Why Was Dell Told to Stop Making Computers?

Michael Dell says a letter from the Federal Communications Commission told Dell to stop making computers. Computers fall under a Class B device rule, so they have to be approved by the commission, and he did not know the rule.

The letter came in 86 or 87. Following the instructions would have put Dell out of business. Colleagues told him to call a lawyer in Washington who had been one of the prior commissioners. The lawyer said to go down to a test range, test the computers immediately, submit an application right away, and make sure the machines comply. Dell did all of that, and the lawyer then went to the commission and described the team as honest, forthright people.