FCC Implements Comprehensive Ban on New Foreign-Made Consumer Routers Over Security

The Federal Communications Commission banned the import and sale of all new foreign-made consumer routers on March 23, 2026, citing national security risks posed by supply chain vulnerabilities in devices produced outside the United States. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that new models of foreign-produced routers will no longer be eligible for marketing or sale in the country. The agency acted after receiving a national security determination from a White House-convened interagency group of security experts. The ban applies to any router where any major stage of production — including manufacturing, assembly, design, or development — takes place outside the United States, meaning that a router designed in the U.S. but assembled abroad, or vice versa, falls under the prohibition. The FCC implemented the measure by adding all consumer-grade routers made in foreign countries to its Covered List, a blacklist of telecommunications equipment considered an unacceptable national security risk. Existing router models already approved for sale, or currently in use by consumers, are not affected by the order.

Security gaps exploited to attack American homes, FCC says The FCC framed the ban as a response to a documented pattern of cyberattacks exploiting vulnerabilities in foreign-made networking hardware. „Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft.” — Federal Communications Commission via The Independent The White House-convened executive branch review concluded that routers produced outside the U.S. introduce a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense. The FCC's four-page national security determination stated that routers in the United States must have reliable supply chains so as not to provide foreign actors with possible built-in backdoors into American homes, businesses, critical infrastructure, and emergency services. The action aligns with President Donald Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy, which stated that the United States must never be dependent on any outside power for core components — from raw materials to parts to finished products — necessary to the nation's defense or economy. „Following President Trump's leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part in making sure that US cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure.” — Brendan Carr via The Independent The FCC granted a waiver allowing previously authorized routers to continue receiving security patches and software and firmware updates until March 1, 2027, with a possible extension.

Exemptions possible, but manufacturers face a steep path Router makers can seek a Conditional Approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security if those agencies determine that a specific device does not pose an unacceptable national security risk. Companies applying for conditional approval must submit, among other things, a justification explaining why the router is not currently manufactured in the United States and a detailed, time-bound plan to establish or expand manufacturing domestically. The ban covers both U.S. and foreign companies that produce routers outside the country, meaning American brands that manufacture abroad are equally affected. The U.S. market has long been dominated by Chinese and Taiwanese brands, with TP-Link, Asus, and Linksys among the most widely used. According to Ars Technica, not a single router on major review outlets' recommended lists is manufactured in the United States. Netgear, a U.S.-based company, saw its stock price rise by almost 20% following the FCC announcement, according to TechRadar, though its routers may still face restrictions because most of its manufacturing takes place in Asia and its devices rely on chips built in Taiwan.

The FCC's router ban follows a series of escalating U.S. actions targeting foreign-made telecommunications equipment on national security grounds. In December 2025, the FCC imposed a similar ban on new drones from DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer, adding the Chinese company to its Covered List. TP-Link, one of the most widely used router brands in the United States, has faced mounting scrutiny: in February 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued TP-Link Systems, a California-based entity that emerged from the Chinese TP-Link conglomerate. TP-Link rejected allegations that it granted the Chinese government access to U.S. consumer data.

China silent, Republican lawmakers cheer the decision The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not initially comment on the FCC's announcement, according to Handelsblatt. John Moolenaar, the Republican chairman of the House China committee, welcomed the decision, saying it protects the country from ongoing cyberattacks from the People's Republic of China and ensures that affected devices do not become part of critical infrastructure. TP-Link Systems, which emerged from a Chinese conglomerate and operates as a California-based entity, previously rejected allegations that it granted the government in Beijing access to U.S. consumer data. The FCC did not name specific brands in its order, but the agency's action has broad implications for the consumer router market, where Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers hold a dominant share. 20 (%) — Netgear stock price increase following FCC announcement Manufacturers now face a choice between pursuing conditional approval, relocating production to the United States, or withdrawing from the American market entirely — the path taken by DJI with its drones following the December 2025 ban.

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