FCC Bans All New Foreign-Made Routers: What US Home Users Need to Know
• The FCC has added all foreign-produced consumer routers to its Covered List, preventing any new models manufactured outside the US from receiving FCC authorization for import or sale.
• Routers you already own and models already approved for sale in the US are not affected. Retailers can continue selling existing authorized stock.
• Virtually every major router brand, including TP-Link, Netgear, ASUS, Eero, Google Nest Wifi, D-Link, and Linksys, manufactures overseas. No new models from any of them can reach US shelves without a special exemption.
On March 23, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include all consumer-grade routers manufactured outside the United States. The move effectively blocks any new foreign-made router model from receiving the FCC equipment authorization required for legal import, marketing, or sale in the US.
The decision follows a National Security Determination issued by a White House-convened interagency panel, which concluded that foreign-produced routers pose unacceptable cybersecurity and supply chain risks to American infrastructure. The FCC cited recent state-sponsored cyberattacks, including the Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and Salt Typhoon campaigns, as evidence that consumer routers have become a primary attack vector targeting American households.
What the Ban Actually Does
The FCC maintains a Covered List under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act. Equipment on this list cannot receive new FCC equipment authorizations, which are required before any wireless device can legally be sold in the United States. By adding foreign-produced routers to this list, the FCC has ensured that no new router model manufactured abroad can enter the US market going forward.
However, there are important limits to the scope of this action. The ban applies only to new device models that have not yet been authorized. Routers that already carry an FCC ID, meaning models currently on store shelves or already installed in your home, are completely unaffected. You can continue to buy, sell, and use any previously authorized router without restriction. Manufacturers can also continue to issue firmware and software updates for existing devices through at least March 1, 2027, with a possible extension beyond that date.
Which Brands Are Affected
In practical terms, nearly every major consumer router brand is impacted. TP-Link, ASUS, Netgear, D-Link, Linksys, Amazon Eero, and Google Nest Wifi all manufacture their hardware overseas, primarily in Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and China. No major consumer router brand currently operates meaningful manufacturing capacity within the United States.
This means that unless these companies obtain a Conditional Approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security, or establish domestic production lines, none of them can bring new router models to market in the US. As of the date of the announcement, no Conditional Approvals have been granted for any consumer routers.
TP-Link Under Particular Scrutiny
TP-Link, which holds an estimated 60-65% share of the US consumer router market, faces the most direct pressure. Originally founded in China, TP-Link has since relocated its international headquarters to Irvine, California and manufactures its products primarily in Vietnam. The company has been under investigation by multiple federal agencies since late 2024, and in early 2026 the Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit alleging deceptive security practices. TP-Link has maintained that the Chinese government has no ownership, control, or access to its products or user data.
Netgear Positioned to Benefit
Netgear, a US-based company that manufactures through contract partners including Foxconn in Taiwan, saw its stock rise as much as 16.7% in after-hours trading following the announcement. Investors appear to expect that Netgear will secure an exemption more readily than competitors with closer ties to China. A Netgear spokesperson praised the FCC's action as a step toward a safer digital future for Americans.
Are Any Router Brands Exempt From the FCC Ban?
As of this writing, no consumer router brand has been granted a Conditional Approval under the new rule. The FCC has issued a small number of exemptions since the Covered List update, but all of them apply to drone control systems from companies like SiFly, Mobilicom, and Verge Aero. Not a single Wi-Fi router, mesh system, or home networking device has received an exemption.
This is largely because no major consumer router brand currently manufactures its products in the United States at any meaningful scale. TP-Link builds its hardware in Vietnam. ASUS routers are produced in Taiwan and China. Netgear and Linksys rely on contract manufacturers in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. Amazon Eero and Google Nest Wifi are also manufactured overseas. Even brands that are headquartered in the US depend entirely on foreign production lines for their hardware.
The FCC defines a router as "produced in a foreign country" if any major stage of production, including manufacturing, assembly, design, or development, takes place outside the United States. The nationality of the company itself is irrelevant. This means a US-headquartered brand like Netgear is subject to the same restrictions as a Chinese-founded company like TP-Link, unless it secures a Conditional Approval or moves production stateside.
Which Brands Are Most Likely to Get an Exemption First?
Based on early market signals and reporting, Netgear appears to be the strongest candidate for an early Conditional Approval. The company is US-headquartered, its stock surged after the announcement, and it has publicly supported the FCC's decision. Companies manufacturing in allied nations like Taiwan may also have a smoother path to approval than those with direct ties to China.
TP-Link faces a more uncertain road. Despite relocating its international headquarters to California and manufacturing primarily in Vietnam rather than China, the company is under active investigation by multiple federal agencies and was recently sued by the Texas Attorney General. Whether TP-Link can secure an exemption will likely depend on the outcome of those proceedings.
For now, the only routers that are completely unaffected by the ban are models that have already been authorized by the FCC. These existing products can continue to be imported, sold, and used without restriction. If you are shopping for a router today, any model currently on store shelves with an FCC ID is safe to purchase.
How This Affects Residential Users
If you are a home user with a router already set up and working, nothing changes for you right now. Your existing router is not affected by this ban, and you are free to keep using it indefinitely. Retailers will continue to sell currently authorized models until their stock is depleted.
The real impact will be felt over time. As current inventory of authorized models sells through, residential users will face a narrowing selection of available routers. If manufacturers cannot quickly obtain exemptions or shift production to the United States, the pipeline of new Wi-Fi 7 routers, next-generation mesh systems, and updated security hardware will slow down significantly.
Industry analysts expect that router prices will likely increase as well. Domestic manufacturing carries substantially higher costs than overseas production, and those costs will eventually be passed on to consumers. For households that rely on affordable mesh systems or budget routers from brands like TP-Link and D-Link, the options could become more limited and more expensive in the coming months.
ISP-Provided Routers
Many internet service providers supply routers or gateway devices to their residential subscribers. The FCC's definition of a covered router includes any consumer-grade networking device intended for residential use that the customer can install. ISPs that currently source their customer-facing equipment from overseas manufacturers may need to adjust their supply chains as well, though existing deployed equipment is not affected.
The Exemption Process
Manufacturers can apply for a Conditional Approval from the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security. The application process requires companies to disclose their management structure, detail their supply chain, and present a plan for onshoring manufacturing to the United States. Both agencies will evaluate whether specific routers or classes of routers pose unacceptable security risks before granting approval.
Applications should be submitted to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov. It remains unclear how long the review process will take, and no consumer router has received approval as of this writing.
What Home Users Should Do Now
There is no urgent action required for residential users. Your current router continues to work and will continue to receive firmware updates. If you have been planning a router upgrade, currently authorized models remain available for purchase from retailers, and buying sooner rather than later may give you access to a wider selection before inventory tightens.
Going forward, it is worth keeping an eye on which manufacturers receive Conditional Approvals from the Department of Defense or DHS, as that will determine which brands can continue to release new products in the US market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to replace my current router because of this ban?
No. The FCC's action only applies to new router models that have not yet received FCC authorization. Any router you currently own and use is completely unaffected, regardless of where it was manufactured.
Can I still buy a TP-Link, ASUS, or Netgear router?
Yes, for now. Models that have already been authorized by the FCC can still be imported, sold, and used. The ban prevents these manufacturers from releasing new models unless they receive a Conditional Approval or begin manufacturing in the United States.
Will my router still get firmware updates?
Yes. The FCC has confirmed that covered devices can continue to receive software and firmware updates through at least March 1, 2027, with the possibility of an extension. Manufacturers are expected to continue supporting existing products.
Will router prices go up?
That is likely over time. If manufacturers are forced to move production to the United States to continue selling new models, the higher cost of domestic manufacturing will almost certainly be reflected in retail prices. Budget and mid-range routers could see the most noticeable increases.
Does this ban apply to routers provided by my ISP?
The FCC's definition covers consumer-grade routers intended for residential use that can be installed by the customer. ISP-supplied gateway devices and routers could fall under this definition depending on the specific product. However, equipment already deployed to customer homes is not affected.
