There isn't a single consumer Wi-Fi router that is 100% American-made
10 hours ago
- The Trump administration's 2025 National Security Strategy prioritizes independent supply chains, leading to an FCC ban on foreign-made home routers in March 2026.
- The ban cites security risks such as backdoors, espionage, and intellectual property theft, and initially prohibited software updates after 2027, later extended to 2029.
- Major router manufacturers like TP-Link, ASUS, Netgear, Google, and Amazon depend on international production, making compliance difficult even for domestic brands.
- SpaceX's Starlink is seen as a potential model for American-made routers but still relies on foreign components.
- The FCC has granted waivers to at least 11 companies, including Netgear, Amazon Eero, and Nokia, allowing them to sell routers through 2027.
- Critics argue the ban may increase security risks by ending software updates and entrenching existing players, while the opaque waiver process raises concerns about fairness.