The U.S. Just Banned Almost EVERY Router..

The FCC updated its covered list on March 20, 2026 to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries, effectively banning them from receiving FCC authorization for sale or import in the US unless approved by the Department of Defense or DHS. This follows national security concerns about foreign firmware vulnerabilities, with TP-Link cited as a key example. Existing routers are unaffected, but new purchases will face supply constraints and higher prices since nearly all consumer routers are manufactured overseas. Open-source alternatives like OpenWRT, pfSense, and DD-WRT are highlighted as ways to maintain control over router firmware and potentially avoid dependency on commercial hardware.