(Credit: Joseph Maldonado/PCMag)
In March, the FCC shocked the networking industry by banning new foreign-made routers in the US. The good news is that your current home internet setup is still legal, since the agency's rules cover future devices, and the FCC has been handing out exemptions to select vendors.
Still, the FCC order will be far-reaching. One of the largest vendors, TP-Link, says that "virtually all routers are made outside the United States." Below, we’ll answer your most pressing questions about the ban, which aims to push vendors to build their Wi-Fi routers in the US.
Which Routers Are Banned?
The FCC order targets all foreign-made consumer-grade routers, but existing models are not banned from use or sale. "Today’s action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of routers they previously acquired,” the FCC said on March 24. “Nor does it prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market router models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process.”
The ban will focus on "new" or future Wi-Fi router models made outside the US, in an effort to stamp out cybersecurity threats posed by vulnerable networking gear. That said, the FCC also issued a waiver permitting existing foreign-made routers to continue receiving software updates. Originally, it was only until March 1, 2027, but it has since been extended; more on this below. A trio of US companies—Netgear, Amazon's Eero, and Adtran—have also received exemptions.
Why Is the US Concerned About Foreign-Made Routers?
(Credit: Bildagentur-online/Schoening/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)The US has long been worried about China hacking US targets through Chinese-made products and services. US officials fear Beijing could compel a Chinese vendor to secretly assist in the spying. It’s why we've seen bans on Huawei, ZTE, and the drone maker DJI, along with the forced sale of TikTok, even though the Chinese companies have denied any wrongdoing.
Both the Biden and Trump administrations considered a ban on routers made by TP-Link, a Chinese-affiliated vendor. But the FCC went even further last month, citing a White House national security determination that found “allowing routers produced abroad to dominate the US market creates unacceptable economic, national security, and cybersecurity risks.”
The White House didn't get specific. Instead, the declaration points to how cybercriminals and state-sponsored groups, including those from China, have routinely abused unpatched vulnerabilities in foreign-made routers to help launch their hacking activities. It also doesn't address possible vulnerabilities in US-made routers, but the declaration says the US “must have trusted supply chains so we are not providing foreign actors with potential built-in backdoors.”
Are Any Routers Made in the US?
The ban aligns with President Trump’s ongoing push for companies to manufacture their products in the US. But if you wanted to buy an American-made router today, you’d probably struggle to find one. Many routers currently sold in the US are manufactured in China, Taiwan, India, and Vietnam, according to Jaimie Lenderman, a manager at research firm Omdia.
Lenderman also questions "how far down into the equipment this ban goes," considering many electronic components and chips are made outside the US. The FCC order also extends beyond final assembly to target routers that are designed or developed in a major way in a foreign country.
Still, Lenderman points out that 2021's Build America Buy America Act has been pushing companies to manufacture at least some networking gear, particularly optical fiber, in the US. One US vendor, Adtran, has been offering such products, although the company seems to specialize in enterprise networking gear.
What Is This 'Conditional Approval' Process?
The ban raises questions about how router makers will build their products going forward. To help them transition, the FCC is offering a "Conditional Approval" process for exemptions. Netgear and Adatran were the first to score an exemption, which lasts until Oct. 1, 2027. Amazon's Eero has been spared, too, but it gets until Oct. 31, 2027.
(Credit: FCC)Under the FCC rules, a conditional approval can only last up to 18 months. So we'll be curious to see if the companies apply for an extension. In the meantime, the exemption appears to cover all of their major Wi-Fi product lines, a major win for their US businesses.
The exemption isn't a full green light, though. Netgear and eero still need to go through the FCC's standard equipment authorization process to obtain certification for each new product they want to sell. At least for the next 18 months. The commission's guidance adds that companies can extend the conditional approval, but will need to submit "an inventory of the progress made on the US manufacturing and onshoring plans submitted for all previous covered approvals."
Netgear also says in an FAQ: "We have been designated as a trusted provider of consumer routers for Americans by the US government, and we have no reason to believe that will change." It's unclear whether the company plans on migrating its production to the US, though.
To receive the exemption, vendors must submit an application, which will be reviewed by the Departments of Defense or Homeland Security. The guidelines call for the company to indicate how much of the router product is made outside the US, where manufacturing occurs, and to provide a “detailed, time-bound plan to establish or expand manufacturing in the United States for the router.”
Another guideline says a vendor needs to disclose any “foreign government ownership, control, influence, financing, or material support,” as well as the “nationality” of company leadership. The process has clearly favored US-based Netgear, but it could be bad news for TP-Link. Although the vendor spun off from its Chinese counterpart and is now headquartered in Irvine, California, the TP-Link brand continues to face accusations that it's a spying threat.
"Hopefully, the intent is to implement this in a similar way to the FCC's recent foreign drone restrictions: prohibit devices from Chinese companies, while whitelisting devices from basically every allied/partner company," tweeted Chris McGuire, a senior fellow for China and emerging technologies at the Council on Foreign Relations who served on the National Security Council during the Biden administration.
"If so, this will be extremely helpful and will effectively ban the future sale of TP-Link routers and other Chinese routers that pose clear national security risks," McGuire adds. "The FCC is gradually becoming the lead agency on import controls. There is more work to be done in this space, but great to see us making real progress."
Wait, Routers Might Stop Receiving Updates?
To prevent the ban from affecting consumers, the FCC initially issued a waiver that permits software and firmware updates for Wi-Fi router models already in use. Originally, the waiver only lasted "at least until March 1, 2027." The countdown naturally sparked fears that all routers would eventually lose access to software updates—ironic, given that the router ban was meant to bolster US internet security. But in May, the FCC extended the cutoff for both foreign-made routers and drones to Jan. 1, 2029. The commission is also indicating it could further extend that deadline, or even axe the software update limitation in a future rule-making.
Netgear also points out that it's exempt from the software update issue. "Because Netgear has achieved approval status, we are not subject to the current March 1, 2027, deadline to cease software updates," the company says in its FAQ.
Will Wi-Fi Routers Become More Expensive?
That will be interesting to watch since companies have long outsourced manufacturing to keep costs down. We’ll also be curious to see whether the FCC’s order slows the arrival of newer Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 8 hardware. However, the exemption process suggests that vendors can continue sourcing new products from outside the country in the short term, so long as the US doesn’t deem any of them a security threat.
Can I Bring a Router From a Foreign Country to the US?
In its FAQ, the FCC says no, but it doesn’t mention any penalties or how it might enforce the prohibition. If the router you bought from a foreign country was previously approved by the FCC, then you’re in the clear.
Does This Affect Wi-Fi Extenders and Mesh Systems?
Yes, the FCC is classifying routers as devices that “forward data packets, most commonly Internet Protocol (IP) packets, between networked systems," so range extenders and mesh devices would be included.
Should I Buy a New Router Now?
If you're in the market for one, yes. However, if a router has already secured FCC equipment authorization—which routers currently on the market have—they will remain on sale. So, if your router is functioning, there's no reason to rush out and buy a new one. This will likely become a bigger problem down the line as router makers develop next-gen devices. But again, they could just secure an exemption; it's tough to say how difficult that process will be.
In the meantime, Netgear is already using its exemption status to market its Wi-Fi products; its website now has an "FCC Approved" badge.
(Credit: Netgear)What Does the Router Ban Mean for Starlink Users?
SpaceX has a pretty big operation based in Texas. In January, the company said its Bastrop facility had recently added 1 million more square feet, allowing it to produce over 170,000 Starlink kits per week across the United States, or around 9 million dishes per year.
PCMag's Brian Westover says his Starlink Wi-Fi router is made in the US; others have reported that their Starlink Router Mini devices are manufactured in Vietnam. SpaceX, however, has the capability to shift more US orders to Texas, if needed. And FCC Chair Brendan Carr is pretty chummy with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, so an exemption would not be surprising.
How Are Router Vendors Responding?
TP-Link manufactures its products in Vietnam and has warned that the “entire router industry will be impacted.” It's unclear whether the company will file for an exemption. We also wonder if any company will challenge the FCC order in court.
Meanwhile, Netgear has applauded the ban. “As a US-founded and headquartered company with a legacy of American innovation, Netgear has long invested in security‑first design, transparent practices, and adherence to government regulations, and we will continue to do so,” the company told PCMag.
Asus also issued a statement: "We are confident in the integrity of our supply chain and the security of our networking products. This FCC action has no impact on existing ASUS router users, software updates, and customer support."
D-Link, Google, and Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.