On March 23, 2026, the FCC added foreign-produced routers to its Covered List, following an executive branch interagency body determination that they pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States. According to the FCC, these risks include a “supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense,” as well as a cybersecurity risk to both critical infrastructure and U.S. persons.
The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, enacted in 2019, aims to protect U.S. telecommunications infrastructure and requires the FCC to maintain and update a list of communications equipment and services deemed to pose an “unacceptable risk” to national security. The FCC does so through its Covered List, which is based on national security determinations made by other Executive Branch agencies.
The addition of foreign-produced routers to the Covered List will prevent such new router models from receiving FCC equipment authorization, thereby preventing them from being imported for use or sale in the United States. Producers of such routers, provided they are consumer-grade, can apply for “Conditional Approval” for new devices from the Department of War or Department of Homeland Security, which can be granted upon determination that the devices do not pose unacceptable risks.
The Covered List addition does not affect consumer use of previously-purchased foreign-produced routers. It also does not affect previously-issued FCC equipment authorizations for foreign-produced router models, allowing for their continued importation, marketing, sale, and use in the United States. The FCC did, however, indicate in late 2025 that it is examining whether to retroactively revoke equipment authorizations for entities on the Covered List, so any such rulemaking, if and when resolved, could eventually affect previously-authorized routers.
The inclusion of all foreign-produced routers on the Covered List, subject to certain exceptions, mirrors the FCC’s December 2025 addition of all foreign-produced unmanned aircraft systems. These developments, together with the FCC’s ongoing proceeding regarding connected vehicles, signal a new industry-based approach to the Covered List, which initially focused only on specific foreign suppliers.
The relevant FCC Fact Sheet can be found here.