The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the import of new foreign-made consumer routers, citing significant cybersecurity risks. This move is the latest in a series of crackdowns on Chinese-made electronic devices.
According to the FCC, these routers pose a “severe cybersecurity risk” and could be leveraged to disrupt critical U.S. infrastructure. The agency noted that malicious actors have exploited security gaps in these devices to attack households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft. Examples cited include major hacks like Volt and Salt Typhoon.
While the FCC order does not affect existing models, it prohibits the import of new ones. An exemption is included for routers the Pentagon deems do not pose unacceptable risks.
Lawmakers have previously raised concerns about Chinese-made routers. Michigan Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House select committee on China, praised the FCC’s decision, stating it protects the U.S. against cyberattacks.
Last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued TP-Link Systems, alleging deceptive marketing practices and allowing Beijing to access American consumers’ devices. TP-Link has denied these allegations. Notably, the Trump administration previously put on hold a proposed ban on domestic sales of TP-Link routers.
The FCC issued similar rules in December, banning the import of new Chinese drone models.
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