The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its Covered List on March 23 to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries (with an exception for routers that have been granted a conditional approval by the Department of War (DOW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)). This move blocks new models from receiving FCC equipment authorization and effectively bars them from the U.S. market.
Security Determination
A White House-convened interagency body determined that the foreign-produced devices pose "unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons."
The determination's definition of "production" broadly covers manufacturing, assembly, design, and development, distinguishing the new action from previous Covered List additions, which targeted specific companies (Huawei, ZTE, Kaspersky) rather than entire product categories.
Remaining Questions
The question for broadband operators is whether the rule covers ISP-provided customer premises equipment (CPE). The definition of "consumer-grade router" is from NIST IR 8425A and covers devices "primarily intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer."
Carrier-managed CPE could fall outside that scope, though the FCC's public notice and FAQ make no explicit distinction.
Previously authorized routers can continue to receive software and firmware updates under a waiver, and ISPs are not immediately required to freeze security updates on current CPE inventory, but longer-term procurement remains nebulous.
Manufacturers hoping to bring new models to market can use the Conditional Approval pathway. Producers can apply for a case-by-case exemption by submitting an application to [email protected]. The application requires full corporate structure disclosure, including beneficial ownership, board member nationalities, and any foreign government ties, as well as a detailed bill of materials. The FCC will update the Covered List as approvals are granted, but no review timeline has been published.
The router determination is similar to that made for foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems, which were added to the Covered List in December 2025 and expanded in January 2026. The FCC granted its first round of drone Conditional Approvals on March 17.
The restrictions only apply to new models seeking FCC authorization, and existing authorized models are unaffected. Consumers can continue using previously purchased devices, and retailers can continue selling existing authorized inventory.
