The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revises its approach to a prior restriction on foreign-made consumer networking equipment. After initially allowing limited maintenance for existing foreign-made routers and similar devices until March 2027, the FCC extends the waiver period through at least January 2029. In a public notice dated May 8, the FCC also expands what kinds of software and firmware updates foreign manufacturers can provide to devices already in use in the United States. Under the earlier framework, manufacturers were limited to narrower security patches and updates, with more substantial changes that could affect router functionality subject to additional review.
The updated waiver allows manufacturers to continue issuing broader updates for deployed routers, with the FCC stating the change is meant to support security and safety for equipment already installed in U.S. networks. The FCC frames the revision as a way to avoid leaving operational devices without timely fixes while replacement cycles for embedded hardware remain slow. The decision is intended to reduce the risk of a sudden security gap for existing consumer routers.
