Summary
The United States has banned the sale of new foreign-made consumer internet routers due to national security concerns. The ban applies to new models only and requires foreign-made routers to receive specific approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) before being sold in the US.
Key Facts
- The US government has banned new foreign-made consumer internet routers over national security worries.
- The FCC updated its list of non-secure equipment, including all foreign-made consumer routers.
- Existing foreign-made routers can still be used, but new models need FCC approval to be sold in the US.
- Companies outside the US must disclose foreign investors and plan to move manufacturing to the US to gain approval.
- Routers used in recent cyberattacks on US infrastructure were reportedly linked to Chinese sources.
- Most routers are made outside the US, including popular Chinese brand TP-Link.
- Starlink WiFi routers, made in Texas by SpaceX, are among the few domestic options.
