Market Chatter: Intel Seeks FCC Waiver to Update Foreign-Made Factory Robots

04:34 AM EDT, 10/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Intel (INTC) has requested the US Federal Communications Commission to make an exception to a ban on foreign-made automated guided vehicles used in its semiconductor plants to transport materials, Bloomberg News reported Monday, citing a company petition. The chip giant has told the agency it needs continued access to "niche" equipment key to semiconductor manufacturing in the US, according to the report. The robots should remain operational and up-to-date to ensure national security, and replacing the current machines with any domestic alternatives will take years, the news outlet reported, citing the petition. Intel didn't immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)