The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has placed foreign-made consumer-grade routers on its list of products deemed to pose national security risks under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act.
Under the new rule, these devices may not receive FCC authorization for sale or import as new models. The action follows the administration’s push to close security gaps in critical infrastructure and supply chains.
“Following leadership from the administration, the FCC will continue to ensure U.S. cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure,” said Chairman Brendan Carr in the FCC release.
The commission also notes an exemption for routers that have received conditional approval from the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. The action does not affect consumers’ ongoing use of routers they already own or retailers selling models that were previously approved through FCC processes.
The measure is described as part of a broader national-security strategy announced in 2025, emphasizing that the United States must not depend on outside powers for core components used in defense or critical sectors.
The FCC invites manufacturers to submit conditional approval requests for new foreign-made router models and provides a full list of covered products on its website.
