In March 2026 the Federal Communications Commission issued a sweeping ban on any consumer router manufactured abroad. Because the United States sources the majority of its gear overseas, the rule effectively blocks new imports from almost every vendor, including major vendors such as Linksys and TP‑Link, which now face import delays. Existing stock remains on shelves, but any fresh model must clear a new approval process.

Only a handful of makers have secured a conditional exemption. Starlink qualifies because its satellite routers are assembled in Texas, sidestepping the foreign‑origin clause. Netgear won approval for its Nighthawk and Orbi lines after submitting exhaustive supply‑chain disclosures, a status that currently expires on October 1 2027. The other approved firm, Adtran, serves primarily corporate clients.

All other brands— from TP‑Link and Asus to Google’s Nest and Amazon’s eero—are now on the FCC’s blacklist until they can prove a U.S. manufacturing plan. The ban pressures manufacturers to relocate production or risk losing the lucrative American home‑network market. As the deadline looms, supply shortages and price spikes appear inevitable for consumers and enterprises alike across the country.