foreign routers

The cable industry's lobby group, NCTA, is petitioning the FCC to waive restrictions on foreign-made routers, arguing that the current ban could disrupt operations for cable Internet providers. The FCC's March 2024 rule added most consumer routers partially made outside the US to a security-risk list, blocking imports of new or modified models. NCTA seeks to allow substitutions of specific router components without violating FCC regulations.

The US telecom regulator clarified that its ban on foreign-made routers includes mobile hotspots and domestic routers using 5G cellular connections, despite most consumer kits being sourced from APAC and other regions. The silicon used is often American, but manufacturing remains overseas.

The FCC has granted Netgear an exemption from a ban on routers sourced from certain foreign countries, but has not provided a public explanation for the decision. The article, published by Ars Technica, notes that the exemption raises questions about regulatory transparency.