FCC exempts Netgear from ban on foreign routers, doesn't explain why

Key Points:

• Netgear has become the first major consumer router vendor to receive an exemption from the US government's ban on foreign-made routers, allowing its Nighthawk, Orbi routers, cable gateways, and modems to be sold until October 2027.
• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires router makers seeking exemptions to justify foreign manufacturing and submit a plan to expand US-based production, though details of Netgear's submission were not disclosed.
• The ban affects only consumer-grade routers, with previously approved devices still allowed for sale; however, nearly all new routers will need exemptions due to reliance on foreign manufacturing and components sourced mainly from Asia.
• The exemption process mirrors that used for foreign-made drones, with companies linked to China like TP-Link facing presumptive denials despite corporate restructuring, while manufacturers with production in allied nations may have an easier path.
• Industry experts warn that slow exemption approvals could disrupt router supply, limit consumer choices, and delay adoption of new technologies like Wi-Fi 7, especially impacting smaller manufacturers lacking resources to navigate the complex approval process.