FCC Bans Foreign-Made WiFi Routers for Security

The Federal Communications Commission announced on March 23 a ban on the importation and sale of new consumer-grade WiFi routers manufactured outside the United States, citing national security risks from potential supply chain vulnerabilities. The decision, which affects nearly all major router brands due to global manufacturing practices, takes effect for new equipment authorizations in September 2026, with retailers prohibited from importing covered devices starting then.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the agency added foreign-made routers to its Covered List of telecommunications equipment posing risks to U.S. networks. "Following the executive branch's national security determination, the FCC will continue to do our part in making sure that U.S. cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure," Carr said. The move aims to counter threats from state-sponsored cyberattacks, including the Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and Salt Typhoon campaigns, which U.S. officials attribute to Chinese actors. These incidents exploited unpatched small office and home office routers to target critical infrastructure such as power grids, water systems, and...