20260324 Router-Verkaufs-Verbot in USA

24.03.2026 Router-Verkaufs-Verbot in USA

Who can find the way around in the internet?

This, of course, is the router sitting in your home — one you received from your internet service provider or purchased yourself. This router knows the path to the destination or asks the next router on the network. Now, U.S. citizens have a problem, because the regulatory agency FCC unsettled the market yesterday, Monday. In the US, no new routers may now be sold on the consumer market unless they were manufactured in the US or contain parts made abroad.

However, there are no corresponding US products.

While purchased and installed products may continue to be used, firmware or software updates for already approved models are now prohibited, according to Heise.de. In exceptional cases, exemptions are possible, but due to the effort involved, hardly any manufacturer will apply for them. Only security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues with operating systems may still be addressed.

The consequences?

The purported “purpose” of the measure is, of course, “national security” — it couldn’t be more narrow. The goal is to have all such devices manufactured domestically. The result has been the opposite:

Most existing devices continue to be used without security updates.
The domestic market for routers will shrink to virtually nothing.
Security-conscious consumers will try to purchase up-to-date devices abroad.

A little tidbit on the side: If anyone is complaining about bureaucracy in Germany, read the linked article to find out how router manufacturers in the U.S. will have to bare all in the future to obtain an exemption ...
Until now there is no obligation for the coming US routers to accept only packets of Truth Social by Trump ...

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)