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FCC Bans Foreign Routers Amid Security Fears
24 Mar
Summary
- FCC added all foreign-made routers to the Covered List, banning new sales.
- National security concerns cited over foreign actor router vulnerabilities.
- Exemptions exist but do not include consumer routers, impacting imports.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially added all foreign-made routers to its Covered List. This action prohibits the sale of new foreign-produced routers within the United States, citing significant national security risks.
The FCC's National Security Determination concluded that routers manufactured abroad are susceptible to exploitation by foreign actors. These vulnerabilities can be used for attacks on American civilians, including disruptions to network connectivity and intellectual property theft.
This FCC ruling impacts the supply chain for networking equipment, as many U.S.-based companies manufacture their devices overseas. The decision is not a direct ban on owning existing routers but prevents new foreign-made models from receiving FCC authorization for sale.
While certain specialized equipment like drone control mechanisms are exempt, the ban broadly affects consumer routers. This move echoes previous FCC actions against companies like Huawei, which were added to the Covered List, leading to their products' removal from U.S. markets.
