FCC just handed Netgear a de facto router monopoly in the US
Engadget • • business
Key Points:
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted Netgear conditional approval, exempting it from a ban on foreign-made networking routers and effectively giving it a temporary monopoly on selling and servicing new consumer routers in the US.
- This approval covers Netgear's Nighthawk and Orbi mesh router lines until October 1, 2027, allowing the company to continue offering software updates and potentially release new models during this period.
- The FCC's expanded Covered List, implemented in March 2026, bans new foreign-made routers and software updates for existing models after March 1, 2027, due to national security concerns, but does not require replacement of existing routers or halt sales of already manufactured devices.
- To receive conditional approval, companies must propose plans to shift some or all manufacturing to the US, a potentially costly requirement; Netgear's specific US manufacturing plan has not yet been disclosed.
