FCC Router Ban Forces Consumers Toward Costlier Domestic Options

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has implemented a ban on the sale of new consumer-grade mobile hotspots and Wi-Fi routers manufactured outside the United States. According to reporting from Wired, the FCC cited national security concerns, claiming that foreign-made routers were utilized in the Salt Typhoon, Flax, and Volt cyberattacks and have been exploited by malicious actors to facilitate intellectual property theft and espionage.

While the ban does not apply to devices already in homes or those currently on sale, any new router manufactured abroad—including those from U.S. companies that manufacture overseas—now requires FCC approval. This encompasses nearly all major market players, including Google's Nest, TP-Link, Ubiquiti, Synology, Linksys, Amazon's Eero, Asus, and Netgear.

To continue operating, manufacturers must seek "Conditional Approval" from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. This process requires companies to disclose their corporate structure and supply chains, and most importantly, provide a time-bound plan to expand or establish manufacturing within the U.S.

Several companies have already secured these temporary approvals, including: * **Netgear** (approved until October 1, 2027) * **Eero** (approved until October 31, 2027) * **Asus** (approved until March 6, 2028) * **Arcadyan**, a supplier for T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T (approved until December 12, 2027) * Other approved firms include Sagemcom, Calix, Adtran, SpaceX, Gryphon, Zyxel, and Nokia.

Companies with Conditional Approval may release new mesh systems and routers for 18 months, provided they adhere to the strict onshoring requirements.