US bans sale of all *new model* non-US made wifi routers

[Viktor Jaep]

Here's the current FCC ban list. No mention of routers that have been given an exception as of yet.

https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist

 

[Tech9]

I have a question. From the FCC FAQ:

How are routers defined?​

• The FCC followed the definitions in the National Security Determination.
• “Routers” is defined by National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Internal Report 8425A to mean consumer-grade networking devices that are primarily intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer. Routers forward data packets, most commonly Internet Protocol (IP) packets, between networked systems.

Does it mean a device like this is automatically approved since it's not consumer-grade?

Dream Machine Pro - Ubiquiti Store

10G Cloud Gateway with 100+ UniFi device / 1,000+ client support and 3.5 Gbps IPS routing.

store.ui.com

It may be professional series, rack mountable, serve 1000+ clients, etc. ... but it's $380.

 

[Viktor Jaep]

I have a question. From the FCC FAQ:

How are routers defined?​

• The FCC followed the definitions in the National Security Determination.
• “Routers” is defined by National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Internal Report 8425A to mean consumer-grade networking devices that are primarily intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer. Routers forward data packets, most commonly Internet Protocol (IP) packets, between networked systems.

Does it mean a device like this is automatically approved since it's not consumer-grade?

Dream Machine Pro - Ubiquiti Store

10G Cloud Gateway with 100+ UniFi device / 1,000+ client support and 3.5 Gbps IPS routing.

store.ui.com

It may be professional series, rack mountable, serve 1000+ clients, etc. ... but it's $380.

Guess I'll be going with Enterprise-grade from now on. Might need to take out a small loan to help pay for the annual maintenance fees.

 

[Tech9]

This specific one doesn't even have subscription fees. You just buy a rack (can be Made in China), can place it on the floor if you like, add some Pro series APs (can be Made in China) and... you are good to go?

 

[Tech9]

Okay, what about this one?

ASUS ExpertWiFi EBG19P

ASUS Deutschland

Entdecke die Welt von ASUS - Alles rund um die besten Mainboards, Grafikkarten, Monitore, Laptops und vieles mehr erfährst Du auf der offiziellen ASUS Seite.

www.asus.com

Does it look consumer-grade?

I understand the devices above are already FCC approved, by according to the FAQ there is no problem to certify and sell future versions of similar devices since they don't fall into consumer-grade category.

 

[northumberland]

They did this with mobile phones and masts/repeaters a few years ago. Our cellphone coverage went to 10% of what it was previously, with the network only able to handle 5 or 6 calls per transmitter. Battery drain on cellphones and inability to make calls, mixed with much poorer security.
Dumb civil servants advising dumb career politicians,

 

[bluzfanmr1]

Please be lenient with a bit of political commentary in this thread. After all, the decision that brought about this policy was not based on a real security threat. You know this as well as the rest of us here. I just hope that I can live long enough to see a lot more kindness in the world. Including the US.

How do you know this isn't based on a "real security threat"?

Plenty of other sites for those that need to cope with their feelings and it's nice that this place isn't one of them.

 

[maxbraketorque]

My impression is there is no immediate impact to consumers, but the future ramifications seem substantial to consumers and industry. It would take a least one year, if not two years for a company to build US infrastructure and manufacture routers in the US. I suppose the approach would be for the US govt to offer conditional exceptions to companies that promise to build capacity in the US.

I guess I wonder whether I should purchase a wifi 7 router now for future use. I hadn't really intended to buy a wifi 7 router, but no matter how I look at this, the minimum impact seems to be that router prices will go up in the near future and stay up. I wouldn't be surprised in prices on Amazon go up within a week. The question is whether saving a few bucks on a wifi 7 router now is a better choice than paying a likely very high price for a wifi 8 router when those become available. Anyone know if any ASUS wifi 8 routers have cleared FCC approval?

 

[Tech9]

How do you know this isn't based on a "real security threat"?

Of course it's all about real security threats. Tesla car Made in China driving around with 360° cameras and precise GPS location is perfectly fine. It can go park on military installations no problem. I'm sure there are quite a few in front of the Pentagon as we speak.

 

[bluzfanmr1]

The agency (FCC) warned that "malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft," citing multiple cases in which such devices were used in cyberattacks targeting U.S. infrastructure.

The rule applies broadly to devices produced outside the country but largely targets routers with Chinese origins. The world's networking hardware supply is largely dependent on China for manufacturing and engineering.

Estimates in recent years indicate that devices with significant Chinese supply chain ties account for the majority of home routers used in the U.S.

TP-Link, a China-founded router manufacturer and one of the top-selling brands on Amazon, has faced growing scrutiny in Washington amid cyber incidents and broader concerns about foreign-linked networking equipment.

 

[elorimer]

Also in the mix: firmware upgrades to previously approved routers are also banned. Monday the FCC issued a waiver of the [firmware upgrade] ban through March 1, 2027.

Ed note: Link to FCC public notice PDF

 

[maxbraketorque]

A good, logical article on the topic. A sense of the absurdness similar to some of you who have posted in this thread:

The United States router ban, explained

It’s the latest Trump shakedown.

www.theverge.com

 

[XIII]

Also in the mix: firmware upgrades to previously approved routers are also banned. Monday the FCC issued a waiver of the ban through March 1, 2027.

So future releases (after March 1, 2027) of the Asuswrt-Merlin firmware that many members of this forum like/use might become illegal in the US?

 

[thiggins]

Yes, this is absurd. We just need to let the dust settle and see what pay-to-play options are offered so that companies can buy their way out of this.

 

[elorimer]

So future releases (after March 1, 2027) of the Asuswrt-Merlin firmware that many members of this forum like/use might become illegal in the US?

That is actually a very good question. Before the ban, responsible parties were permitted to make changes that did not degrade the performance of the equipment as long as it wasn't covered. With the ban, responsible parties are not permitted to make such changes; that was almost immediately waived "at least" through March 1, 2027. In theory, absent further action, Asus would be prohibited from making such changes after that. But Merlin isn't Asus. If the router is modified by any party not working under the authority of Asus, then the party performing the modifications, if located with the US, becomes the new responsible party. Now, Merlin isn't in the US, so isn't prohibited from performing the modifications. But if I install Merlin's software on my router in the US, am I prohibited from doing this? Who knows what that means, or what rules will be in place then?

 

[sfx2000]

A good, logical article on the topic. A sense of the absurdness similar to some of you who have posted in this thread:

The United States router ban, explained

It’s the latest Trump shakedown.

www.theverge.com

Another article...

Brendan Carr Tries To ‘Ban’ All Foreign Routers In Lazy, Legally Dubious Shakedown

Taking a break from attacking the First Amendment, FCC boss Brendan Carr this week engaged in a strange bit of performance art: his FCC announced that they’d be effectively adding all foreign…

www.techdirt.com

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Another article...

Brendan Carr Tries To ‘Ban’ All Foreign Routers In Lazy, Legally Dubious Shakedown

Taking a break from attacking the First Amendment, FCC boss Brendan Carr this week engaged in a strange bit of performance art: his FCC announced that they’d be effectively adding all foreign…

www.techdirt.com

Sums it up perfectly... "Most of the Trump administration 'cybersecurity' solutions have been indistinguishable from a foreign attack."