The FCC bans all routers made outside the U.S.
Mashable • • business
Key Points:
- The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned all consumer-level WiFi routers made outside the country from import or sale, citing national security risks.
- This decision adds foreign-made routers to the FCC's Covered List, which bars equipment deemed an "unacceptable risk" from receiving FCC authorization necessary for sale in the U.S.
- The ban affects most routers, including popular brands like TP-Link, ASUS, and Netgear, even if designed in the U.S. but manufactured abroad.
- Existing authorized routers can still be sold and imported, but no new foreign-made routers can obtain FCC approval, limiting future options for consumers.
- Companies can seek exemptions through the Department of War and Department of Homeland Security, though none have been approved to date.
