The US claims foreign-made routers pose national security risks.

In December, the Federal Communications Commission banned all future drones made in foreign countries from being imported into the United States, unless or until their maker gets an exemption. Now, the FCC has done the exact same for consumer networking gear, citing “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

If you already have a Wi-Fi or wired router, you can keep on using it — and companies that have already gotten FCC radio authorization for a specific foreign-made product can continue to import that product.

But since the vast majority — if not all — consumer routers are manufactured outside the United States, the vast majority of future consumer routers are now banned. By adding all foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List, the FCC is saying it will no longer authorize their radios, which de facto bans new devices from import into the country.

    • wheezy@lemmy.ml
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      3 days ago

      It’s not about that. It’s about existing manufacturers getting “approval”. That approval likely means it’s got a Palantir backdoor pre installed.

      They can still be made outside the US as long as they are approved. That’s all this is about.

    • SuiXi3D@fedia.io
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      2 days ago

      We can make wafers here, and we can absolutely do final assembly using wave solder machines (worked for a couple of companies in Austin doing either) but it’s the crucial step between that we don’t do. The US doesn’t really make electrical components, not at that scale anyway. We don’t even spend the money on pick and place machines, and even if we do final board assembly here it’s sub-par at best. I’m arguing with my boss every day that I’m not a damn machine, I can’t make perfect solder joints every time.

    • Tim@lemmy.snowgoons.ro
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      3 days ago

      Provided they are made with rolled steel and have a big-ass two-stroke diesel attached, I am entirely sure that routers are within the abilities of the US’s high-tech industrial base.

      Can you power a router with Clean Coal™?