FCC Bans Import of Foreign-Made Consumer Routers Citing Security Risks

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a ban on the import of all foreign-made consumer routers, citing unacceptable risks to national security and the safety of U.S. personnel. According to Jin10, the FCC's decision includes exemptions for routers that receive 'conditional approval' after being assessed by the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security as not posing the aforementioned risks. The FCC clarified that this measure will not affect consumers' ability to continue using routers previously acquired. Additionally, it will not prevent retailers from selling, importing, or promoting router models that have already been approved through the FCC's equipment authorization process. The restrictions implemented today apply to new device models under the FCC's covered list rules.