Shelby

Shelby Meyer

DIGITAL DISPATCH
Article #0097
Written March 24, 2026
Updated May 20, 2026
Category [INTERNET]

What the March 23 FCC Router Ban Means for Home Internet Users

On March 23, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a major change that could affect the future of home internet equipment in the United States.

In simple terms:
The FCC is blocking NEW models of routers made outside the U.S. from being approved for sale. To the best of my knowledge, there are few routers made in the USA but some companies are US owned such as Starlink and Adtran.

Why did this happen?

The FCC says the decision is about security. Routers—the small boxes that power your home Wi-Fi—have become a frequent target for hackers. According to the FCC’s official statement, foreign-made routers have been linked to cyberattacks that can:

  • Disrupt home internet connections
  • Enable spying or data theft
  • Provide access points into larger systems

The FCC specifically noted that attackers have used router vulnerabilities to target both households and critical infrastructure.

In their words, foreign-produced routers present “unacceptable risks” to Americans and national security.

What exactly is being banned?

According to the FCC, a covered router is essentially:

A consumer-grade networking device, intended for residential use and installable by the customer, that routes internet traffic between a home network and the internet. If a device is marketed to consumers as the box that connects their home to the internet, it likely qualifies as a router under the FCC rule.

  • This affects NEW router models only
  • Existing routers are NOT banned
  • Previously approved models can still be sold
This includes:
  • Home Wi-Fi routers
  • Mesh Wi-Fi systems
  • ISP gateways
  • Travel routers
  • Portable hotspot devices
It generally does not include:
  • Smartphones
  • Pure modems
  • Switches
  • Enterprise-only networking equipment

The FCC clarified:

“Today’s action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of routers they previously acquired.”
So if you already have Wi-Fi at home—nothing suddenly stops working.

Why this matters (even if nothing changes today)

Even though your current router is fine, this decision will have ripple effects:

1. Fewer choices in the future

Most routers are manufactured overseas. That means fewer new models may be available unless companies shift production or get special approval. -- This is the part that has people worried. The US does not have the manufacturing infrastructure to produce the chips. Infrastructure must be built from the ground up. Smaller router manufacturers may be shut out entirely.

2. Price increases

With supply changes, the RAM shortage and fewer manufacturers, router prices are almost certain to rise over time.

3. Industry shake-up

Companies will need to:

  • Move manufacturing to the U.S.
  • potentially, redesign products
  • Or leave the U.S. market entirely

4. More focus on security

This could push manufacturers to build routers that are easier to update and more secure out of the box.

What should home users do right now?
For most people, the answer is simple: nothing urgent.

However, this is a good reminder to:

  • Keep your router firmware updated
  • Replace very old routers (5+ years)
  • Use strong Wi-Fi passwords
  • Avoid unknown or off-brand networking gear
  • Do your research before purchasing a new router

The biggest real-world risk isn’t where your router was made—it’s whether it’s kept updated and properly secured.

Bottom line

The FCC’s March 23 decision isn’t about shutting off your internet—it’s about changing what gets sold in the future. For now, your home network keeps working as usual. But over the next year or two, you may notice fewer choices, higher prices, and a stronger emphasis on secure networking equipment.

Here's what we know as of May 2026

I will try and keep this list updated as much as possible. However it may be incomplete. Each company is doing what they can to get approved, but like any government process, it's bound to take a while. I have ranked each category by likelihood of being approved. Consult each companies website for the most up to date information on specific models as this is changing daily.

Approved

Netgear - Approved (Conditional Approval Granted)
NETGEAR routers are in one of the strongest positions under the FCC’s 2026 restrictions on foreign-made consumer routers. Among consumer router brands, NETGEAR is currently one of the least affected by the FCC’s new foreign-router restrictions.

Eero - Approved (Conditional Approval Granted)
Eero, which is owned by Amazon, was initially included in the FCC’s 2026 restriction on foreign-made consumer routers. However, it has since received Conditional Approval, which allows continued U.S. sales. That means Eero is currently in a “approved but restricted/monitored” category rather than being blocked.

Pending

Linksys is one of the most recognized home networking brands in the United States. The company is headquartered in California, but like most router vendors, much of its manufacturing takes place overseas. Since Linksys primarily sells consumer networking products, the company is more exposed to the FCC rule than enterprise-focused vendors such as Cisco or SonicWall. As of now, Linksys has not announced any broad discontinuation of U.S. sales or support. Current FCC-approved models remain legal to import, market, and sell, and existing devices may continue receiving firmware updates at least through March 1, 2027 under current FCC guidance.

Ubiquiti - Ubiquiti routers and security gateways are not currently banned, but Ubiquiti is one of the vendors most closely watched because many of its UniFi products are manufactured overseas. Current models remain legal and supported. The only possible impact is on future, newly introduced products that are manufactured outside the United States and classified as consumer-grade routers.

ASUS is a Taiwanese company, and nearly all ASUS routers are manufactured outside the United States. That means new ASUS router models introduced after the FCC’s March 2026 ruling may require Conditional Approval before they can be sold in the U.S. Only future, not-yet-approved models may face regulatory delays.

Under heavy scrutiny

GL.iNet - In Progress
GL.iNet is not banned, but it sits in the “high impact / high scrutiny” category under the FCC’s foreign-router rules—especially for future products rather than existing ones.

TP-Link - In Progress
TP-Link manufactures most of its consumer routers outside the United States, primarily in Asia. Because the FCC’s March 2026 rule applies to new consumer-grade routers produced outside the U.S., future TP-Link models may require special approval before they can be sold in the United States. Existing FCC-approved products remain legal to use, import, and sell. TP-Link has faced heightened attention from U.S. regulators and lawmakers over cybersecurity and supply-chain concerns. The “high impact / high scrutiny” category does not mean current products are prohibited, but it does create more uncertainty for future models than for some competitors.

Largely unaffected

Starlink - Starlink routers are currently unaffected by the FCC’s foreign-router restrictions. Existing Starlink users can continue operating their equipment normally, and there is no indication that new Starlink hardware will be blocked from sale in the United States. Because Starlink is a U.S.-based service with domestic assembly, it is likely to remain available without significant disruption.

Adtran - Adtran routers are approved for continued sale and deployment in the United States despite the FCC’s restrictions on foreign-made consumer routers. For service providers and businesses using Adtran equipment, there is currently no reason for concern. In fact, Adtran may benefit from the rule because of its strong U.S. manufacturing presence and early FCC exemption.

Cisco - Cisco routers and firewalls are not banned by the FCC’s foreign-router action. The FCC rule targets new foreign-made consumer routers for residential use, while Cisco’s core business consists of enterprise networking and security products that are specifically outside the scope of the rule.

SonicWall - SonicWall firewalls are not banned by the FCC’s foreign router action. The FCC rule primarily affects new consumer-grade routers manufactured overseas, while SonicWall focuses on business-class security appliances. Existing SonicWall devices remain fully supported and safe to use.