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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Netgear has gotten FCC approval to sell new routers in the US.
• The FCC ban restricts foreign-made routers from import or sale in the US.
• Existing Netgear routers will also continue to get updates.

Buying a new router in the US has become a tricky situation thanks to a new government ban on foreign-made routers. Now, one major manufacturer has been cleared for sales in the US, at least for the time being.

Exempted until 2027

Netgear is the first router company to score an exemption from the FCC ban, which was announced late last month. With this exemption in effect, the company now has conditional approval to sell its routers in the US, at least until Oct.1, 2027. The approval covers new consumer router models, including Netgear Nighthawk and Orbi products.

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"We're pleased to share that Netgear is the first retail consumer router company to receive conditional approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a trusted consumer router company," Netgear said in a letter sent to customers. "We hope this recognition gives you added peace of mind -- knowing that the network powering your home meets rigorous standards."

Ban restrictions

The ban itself restricts new foreign-made routers from being imported or sold in the US unless they receive approval. Existing models already being sold in stores or that are in your home are unaffected. That's because such routers have already received prior FCC approval.

The FCC made this move following a review by a White House-convened interagency body, which determined that routers produced in foreign countries pose "unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of US persons." Noting that most routers sold in the US are made in other countries, this "body" expressed concerns over such routers being compromised.

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Beyond restricting the sale of new routers, the ban also calls into question the ability of existing routers to receive software and firmware updates. An FCC waiver allows all current routers to continue to get these updates, but only until March 1, 2027. The agency has so far been unclear as to what could happen after that date. In its own FAQ, Netgear said that with its approval status, the company is not subject to this deadline for software updates.

In addition to affecting routers, the overall ban covers telecom equipment and services in general. The ban is also clearly aimed more at certain countries. Among the FCC's covered list of prohibited items are those from companies such as Huawei, ZTE, China Telecom, and China Mobile.

All of those firms have their roots in China, which has long been in the crosshairs of the US government over fears that their products spy on US citizens on behalf of Beijing. The FCC has also banned future router models from Asus and TP-Link, both of which operate in China as well.

US allies

Netgear manufactures its consumer routers in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, nations that are considered allies by the US. In its FAQ, Netgear made sure to point out that "we no longer procure internet-connected components from manufacturers in China, or entities owned or controlled by China (or any other country deemed to be a foreign adversary)."

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Certain routers have also come under fire for being vulnerable to hackers, who can infect them with malware or trick them into joining a botnet. Typically, these are older models that have reached end of life and are no longer supported or receive firmware updates.

Though Netgear has received clearance to sell new routers in the US, the status of other manufacturers is still a question mark. That may give Netgear a virtual monopoly in the US, at least until other companies are exempted from the ban.