FCC Enacts Ban on Foreign-Made Internet Routers Amid Security Concerns

Tue Mar 24 2026 05:23:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has implemented a ban on new consumer internet routers manufactured outside of the U.S., citing national security risks. The regulation comes in response to a series of cyberattacks linked to foreign-made devices.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the import, marketing, and sale of new consumer internet routers made outside the United States due to significant national security concerns. This decision reflects increasing fears about foreign devices potentially facilitating cyberattacks on American infrastructure. While existing routers can still be used, any new models must undergo a conditional approval process, including scrutiny of foreign influences on the manufacturing companies.

The U.S. has banned new foreign-made consumer internet routers over national security concerns.

In an update on Monday to a list of equipment seen as not secure enough for use, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added all consumer-grade routers made outside the U.S.

This new regulation places routers, which are essential for connecting various devices to the internet in homes and businesses, alongside other banned foreign-made items like drones.

Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft, the FCC stated.

While existing foreign-made routers can still be used, the ban prohibits the sale of all new models. This reflects growing concerns over routers as points of vulnerability.

Popular brands, particularly those made in China, had become a source of political scrutiny following numerous cyberattacks in the last year.

Any new router made outside the U.S. will require FCC approval, an involved process that demands the disclosure of foreign ties and plans for U.S.-based manufacturing.

Exceptions to this rule may apply if a router is deemed safe by the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security.

The FCC's decision aligns with findings that foreign routers presented significant risks to U.S. national security, potentially allowing cyberattacks that could disrupt critical infrastructure.

U.S. investigations into incidents linked back to foreign routers have indicated involvement from foreign governments, further intensifying the restriction measures.

The ban raises critical questions about the future of internet hardware as the majority of routers are manufactured abroad, predominantly in Taiwan or China. Notably, even routers designed in the U.S. but built overseas will fall under this regulation.

In contrast, new entries like the Starlink WiFi router, claimed to be produced in Texas, may remain unaffected, showcasing the complexity of the evolving landscape of internet technology under national security scrutiny.