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TL;DR The FCC has blocked new foreign-made Wi-Fi routers from getting approval, effectively banning them from the US market.
Existing routers and previously approved models are unaffected and can still be used and sold.
Brands must now clear strict national security checks to launch new router models in the US.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has added all foreign-produced consumer-grade Wi-Fi routers to its “Covered List,” effectively preventing any new models from being approved, sold, or imported into the country.
The US is cracking down on foreign-made Wi-Fi routers. Does this concern you? 174 votes I support it for better security. 21 % I’m unsure and need more information. 20 % I don't like it. This could limit choices and raise prices. 52 % It doesn't matter to me. 7 %
The move follows a national security determination by a White House-backed interagency body. The body concluded that foreign-made routers pose “unacceptable risks” to US infrastructure and citizens.
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Because routers require FCC equipment authorization before they can be sold in the US, the decision blocks any new router models made abroad from entering the market unless they receive special conditional approval. This conditional approval is granted if Wi-Fi router manufacturers can prove to the US authorities that their devices do not pose security risks.
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