'71% of US households get routers from ISPs': Why new FCC rules could leave millions stuck with outdated, insecure hardware

Date:
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:05:00 +0000

Description:
FCC rules restrict new foreign routers, leaving ISP-controlled households stuck with existing devices despite security concerns and no immediate replacement options

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter FCC rules block new foreign routers while
old, vulnerable ones stay in homes longer ISP customers cannot upgrade
routers even when security risks become widely known Router approvals now depend on waivers that may slow down nationwide replacements The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued new rules intended to address security risks posed by routers produced outside the United States.

A number of recent incidents have shown foreign routers are vulnerable to cyberattacks , with campaigns like Flax, Volt, and Salt Typhoon making headlines across the world. The new FCC rules require all new models of non-US-produced routers obtain a waiver before they can be sold to American consumers. Article continues below You may like Why the US just banned foreign-made routers and what it means for you Good luck, Americans, your Wi-Fi choices are about to get worse weve tested hundreds of routers and every single one of our favorites is made outside of the US The best Wi-Fi routers 2026 Waiver requirement adds pressure However this creates a direct problem for the 71% of American households that receive their routers from internet service providers rather than buying their own equipment.

Those consumers cannot simply go to a store and purchase a compliant router when rules change, because the hardware in their homes belongs to the ISP.

Internet service providers operate on tight margins and typically replace customer routers only when necessary especially for small business router needs amid rising costs

To our knowledge consumer-grade Wi-Fi routers available in the U.S. are manufactured nearly exclusively in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, said Claus Hetting, CEO of Wi-Fi NOW. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features
and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Foreign manufacturing cannot easily be relocated since it is typically based on long-term contracts with foreign manufacturing entities. Such contracts will be costly to terminate.

Under the new FCC rules, ISPs must source compliant hardware for their millions of subscribers, but the supply chain for US-made Wi-Fi routers does not currently exist.

Without compliant hardware to purchase, ISPs have little incentive to retire the routers already deployed in customers' homes. What to read next CISA
tells federal agencies to replace at-risk end-of-life edge devices Hackers could exploit these W-Fi security flaws to knock your internet offline How secure is your home Wi-Fi, really?

It is not possible to build a consumer router based entirely on U.S. components; that part of the supply chain doesnt exist in the United States, added analyst Avi Greengart of Techsponential.

Figures from Ookla claim roughly 28% of Speedtest results in the US came from devices connected via Wi-Fi 5, while approximately 7% used Wi-Fi 4 or older.

These older standards typically lack the advanced security protocols of newer Wi-Fi generations, leaving them more exposed to the very threats the FCC aims to address particularly for high-demand gaming router setups.

The rules could paradoxically slow adoption of newer technologies like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, because ISPs facing compliance headaches may simply delay all router upgrades rather than navigate the waiver process for foreign-made equipment.

The FCC's intention to secure American networks is clear, but the practical effect on several households could be the opposite of what it intends to do.

Until the waiver process proves workable or domestic manufacturing materializes, these households may remain stuck with the same outdated, potentially insecure routers.

The rules assume that restricting foreign-made equipment will improve security, but leaving old hardware in place longer may actually increase the high risk the FCC is trying to eliminate. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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