US Bans Foreign-Made Consumer Routers, Requires FCC Approval for Imports

An Executive Branch determination has effectively banned new foreign-manufactured consumer routers from the US market, citing supply chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks to critical infrastructure. Any router made outside the US now requires FCC pre-approval before it can be imported or sold — a process that mandates disclosure of foreign investors and a commitment to shift manufacturing stateside.

The policy carves out exemptions for hardware cleared by the DoD or DHS, though neither agency has approved any devices yet. Brands like Netgear, which is US-headquartered but manufactures abroad, are directly affected. The only notable domestically produced exception currently on the market is the Starlink WiFi router from SpaceX.

The practical outcome hinges on whether manufacturers treat the policy as durable enough to justify domestic production investment. US-made routers will cost more than Chinese or Taiwanese alternatives — the policy shifts the cost of supply chain security onto consumers and industry rather than absorbing it elsewhere.