FCC prohibition on new foreign-produced routers could make future home upgrades harder

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A portable telephone and an internet router modem are seen in this illustration photo in Warsaw, Poland on 17 April 2024. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

New federal regulations could soon make it more difficult for Americans to upgrade their home internet setup to the latest and greatest technologies.

On Monday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List, saying a White House body determined they could pose "unacceptable risks" to the United States. 

What we know:

The new prohibition does not cover any routers already in people’s homes or that are already approved for sale in the United States. The FCC assured Americans that they would not need to do anything with their current setup, and they can buy any of the routers currently on sale.

What we don't know:

The long-term impacts of the new classification are yet to be seen. For example, a router that was designed in the United States but manufactured elsewhere would be covered, as would a device designed in another country and built here.

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Dig deeper:

The restrictions will only apply to new device models that meet the government’s definition of being "produced in a foreign country." The FCC explained that production can cover many stages of development, from design and development to manufacturing and assembly.

American companies like Netgear and eero currently sell routers in the United States, but almost all of their production is often handled overseas, the Associated Press noted. 

Companies who make routers that would now fall on the Covered List can apply for an exemption from the FCC to be allowed to sell the routers in the U.S. An exemption for routers that have received conditional approval from the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security are also exempt.

What they're saying:

FCC Chair Brendan Carr applauded the commission’s move in its statement announcing the move.

"I welcome this Executive Branch national security determination, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign-produced routers, which were found to pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC’s Covered List," he wrote. "Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue do our part in making sure that U.S. cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure."

Why ban routers now?

In announcing the move, the FCC stated that security gaps in foreign-made routers had been exploited in online attacks against American households, to disrupt networks, and help aid in the theft of intellectual property. 

It specifically noted that such routers "were involved" in Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure; however, the agency did not expand on any role they may have played in the attacks.

What's next:

While the routers already on store shelves will remain available, price hike and shortages could be in store as the market adjusts to the new regulation, the AP noted. American companies will need to restructure their supply chains, build out local manufacturing facilities, and get government approval to sell new devices.

Anyone considering upgrading their home network, it added, may want to do so soon.