WTF? FCC orders a ban on the import of all new foreign-made consumer Internet routers

SpacemanSpiff said:
I fear it is only a matter of time before ISP's simply declare: 'Only our hardware will function on our networks.'
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Just hope our ISP stays away from CGNAT
 
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SpacemanSpiff said:
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SpacemanSpiff said:
An excerpt from one article I read:

While the FCC’s Covered List makes it sound like the US is banning all “routers produced in a foreign country,” it’s defined a bit more narrowly than that. It’s specifically banning “consumer-grade routers” as defined in NIST Internal Report 8425A, which refers to ones “intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer.”​
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Welp, that's quite a bit of demographics. Basically, the average Joe is screwed. If I'm not mistaken, the majority of low-cost routers destined for the residential consumer market are manufactured in foreign countries.

Pretty soon, you won't be able to buy anything you can afford. You'll own nothing and be happy
 
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The present and next attack is on VPNs, IMO...there are already sites detecting VPN traffic and blocking access...

I don't know how true this is but will post and let ya'll experts decipher...
 
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David L said:
The present and next attack is on VPNs, IMO...there are already sites detecting VPN traffic and blocking access...

I don't know how true this is but will post and let ya'll experts decipher...
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Its going to suck when ISP's start issuing notices
 
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David L said:
The present and next attack is on VPNs, IMO...there are already sites detecting VPN traffic and blocking access...

I don't know how true this is but will post and let ya'll experts decipher...
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To protect the Children ..
 
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Homebrew routers just got a whole lot more important in the US
Level 2 Jeff
Mar 24, 2026

Knowing how to build your own router for your homelab is going to be a useful skill, until this FCC ruling is reversed:

This video discusses how a recent FCC ruling regarding foreign-made consumer routers makes building your own hardware more important (0:00). Jeff highlights how his previous review of a non-US made router (0:08) could be impacted, even though the device is open-source and highly secure (0:15).

Key Points:

  • The Ruling: Confusing regulations prevent selling consumer routers with components or manufacturing originating outside the US (0:35-0:50).
  • Security Paradox: While aimed at tightening supply chain security, this could ironically lead to more backdoors for spying agencies rather than fewer (1:59).
  • The Solution: Home labbers should take control by building their own routers using open-source software like OpenWRT on hardware like Raspberry Pi (1:17-1:35).



FACT SHEET: FCC Updates Covered List to Include Foreign-Made
Consumer Routers, Prohibiting Approval of New Models
Update Follows Determination by Executive Branch Agencies that Consumer-Grade

Routers Produced in Foreign Countries Threaten National Security
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2026—Today, the Federal Communications Commission updated its
Covered List to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries. Routers are the
boxes in every home that connect computers, phones, and smart devices to the internet. This
followed a determination by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with
appropriate national security expertise that such routers “pose unacceptable risks to the national
security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.”
The Executive Branch determination noted that foreign-produced routers (1) introduce “a supply
chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense”
and (2) pose “a severe cybersecurity risk that could be leveraged to immediately and severely
disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure and directly harm U.S. persons.”

 

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What's interesting is that the vast majority of ISP supplied devices are made by companies like Motorola. Motorola networking gear is primarily manufactured in China and a few other countries, but certainly NOT in the USA. Will they slip through the "loophole" left by the FCC regarding "consumer grade" devices, or will they be banned too?
 
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mat200 said:
View attachment 240552


Homebrew routers just got a whole lot more important in the US
Level 2 Jeff
Mar 24, 2026

Knowing how to build your own router for your homelab is going to be a useful skill, until this FCC ruling is reversed:

This video discusses how a recent FCC ruling regarding foreign-made consumer routers makes building your own hardware more important (0:00). Jeff highlights how his previous review of a non-US made router (0:08) could be impacted, even though the device is open-source and highly secure (0:15).

Key Points:

  • The Ruling: Confusing regulations prevent selling consumer routers with components or manufacturing originating outside the US (0:35-0:50).
  • Security Paradox: While aimed at tightening supply chain security, this could ironically lead to more backdoors for spying agencies rather than fewer (1:59).
  • The Solution: Home labbers should take control by building their own routers using open-source software like OpenWRT on hardware like Raspberry Pi (1:17-1:35).



FACT SHEET: FCC Updates Covered List to Include Foreign-Made
Consumer Routers, Prohibiting Approval of New Models
Update Follows Determination by Executive Branch Agencies that Consumer-Grade

Routers Produced in Foreign Countries Threaten National Security
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2026—Today, the Federal Communications Commission updated its
Covered List to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries. Routers are the
boxes in every home that connect computers, phones, and smart devices to the internet. This
followed a determination by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with
appropriate national security expertise that such routers “pose unacceptable risks to the national
security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.”
The Executive Branch determination noted that foreign-produced routers (1) introduce “a supply
chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense”
and (2) pose “a severe cybersecurity risk that could be leveraged to immediately and severely
disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure and directly harm U.S. persons.”

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They sure got that Wrong, Routers only route network traffic. MODEMS are the devices used to connect devices to the Internet. Just so happened that SOHO Routers can also have modems in them for a combo Modem/Router.

I have always owned a separate MODEM aside from my Router.

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So just throwing this out here, I see Satellite Internet as our future. What better way to control the Sheeple of the world. I know this is years away but with 6G upon us, there is already plans:

Then the term Cloud Service will actually be service from the clouds :)



But thinking this will fully happen when the New World Order is in full operation...CBDC...you know the end of the world, lol
 
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I have never purchased a SOHO router that I couldn't install OpenWRT on. Today using PFSense.
 
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