The FCC has identified foreign-manufactured consumer routers as security threats, placing them on a newly established Covered List. This designation aligns with the White House's 2025 national security strategy, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to avoid reliance on foreign components for national defense and economic stability.
Under the new rule, only routers produced in the U.S. will be exempt from this classification. Existing models can still be used and sold, provided they meet prior FCC approvals. However, any new foreign-made models will be subject to this restriction, potentially halting their availability in stores.
Manufacturers seeking conditional approval must outline plans to shift some production to the U.S., involving oversight from the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security. This requirement could create challenges for companies like NetGear, Eero, and Google Nest, which, despite being U.S.-based, have significant overseas manufacturing operations, particularly in regions such as Taiwan.
As the industry adapts to these changes, the introduction of new router models is expected to be delayed, leading to uncertainty for both consumers and manufacturers.