The Federal Communications Commission issued a statement today classifying consumer-grade routers produced abroad as posing a security threat. Under this regulation, fresh models of such imported network devices will be added to the Covered List, which identifies communication gear deemed to present an undue danger to U.S. national security. Devices already in possession may continue operating, and vendors remain permitted to distribute units cleared under earlier FCC guidelines. Notably, an exemption allows routers on the Covered List to get software updates at minimum until March 1, 2027, with the possibility of further prolongation.
This action aligns with the White House's 2025 national security memorandum, which declares: 'the United States must never be dependent on any outside power for core components—from raw materials to parts to finished products—necessary to the nation’s defense or economy.' The FCC announcement indicates that firms may seek provisional clearance for novel items via the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security. To obtain such clearance, however, enterprises must submit a strategy outlining partial relocation of their production processes to American soil.
Currently, scarcely any prominent manufacturers of home routers assemble their goods within the United States. This broad mandate is poised to encounter courtroom disputes and generate uncertainty among numerous firms reliant on international factories. Beyond major Chinese firms such as TP-Link, the policy will impact American-based entities too. Companies including NetGear, Eero, and Google Nest, all with U.S. headquarters, rely on assembly in Asian locales. Some of this work occurs in areas like Taiwan, which have long maintained amicable relations with the U.S. In the interim before the industry navigates this limitation, fresh router variants are unlikely to appear in retail outlets.