Why the FCC's foreign-made router ban could narrow US Wi-Fi options
Matt Hanson argues that the FCC's ban on upcoming foreign-made routers could reduce US choice and raise costs, including for ISP-supplied equipment. Existing routers are unaffected, and manufacturers may seek conditional approval, although that process remains unclear.
What We Know
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has introduced a ban on routers made outside the US, potentially shrinking the options available to Americans upgrading their home Wi-Fi. The FCC says these devices present an unacceptable risk to US national security and people's safety, and says foreign-produced routers were directly implicated in recent high-profile cyberattacks.
In this opinion article, Matt Hanson acknowledges the security concern: routers carry potentially sensitive internet traffic for homes and businesses. But he highlights a practical problem. None of the models on TechRadar's recommended-router list are made in the US.
Across hundreds of router reviews he has written or helped publish, Hanson recalls only a handful of entirely US-made models. Apple's discontinuation of its AirPort range reduced that already small pool further.
US brands may also be affected
TechRadar's recommendations are dominated by TP-Link, a Chinese company, and Taiwanese companies Asus and Acer. New routers from these manufacturers could be barred from US sale.
Netgear offers another complication. Although it is an American company with several highly rated routers, most of its manufacturing takes place in Asia—primarily Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia—after it moved away from China to avoid Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Like many competitors, Netgear also uses Realtek chips built in Taiwan. The FCC specifically says it will no longer authorize foreign-made radios in routers; these handle wireless transmissions and are a key part of the router's chip. Netgear products could therefore still face a ban, despite the company's stock rising almost 20% after the announcement.
The result could be a US market where many recommended routers are unavailable.
Possible workarounds and higher costs
Manufacturers could move production to the US. Hanson considers that the government's likely preferred outcome, but such a move would take considerable time and money and would probably increase prices. Many Netgear routers are already expensive.
The FCC also says manufacturers can apply for "conditional approval" that could permit future US sales. What that process involves remains unclear.
Hanson expects buying a router to become more expensive, particularly if budget models disappear. He also worries about customers using the free router supplied with broadband service: if those devices are affected, ISPs would need replacement sources and could pass the additional expense to subscribers through higher monthly charges.
With computers and laptops becoming more expensive because of the RAM shortage, Hanson had recommended router upgrades as a good-value improvement. That advice may become less applicable in the US, while buyers elsewhere will still have access to these products. His reaction to colleagues was that Americans might end up with attractive but expensive routers.
What existing owners and prospective buyers should do
Hanson's first recommendation is not to panic. The ban applies only to upcoming routers; existing devices will not suddenly become illegal or stop working.
Anyone already considering an upgrade may want to act before choice narrows, but there is no need to rush a purchase: current routers will not vanish from shelves overnight. TechRadar's best routers buying guide includes advice and price-comparison tools.
He also advises against assuming that an existing router is a security threat, provided standard precautions are in place: a Wi-Fi password, a secure router admin password and antivirus software. Although the ban targets consumer routers, the cited attacks targeted large institutions, where the potential damage is greater. A family's internet router is a less significant target.
A larger US router-manufacturing industry could eventually emerge, but relocating production would take time and, for several reasons, likely produce more expensive devices. Hanson's advice is therefore to remain calm while considering an upgrade sooner if it was already planned.
