Citing national security fears, America is effectively banning any new consumer-grade network routers made abroad.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its Covered List to include all foreign-made consumer routers, prohibiting the approval of any new models.

For clarification, the FCC says this change does not prevent the import, sale, or use of any existing models that the agency previously authorized.

That Covered List details equipment and services covered by Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act, which, by their inclusion, are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to US national security.

According to the FCC, this move follows a determination by a “White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise,” in line with President Trump’s National Security Strategy that the US must not be dependent on any other country for core components necessary to the nation’s defense or economy.

Its determination was that foreign-produced routers introduce a supply chain vulnerability which could disrupt critical infrastructure and national defense, and pose a severe cybersecurity risk that could harm Americans.

  • Steve@communick.news
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    3 hours ago

    I think you actually need 3.
    Otherwise there is no real “routing” just “in here, out there” and vice versa.

    • FrederikNJS@piefed.zip
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      2 hours ago

      The “routing” can still refer to routing to devices attached via a switch. So no need for a third port to qualify as a router.

    • Kairos@lemmy.today
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      3 hours ago

      It’s a router if it operates on layer 3. Most WiFi routers only use two interfaces (ISP side and WiFi) and yet they are routers. They also provide a later 3 firewall.