal or stop me from listening?

No. It is a supply-side certification and import rule. It does not restrict reception, encryption, or any frequency, and it does not apply to consumer scanner design.

Why is Hytera named in this?

Hytera Communications Corporation was added to the FCC's Covered List on March 12, 2021 for telecommunications equipment used for public safety, government facility security, critical infrastructure surveillance, and other national security purposes. As a public-safety and DMR hardware maker, it falls under the new modification and import conditions.

When did this FCC rule take effect and where was it published?

The final rule in ET Docket No. 21-232 (FCC 26-50) was published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2026 at 91 FR 57798 and takes effect October 13, 2026.

Are Part 15 certification changes for unintentional radiators law yet?

No. The FCC's companion Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of August 7, 2026 is a proposal and creates no current obligation.

Will this change the price of a police scanner I buy?

Not through this rule. It applies to equipment from Covered List entities. Consumer scanners from other manufacturers are outside it, though professional public-safety hardware in the affected segment may see lead-time and price pressure.

Bottom line: The FCC's October 13, 2026 rule adds certification and import friction to radio hardware from Covered List companies, Hytera included. It is a supplier problem, not a listener problem. Your scanner still hears what it heard yesterday.