All routers manufactured outside the U.S. have been labeled as a national security risk by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), prohibiting their import or sale. Although your current router remains usable, replacing it could be challenging. On Tuesday, the FCC added all foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List, which highlights communications equipment and services posing an “unacceptable risk” to national security. Devices on this list cannot receive FCC equipment authorization, crucial for most electronics imported and sold in the U.S. This includes most routers, even those from well-known brands like TP-Link, ASUS, and Netgear, affecting routers designed in the U.S. but made elsewhere and vice versa.
According to the FCC-cited National Security Determination, unnamed government entities mention increased attacks using vulnerabilities in foreign-made routers, referencing the 2024 Salt Typhoon hack where such routers were central. These routers led to network disruptions and potential intellectual property thefts, posing “unacceptable risks.”
While this mandate doesn’t revoke authorization from already approved routers, these models can continue to be bought and sold. However, no new routers will be authorized, limiting U.S. buyers’ options. Routers play a crucial role in connecting devices to modems for internet access, affecting upload/download speeds and coverage range. Companies can request exemptions, evaluated by the Department of War and Department of Homeland Security, although none have been approved yet. Comments from TP-Link, ASUS, and Netgear have been sought by Mashable.