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

[RMerlin]

ISPs won't be affected since they always offer older products, and the ban only affects products not already approved by the FCC.

If anything, it will greatly slow down Wifi 8 adoption in the US since all these products will need to be FCC approved over the coming months/years.

Until TACO, though.

 

[Poul Bak]

You will soon see products that are produced in China, except mounting the antennas or some screws, then a US worker in Texas mounts that and voila: Made in USA! It's not as simple as your administration thinks.

 

[RMerlin]

You will soon see products that are produced in China, except mounting the antennas or some screws, then a US worker in Texas mounts that and voila: Made in USA! It's not as simple as your administration thinks.

I don't know about US regulations, but here in Canada to be allowed to use the "Made in Canada" mention on a product there are various things that need to be fulfilled in terms of the amount of materials, components, labour, etc...

 

[bennor]

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers
News Release: docx pdf txt
Public Notice: docx pdf txt
Public Notice: docx pdf txt

Per the News Release:

The determination included an exemption for routers that the Department of War (DoW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have granted “Conditional Approval” after finding that such device or devices do not pose such unacceptable risks. Producers of consumer-grade routers are encouraged to submit an application for Conditional Approval using the guidance attached to the determination. Applications should be submitted to [email protected].

As outlined below, today’s action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of routers they previously acquired. Nor does it prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market router models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process. By operation of the FCC’s Covered List rules, the restrictions imposed today apply to new device models.
.....
What does this mean?

· New devices on the Covered List, such as foreign-made consumer-grade routers, are prohibited from receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported for use or sale in the U.S. This update to the Covered List does not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing device models the FCC previously authorized.
· This action does not affect any previously-purchased consumer-grade routers. Consumers can continue to use any router they have already lawfully purchased or acquired.
· Producers of consumer-grade routers that receive Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS can continue to receive FCC equipment authorizations. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit applications to [email protected].

 

[elorimer]

There is still the big exception through the Conditional Approval process, for those that bend the knee.

 

[AntonK]

I don't know about US regulations, but here in Canada to be allowed to use the "Made in Canada" mention on a product there are various things that need to be fulfilled in terms of the amount of materials, components, labour, etc...

See this: Is a router produced in the United States containing foreign-produced components now “covered equipment” and prohibited from FCC equipment authorization? (from the FAQ).

• Non-“covered” devices do not become “covered” simply because they contain a “covered” component part, unless the “covered” component part is a modular transmitter under the FCC’s rules. 47 CFR §§ 2.903(b), 15.212.
• Therefore, a router produced in the United States is not considered “covered” equipment solely because it contains one or more foreign-made components.

 

[Viktor Jaep]

This is some complete bullsh*t. First it was drones. Then tariffs. Now routers? Great way to turn the US into an overpriced hermit kingdom.

 

[jegesq]

See this: Is a router produced in the United States containing foreign-produced components now “covered equipment” and prohibited from FCC equipment authorization? (from the FAQ).

• Non-“covered” devices do not become “covered” simply because they contain a “covered” component part, unless the “covered” component part is a modular transmitter under the FCC’s rules. 47 CFR §§ 2.903(b), 15.212.
• Therefore, a router produced in the United States is not considered “covered” equipment solely because it contains one or more foreign-made components.

• https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers
  News Release: docx pdf txt
  Public Notice: docx pdf txt
  Public Notice: docx pdf txt
  
  Per the News Release:
  
  The determination included an exemption for routers that the Department of War (DoW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have granted “Conditional Approval” after finding that such device or devices do not pose such unacceptable risks. Producers of consumer-grade routers are encouraged to submit an application for Conditional Approval using the guidance attached to the determination. Applications should be submitted to [email protected].
  
  As outlined below, today’s action does not impact a consumer’s continued use of routers they previously acquired. Nor does it prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market router models approved previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process. By operation of the FCC’s Covered List rules, the restrictions imposed today apply to new device models.
  .....
  What does this mean?
  
  · New devices on the Covered List, such as foreign-made consumer-grade routers, are prohibited from receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported for use or sale in the U.S. This update to the Covered List does not prohibit the import, sale, or use of any existing device models the FCC previously authorized.
  · This action does not affect any previously-purchased consumer-grade routers. Consumers can continue to use any router they have already lawfully purchased or acquired.
  · Producers of consumer-grade routers that receive Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS can continue to receive FCC equipment authorizations. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit applications to [email protected].

This. A lot of hysterical hand-wringing at this point. Any model of router that has already received FCC approval and which is currently beung sold in the US can still be imported, sold snd used. This only applies to new models that have never yet been approved by the FCC. So, for example the Asus GT BE98 can continue to be sold and marketed to consumers in thd US even thogh not manufactured here because it is an existing model previously approved by the FCC.

While this will certainly stifle new model development and increase costs to bring a product to US markets as well as fund the Trump grift-machine, it really doesn't have the effect on existing consumer routers that many are bemoaning as I read the regulation.

I would also predict the ban will not withstand judicial scrutiny. Cannot wait for the litigation circus that is certain to ensure.

 

[sfx2000]

Someone needs to tune up Brendan Carr - this decision is political, not technical.

Normally there is a sequence of events around group discussion before rules are put forth.

FCC used to be a shining beacon of professionalism - sadly that day has passed...

 

[jzchen]

Uh oh. Have you checked out the US Made cell phone? I don't even remember the name it was that forgettable!

EDIT- Here it is:

Purism - – Liberty Phone

Introducing the – Liberty Phone by Purism

puri.sm

 

[AntonK]

Someone needs to tune up Brendan Carr - this decision is political, not technical.

Normally there is a sequence of events around group discussion before rules are put forth.

FCC used to be a shining beacon of professionalism - sadly that day has passed...

"Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, the Commission can update the Covered List only at the direction of national security authorities. In other words, the Commission cannot update this list on its own and is required to implement determinations that are made by our national security agency experts."

FCC Bans Foreign-Made Consumer Routers From Entering U.S. Market

 

[sfx2000]

"Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, the Commission can update the Covered List only at the direction of national security authorities. In other words, the Commission cannot update this list on its own and is required to implement determinations that are made by our national security agency experts."

FCC Bans Foreign-Made Consumer Routers From Entering U.S. Market

Yeah - and this is like folks hitting privacy around fears of child exposure to inappropriate content...

satanic panic anyone?

 

[jzchen]

I’ll gladly pay a premium for USA made products. Stop exporting jobs and pay overseas.

You probably have not yet seen the US made cell phone. Posted link on my last post on this thread...

 

[sfx2000]

Uh oh. Have you checked out the US Made cell phone? I don't even remember the name it was that forgettable!

Sorry - have to mention that we made 3M phones a year in San Diego, including the first CDMA smartphone, the PDQ-800

Making devices in the US is possible, however, I'm not sure folks want to pay 2x current prices...

 

[sfx2000]

Maybe this helps...

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[jzchen]

Starting price, it says, on the Liberty Phone is $1999. I clicked on the Buy Now link because I wanted to see what that meant. Still waiting for the page to load a few minutes later...

Hopefully not foreshadowing how fast/slow it is...

 

[thiggins]

OK folks. Let’s keep political commentary out of this thread.

 

[RMerlin]

And restricted to specifically the FCC decision and the effect it will have on routers.

 

[vlord]

And restricted to specifically the FCC decision and the effect it will have on routers.

There is a difference between short term impact and medium/long term impact. Short term, it may delay new product launches if they haven’t already received FCC certification. Long term, it’s hard to tell because this will almost certainly get adjudicated in US court system which could take years. It’s too early though to claim Chicken Little, The Sky Is Falling.

 

[bbunge]

OK folks. Let’s keep political commentary out of this thread.

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.