FCC bans new foreign-made consumer routers, grants conditional approvals

The Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on all new consumer-grade routers and mobile hotspot devices that are designed or built outside the United States, arguing that foreign-made equipment has been used in cyberattacks like Volt, Flax and Salt Typhoon. Routers already sold or installed can continue to operate and receive firmware updates through at least January 1 2029, but any new foreign-origin model must obtain FCC approval before entering the market.

Several manufacturers, including Netgear, Amazon’s Eero, Asus, Arcadyan and others, have been granted Conditional Approval, which permits limited sales while they disclose corporate ownership, supply-chain details and present a timeline for U.S. manufacturing. The ban affects major brands such as TP-Link, which must now seek approval or relocate production, and it has prompted the Consumer Technology Association to request clearer guidelines. While the immediate impact on shoppers is modest, analysts warn that compliance costs could push prices higher and reduce the variety of routers available in the U.S. market.