FCC halts approval of new foreign-made routers, pushing domestic manufacturing

The FCC announced a rule banning approval of new consumer-grade routers manufactured outside the United States, effectively blocking imports of foreign-made models unless they obtain Conditional Approval that often requires commitments to establish or expand U.S. manufacturing. Existing foreign routers can still be used and sold, but future options could be limited as major brands may shift production domestically. The move, framed as national security-oriented, is expected to face legal challenges and its practical security benefits are debated.