Matic Becomes First Robovac to Receive FCC Ban Waiver
On October 2nd, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a ban waiver for Matic's robot vacuum model 4MA0001 and its charging dock model 4DK0008. This allows these products to be imported, marketed, and sold in the U.S., though they were never actually banned due to prior FCC approval of their radio components. Matic uses off-the-shelf Intel AX210 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips that are already approved by the FCC—similar to those found in desktops or laptops. The company assembles its robots domestically in Mountain View, California, which means it is not subject to import restrictions. However, Matic does not yet source 65% of components from U.S. suppliers, a threshold for being labeled 'Made in America.' The FCC has been working on tightening loopholes and increasing transparency around component sourcing. Unlike other companies that have received waivers without public commitments, Matic is actively moving toward greater domestic manufacturing to reduce reliance on foreign parts.
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