In a move that effectively mandates the “onshoring” of the networking industry, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially updated its Covered List on March 23, 2026, to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries.
The order, triggered by a National Security Determination from the White House, prohibits the FCC from granting equipment authorization to any new router model that is designed, developed, or manufactured outside the United States. Without this authorization, new models cannot be legally imported or sold in the US.
1. Why the Ban? The “Typhoon” Threats
The FCC cited recent, high-profile cyberattacks as the primary justification for the blanket ban.
- State-Sponsored Botnets: Security agencies highlighted how groups like Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and Salt Typhoon (attributed to China) have compromised hundreds of thousands of small-office and home-office (SOHO) routers to create “stealth” networks for attacking US critical infrastructure.
- Supply Chain Risks: The determination argued that over-reliance on foreign manufacturing creates “unacceptable” vulnerabilities, potentially allowing foreign actors to build backdoors directly into American homes and businesses.
- Market Dominance: Lawmakers noted that nearly 65% of the US home router market was controlled by Chinese-affiliated brands by 2024, creating a “monolithic” security risk.
2. Impact on Major Brands
The ban affects virtually every major player in the consumer Wi-Fi space, as almost no consumer-grade routers are currently manufactured in the US.
| Brand | Primary Manufacturing | Potential Impact |
| TP-Link | Vietnam, China | Heavily targeted; currently fighting multiple agency probes. |
| Netgear | Taiwan, Vietnam | Must move final assembly to US for new high-end “Nighthawk” models. |
| Asus / D-Link | Taiwan, China | New Wi-Fi 7/8 releases will be blocked without US-based production. |
| Google Nest / Eero | Vietnam, China | Future hardware iterations require “Conditional Approval” or US manufacturing. |
3. What This Means for Consumers
- Existing Routers: No Action Required. If you currently own a router or buy an existing model already in stores, it remains legal to use. The ban only applies to new device models seeking approval after March 23, 2026.
- Price Hikes: Analysts predict “panic buying” of existing stock and a long-term price increase as companies pass on the costs of setting up US-based factories.
- Inventory Scarcity: There may be a “launch drought” for the next 12–18 months as manufacturers scramble to build domestic assembly lines.
4. The “Conditional Approval” Loophole
The FCC provided a narrow pathway for companies to continue importing new models, known as “Conditional Approval.” To qualify, a company must:
- Submit a full “Bill of Materials” and disclose all software/firmware origins.
- Undergo a rigorous audit by the Department of War (DoW) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Provide a “detailed, time-bound plan” to move all manufacturing of that specific model to the United States.
- Appoint a US-based official to report progress quarterly. Approvals are valid for only 18 months and can be revoked for false reporting.
“Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue to do our part in making sure US cyberspace and supply chains are secure,” stated FCC Chair Brendan Carr. “We can no longer depend on foreign nations for the core components of our digital life.”
