NetGear become the first router vendor to receive a reprieve from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s router ban.

The new rules prohibit the import of foreign-made consumer devices manufactured outside the U.S, and even applies to devices only partially produced elsewhere. Devices can, however, receive conditional approval if found to be suitable for import from the FCC or a related security agency.

NetGear is among the initial device makers to receive conditional approval as a trusted consumer router company. CEO CJ Prober said the move would give customers peace of mind, adding: “We believe the steps the FCC are taking will help ensure the security of your digital front door and home networking products.”

All devices purchased following the order are subject to approval until March 1, 2027, with NetGear and other router makers who gain approval facing the prospect of having to routinely renew that status. NetGear devices purchased prior to the order are not impacted.

In a statement sent to SDxCentral, a NetGear spokesperson said its approval "provides our customers added peace of mind knowing the network powering their homes meets rigorous standards."

"As a U.S.-founded and headquartered company, NetGear is aligned with the vision for a more secure digital future. For the last thirty years, we have been, and continue to be, committed to leading the consumer router category for the U.S and setting the bar for quality, performance, innovation, and security. This milestone reinforces our commitment to protecting the network powering your home and our continued support for efforts that enhance national security and consumer protection.

Though a U.S.-founded and headquartered company, NetGear manufactures routers in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. But in a move the firm described as a “precaution,” per its FAQ page, NetGear has stopped sourcing internet-connected components from manufacturers in China or entities owned or controlled by China.

“We have long been, and remain, certified under the stringent U.S. Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program to partner with U.S. customs and security personnel to help ensure the integrity and security of our entire supply chain, from procurement of components all the way until our products arrive on U.S. soil,” the firm’s FAQ page reads.

The FCC’s sweeping router security rules were taken as a means to tackle what it described as “unacceptable risks to national security.”

Citing the growing number of cyberattacks, including the infamous Salt Typhoon incidents, as catalysts for the decision, the agency warned foreign-made routers could be exploited to “attack American households” and facilitate network disruptions and espionage.

But the prospect of having to gain trust approval looks to be causing unease among router makers. Hot on the heels of the order, the Global Electronics Association (GEA) trade group penned a report that reminds “virtually no consumer router is manufactured entirely within the U.S.”

“The FCC’s decision to add all foreign-produced consumer routers to its Covered List represents a structural shift in how the U.S. regulates consumer technology. It is not a targeted action against a named adversary. It is a categorical restriction that touches every major router manufacturer, every broadband provider’s equipment pipeline, and ultimately every U.S. household that depends on a Wi-Fi connection,” the report reads.

“The scale of the affected market, more than 100 million devices in active use, tens-of-millions of units imported annually, and a replacement cycle that touches virtually every home and small business, makes implementation far more consequential than the drone precedent that preceded it," GEA added.