ACCORDING to BBC News, the US Federal Communications Commission has banned the import of new foreign-made consumer routers, citing supply chain and cyber risk concerns and describing these as unacceptable threats to national security. The move means that new models of foreign-produced routers will not be eligible for marketing or sale in the United States, with all such devices added to the FCC’s Covered List unless they obtain Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS after risk assessment.
The FCC notes that state and non-state actors have exploited vulnerabilities in small and home office routers to breach networks, disrupt critical infrastructure, and facilitate cyber espionage. It also highlights that foreign-made routers could be used to mount password spraying or function as proxies for espionage, referencing country-nexus actors such as Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon and Salt Typhoon seen leveraging router botnets against American targets.
The update does not affect routers already purchased or previously approved models still being sold, and Starlink Wi‑Fi routers are noted as exempt because they are made in Texas.