Telecom restrictions on secondary routers

The FCC restricts the import, sale, and marketing of all new consumer-grade routers produced outside the U.S., effectively limiting secondary routers from foreign sources due to national security concerns.

Overview of FCC Restrictions

On March 23, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added all foreign-produced consumer-grade routers to its Covered List, prohibiting new imports, sales, and marketing in the United States unless a conditional exemption is granted by the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security . This includes routers that are manufactured, assembled, designed, or developed abroad, regardless of the company's nationality . The ban is part of a broader effort to mitigate cybersecurity risks from foreign-made networking equipment exploited in attacks such as the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon campaigns .

Impact on Secondary Routers

Secondary routers—those purchased by consumers to extend or replace ISP-provided devices—are affected if they are foreign-produced. Key points include:

• New foreign routers cannot be sold or imported in the U.S. without FCC authorization .
• Existing routers already deployed in homes or businesses are not recalled and can continue to receive software and firmware updates .
• Routers designed in the U.S. but manufactured or assembled abroad are considered covered and fall under the restriction .
• Routers containing foreign components are generally not restricted unless the component is a modular transmitter under FCC rules .

Compliance and Alternatives

Manufacturers and consumers must ensure that any secondary router is U.S.-produced or qualifies for an exemption. For households using affected hardware from companies like Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, Hikvision, and Dahua, the FCC ban prevents new purchases but does not make existing devices illegal . Consumers are advised to consider alternatives from ASUS, Netgear, Ubiquiti, or Eero, which continue to receive firmware updates .

Security Rationale

The FCC's action is driven by national security concerns, as foreign-produced routers have been exploited to infiltrate critical infrastructure, conduct surveillance, and create botnets . By restricting secondary routers from foreign sources, the FCC aims to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and protect U.S. telecommunications networks and consumer data .

Summary

In practice, the FCC's restrictions mean that secondary routers from foreign manufacturers cannot be legally sold or imported in the U.S., though existing devices remain operational. Consumers and businesses must verify the production origin of any new router to ensure compliance, and prioritize U.S.-produced devices to maintain network security and regulatory adherence.