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TL;DR The FCC has started granting conditional approvals to certain Wi-Fi routers, allowing them to launch in the US market without posing security risks.
Netgear is among the first to receive this approval, with its routers cleared for sale in the US at least until next year.
The broader policy isn’t changing, meaning that new Wi-Fi routers launching in the US must pass a national security review before entering the market.
In March 2026, the FCC announced that all new foreign-made Wi-Fi routers will be blocked from getting approval to launch in the US market unless they pass strict government checks. Now, the regulatory body is easing that sweeping crackdown for some companies, granting its first “conditional approval” to select routers.
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The first batch of approved Wi-Fi routers includes multiple Nighthawk and Orbi models from Netgear, as well as service-grade routers from Adtran.
According to the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, these routers have been reviewed and do not pose unacceptable risks to users, meaning they are exempt from the restrictions.
Netgear has welcomed the announcement, saying that it is now the first retail router brand to receive this approval.
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