The Federal Communications Commission on March 23, 2026, added routers produced in any foreign country to its Covered List, which bars new equipment from receiving FCC authorization.
What changed
- The Covered List now includes “Routers produced in a foreign country, except routers which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS.”
- The FCC acted on a National Security Determination by an executive branch interagency body. It found foreign-produced routers pose supply chain and cybersecurity risks, citing attacks such as Salt Typhoon.
- New foreign-made models cannot get FCC equipment authorization and so cannot be imported or sold, unless the Department of War or Department of Homeland Security grants a Conditional Approval.
- Models already authorized may still be imported, sold and used.
Gizmodo reported that the Conditional Approval process asks companies to describe their supply chain and their plan for moving manufacturing to the USA. It also noted that popular consumer routers are largely made in Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Why it matters for Made in USA
The rule applies to the country of production, not the brand’s nationality. That makes USA manufacturing the most direct route to authorizing new router models. It follows the FCC’s December 2025 action on foreign-made drones and could push router makers to open or expand USA assembly.
Related: FCC adds foreign-made drones to its Covered List.
FAQ
Can I still buy and use my current router?
Yes. Models the FCC already authorized may still be imported, sold and used.
Which routers are affected?
New models of routers produced in any foreign country, unless DoW or DHS grants a Conditional Approval.
When did this take effect?
The FCC added foreign-produced routers to the Covered List on March 23, 2026.
Source & credit
Source: Federal Communications Commission, Public Notice DA 26-278, March 23, 2026: FCC Adds Routers Produced in Foreign Countries to Covered List, and FCC FAQ. First reported by Gizmodo.