Trump administration grants Starlink routers exemption from FCC foreign-router ban

The Trump administration announced today that SpaceX’s Starlink routers are exempt from the Federal Communications Commission’s recent prohibition on foreign-origin routers. The FCC’s public notice cites approval from the Department of War, granting the waiver through February 1, 2028. This decision comes after the FCC expanded its Covered List to label any consumer-grade router containing overseas parts as a national-security threat, prompting a wave of exemption requests across the industry.

Companies such as Netgear and Amazon have already secured similar permissions, but the administration signals tougher scrutiny for firms linked to Chinese supply chains. SpaceX operates a manufacturing site in Texas, and some Starlink units are assembled in Vietnam, a fact highlighted by earlier reporting. The exemption allows Starlink to continue offering its service without redesigning its hardware to meet the new domestic-only requirement.