The Matic is the first robovac to get an FCC ban waiver, not that it needs it

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/IMG_8725.jpeg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Matic is <a href="https://www.theverge.com/22997597/best-robot-vacuum-cleaner">our favorite robot vacuum</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/932425/best-robot-vacuum-mop-reviews-buying-guide">robo-mop</a>, and it's also now the first to escape <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/972312/us-robot-ban-sweep-up-chinese-vacuums">the FCC's Roomba ban</a>. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Well, <em>sort of</em> - because the Matic wasn't banned to begin with. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here's what's actually happening: On October 2nd, the FCC added the original Matic, model 4MA0001, and its charging dock model 4DK0008 to <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist#conditional-approvals">its ban waiver list</a>. That allows the FCC to approve these radio products for import, marketing, and sale. </p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">But the Matic doesn't need a waiver, because its radios were already approved years ago. The FCC's foreign drone, robot, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/899906/fcc-router-ban-march-2026-explainer">and router bans</a> only keep <em>future</em> products from getting imported into the United States, not existing o …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1004926/matic-fcc-ban-waiver-conditional-approval">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>