FCC shook the technology markets this week by completely banning consumer-grade routers manufactured outside the United States.
The reasoning behind the ban is that the foreign routers pose a threat to United States' national security. American lawmakers have been suspicions about the data security of Chinese products for quite some time - and the ban reflects those fears. But instead of the FCC banning only routers made in China, it simply banned all routers manufactured outside the United States - whether they are manufactured in China, Finland, or Canada.
So, no exception is made even for routers manufactured by American companies if they are manufactured somewhere other than the United States. For example, all Google's Nest routers are manufactured outside the United States, and therefore they too will be banned in the future. The same ban also applies to American network device giant Netgear, whose products are not manufactured in China, but also not in the United States (but e.g. in Vietnam).
The ban does not apply to routers already in use, nor to routers already in retailers' or wholesalers' inventories. But the restriction applies to all new routers coming to market.
What makes the situation problematic is that, according to Wired's information, there is exactly one American company manufacturing consumer-grade routers in the U.S.: Elon Musk's StarLink.
However, exceptions can be made to the restrictions, as manufacturers can apply for a model-specific sales permit, which can be granted by either the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security. So far, no such exemption has been granted for any router.
The decision hits Chinese TP-Link hardest, which has had the largest market share in the market for routers intended for US households. The decision is a continuation of a decision that came into force at the end of last year, with which the United States banned foreign-made drones.
So, no exception is made even for routers manufactured by American companies if they are manufactured somewhere other than the United States. For example, all Google's Nest routers are manufactured outside the United States, and therefore they too will be banned in the future. The same ban also applies to American network device giant Netgear, whose products are not manufactured in China, but also not in the United States (but e.g. in Vietnam).
The ban does not apply to routers already in use, nor to routers already in retailers' or wholesalers' inventories. But the restriction applies to all new routers coming to market.
What makes the situation problematic is that, according to Wired's information, there is exactly one American company manufacturing consumer-grade routers in the U.S.: Elon Musk's StarLink.
However, exceptions can be made to the restrictions, as manufacturers can apply for a model-specific sales permit, which can be granted by either the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security. So far, no such exemption has been granted for any router.
The decision hits Chinese TP-Link hardest, which has had the largest market share in the market for routers intended for US households. The decision is a continuation of a decision that came into force at the end of last year, with which the United States banned foreign-made drones.
