US bans any new consumer-grade routers not made in America

Key Points:

• The FCC has updated its Covered List to ban approval of any new foreign-made consumer-grade network routers, citing national security risks related to supply chain vulnerabilities and potential cyberattacks.
• Existing foreign-made routers previously authorized by the FCC can still be imported, sold, and used, but no new models will be approved unless they receive conditional approval from the Department of Defense or Homeland Security.
• This decision follows a White House interagency determination aligned with the Trump administration's National Security Strategy to reduce dependence on foreign-made core technology components.
• The policy faces criticism due to the global nature of router manufacturing, with most routers—including those from American brands—being produced abroad, and only a few exceptions like Starlink's Texas-made router.
• Some industry observers view the move as heavy-handed market intervention that could delay router innovation and availability, as domestic manufacturing capacity is currently insufficient to meet demand.