FCC targets foreign router imports amid rising cybersecurity concerns

According to the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. will ban importing new foreign-made consumer routers unless they receive special approval from the Department of Homeland Security or defence authorities, with routers added to the Covered List and exceptions only for those cleared after verification they pose no threat to communications networks.

The agency notes that the Covered List identifies equipment and services that pose national security risks and that anything on the list is effectively banned from being authorised, marketed or sold in the United States. The measure follows a White House‑convened interagency assessment that such routers pose unacceptable risks to national security or the safety of United States persons, and it aims to reduce dependence on foreign components for essential technologies.

The article mentions that routers have been linked to major cyber espionage campaigns such as Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon and Salt Typhoon targeting U.S. infrastructure, and that these devices can be exploited for hacking, espionage and data theft. Currently, only a few products are approved, including drones and software-defined radios from SiFly Aviation, Mobilicom, ScoutDI and Verge Aero, while U.S.-made Starlink routers are exempt; manufacturers can seek Conditional Approval for new models. The piece was published on 25 March 2026.