TL; DR
- The FCC has blocked approval of new foreign-made Wi-Fi routers, effectively banning them from entering the US market.
- Existing routers and previously approved models are not affected and can still be used and sold.
- Brands must now pass strict national security checks to launch new router models in the US.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released information about this he added all consumer grade manufactured overseas Wi-Fi routers effectively “Black List” any new model from being approved, sold or imported into the country.
The US is cracking down on foreign-made Wi-Fi routers. Does this bother you?
83 votes
The move follows a national security decision by an interagency agency backed by the White House. The agency concluded that foreign-made routers pose “unacceptable risks” to US infrastructure and citizens.
Don’t want to miss out on the best Android Authority?
Because routers require FCC equipment approval before they can be sold in the United States, the ruling prevents any new router models manufactured abroad from entering the market unless they receive special conditional approval. This conditional approval is granted if Wi-Fi router manufacturers can prove to US authorities that their devices do not pose a security risk.
This action does NOT affect existing or previously approved routers.
The FCC and national security agencies cited supply chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks as key concerns driving the move. They warned that compromised routers could disrupt critical infrastructure, enable espionage and harm US users.
The FCC’s release also cites past cyberattacks, including Volt, Flax and Salt Typhoon, in which foreign-made network devices played a role.
It’s important to note that this move DOES NOT AFFECT routers already in use or previously approved for use in the US. Consumers can continue to use existing devices and retailers can still sell current inventory.
What do Wi-Fi router manufacturers say?
The decision could have far-reaching implications for global networking brands such as ASUS, Netgear and TP-Link, which rely heavily on foreign manufacturing. Even Google’s Nest routers, Amazon’s Eero and others can be affected by being built overseas.
Netgear said Bloomberg:
We applaud the Administration and the FCC for their actions toward a more secure digital future for Americans.
Meanwhile, it appears that other companies are still processing the announcement before giving an official response.
Thank you for being a part of our community. Read our Comment Policy before deployment.
