The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its Covered List to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries. The move comes as part of the US government’s crackdown on Chinese-made electronic gear over ‌security concerns. According to a Reuters report, China is estimated to control at least 60% of the US market for home routers. Notably, the decision does not impact existing models. In December last year, the agency banned import of all new models of Chinese drones. Routers are the boxes in every home that connect computers, phones, and smart devices to the internet. In its official announcement, FCC said that the move “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.”FCC Chairman Carr issued a statement, announcing the ban. He said: “I welcome this Executive Branch national security determination, and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign-produced routers, which were found to pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC’s Covered List. Following President Trump’s leadership, the FCC will continue do our part in making sure that US cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure.”

What is FCC’s Covered list

The FCC’s Covered List is a list of communications equipment and services that are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the US or the safety and security of US persons. 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.Equipment on the Covered List (“covered” equipment) is prohibited from getting FCC equipment authorization. Most electronic devices (including consumer-grade routers) require FCC equipment authorization prior to importation, marketing, or sale in the US. Covered equipment is banned from receiving new equipment authorizations, preventing new devices from entering the US market.The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages organizations to use the Covered List for risk management analysis in their regulatory compliance efforts.

Why US banned imports of foreign-made router

In its official press release, the FCC said:“Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft. Foreignmade routers were also involved in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks targeting vital US infrastructure.”