[Starlink] FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Starlink] FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Daniel AJ Sokolov]

Dear All,

this may be somewhat off topic, but I think you will all want to know 
this: Today, the FCC has declared that only routers manufactured in the 
US may obtain valid FCC certification.

"Production generally includes any major stage of the process through 
which the device is made, including manufacturing, assembly, design, and 
development."

I am not aware of any consumer grade router that would be considered 
made in the US under these rules. Are there any?

Are there any routers that work entirely without open source software?

Previously approved routers are still OK - kind of. The challenge there 
is that software updates are affected by the new restrictions. The FCC 
has provided an exemption until March 1, 2027, for certain software 
updates - after that, who knows.

Manufacturers can apply for exemptions, if - and only if - they have a 
detailed, time-bound "U.S. Manufacturing and Onshoring Plan", Also, they 
must disclose competition-sensitive information.

For the official documents, start here:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers

FYI
Daniel

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[David Collier-Brown]

BeagleBone Black is a candidate for US-made equipment. I speculate we 
will see experimenter versions, followed by some small-company 
production versions.
They would need enough capacity to serve several ports, one of which 
will probably be taken up with a stand-alone wifi access point.

The capacity for cpu, memory and fast interface devices will be the 
critical thing.

https://www.beagleboard.org/boards/beaglebone-black

  --dave





Whether it will do

On 3/23/26 20:36, Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> this may be somewhat off topic, but I think you will all want to know 
> this: Today, the FCC has declared that only routers manufactured in 
> the US may obtain valid FCC certification.
>
> "Production generally includes any major stage of the process through 
> which the device is made, including manufacturing, assembly, design, 
> and development."
>
> I am not aware of any consumer grade router that would be considered 
> made in the US under these rules. Are there any?
>
> Are there any routers that work entirely without open source software?
>
> Previously approved routers are still OK - kind of. The challenge 
> there is that software updates are affected by the new restrictions. 
> The FCC has provided an exemption until March 1, 2027, for certain 
> software updates - after that, who knows.
>
> Manufacturers can apply for exemptions, if - and only if - they have a 
> detailed, time-bound "U.S. Manufacturing and Onshoring Plan", Also, 
> they must disclose competition-sensitive information.
>
> For the official documents, start here:
> https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers 
>
>
> FYI
> Daniel
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Starlink mailing list -- starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to starlink-leave@lists.bufferbloat.net

-- 
David Collier-Brown,         | Always do right. This will gratify
System Programmer and Author | some people and astonish the rest
davecb@spamcop.net           |              -- Mark Twain

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Ulrich Speidel]

Well it's not entirely off-topic:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74787w149zo

Quote:

> One exception to the general absence of US-made routers is the newer 
> Starlink WiFi router. Starlink is part of Elon Musk's company SpaceX.
>
> The company says the Starlink routers are made in Texas
>
To be frank, I'm not surprised. Ability to infiltrate and interfere with 
someone else's network and the resources it harbours is a key advantage 
in conflict. I'd be surprised if this wasn't actively exploited at scale 
in fact.

On 24/03/2026 1:36 pm, Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink wrote:
> Dear All,
>
> this may be somewhat off topic, but I think you will all want to know 
> this: Today, the FCC has declared that only routers manufactured in 
> the US may obtain valid FCC certification.
>
> "Production generally includes any major stage of the process through 
> which the device is made, including manufacturing, assembly, design, 
> and development."
>
> I am not aware of any consumer grade router that would be considered 
> made in the US under these rules. Are there any?
>
> Are there any routers that work entirely without open source software?
>
> Previously approved routers are still OK - kind of. The challenge 
> there is that software updates are affected by the new restrictions. 
> The FCC has provided an exemption until March 1, 2027, for certain 
> software updates - after that, who knows.
>
> Manufacturers can apply for exemptions, if - and only if - they have a 
> detailed, time-bound "U.S. Manufacturing and Onshoring Plan", Also, 
> they must disclose competition-sensitive information.
>
> For the official documents, start here:
> https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers 
>
>
> FYI
> Daniel
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Starlink mailing list -- starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to starlink-leave@lists.bufferbloat.net

-- 
****************************************************************
Dr. Ulrich Speidel

School of Computer Science

Room 303S.594 (City Campus)

The University of Auckland
u.speidel@auckland.ac.nz 
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~ulrich/
****************************************************************

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Daniel AJ Sokolov]

On 2026-03-23 at 19:01, Ulrich Speidel via Starlink wrote:
> Well it's not entirely off-topic:
> 
> https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74787w149zo
> 
> Quote:
> 
>> One exception to the general absence of US-made routers is the newer 
>> Starlink WiFi router. Starlink is part of Elon Musk's company SpaceX.
>>
>> The company says the Starlink routers are made in Texas

I doubt that. No Open Source? All major components made in the US?

They might be assembled there. But that is not enough under the new rules.

BR
Daniel

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Ulrich Speidel]

On 24/03/2026 3:09 pm, Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink wrote:
> On 2026-03-23 at 19:01, Ulrich Speidel via Starlink wrote:
>> Well it's not entirely off-topic:
>>
>> https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74787w149zo
>>
>> Quote:
>>
>>> One exception to the general absence of US-made routers is the newer 
>>> Starlink WiFi router. Starlink is part of Elon Musk's company SpaceX.
>>>
>>> The company says the Starlink routers are made in Texas
>
> I doubt that. No Open Source? All major components made in the US?
>
> They might be assembled there. But that is not enough under the new 
> rules.

Good point. But who will be able to assess all this at a price point 
that keeps it a consumer device? Or will it be left to lawyers who know 
exactly what "made in the US" means?

-- 
****************************************************************
Dr. Ulrich Speidel

School of Computer Science

Room 303S.594 (City Campus)

The University of Auckland
u.speidel@auckland.ac.nz
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~ulrich/
****************************************************************

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Daniel AJ Sokolov]

On 2026-03-23 at 19:10, Ulrich Speidel via Starlink wrote:
> On 24/03/2026 3:09 pm, Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink wrote:
>> On 2026-03-23 at 19:01, Ulrich Speidel via Starlink wrote:
>>> Well it's not entirely off-topic:
>>>
>>> https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74787w149zo
>>>
>>> Quote:
>>>
>>>> One exception to the general absence of US-made routers is the newer 
>>>> Starlink WiFi router. Starlink is part of Elon Musk's company SpaceX.
>>>>
>>>> The company says the Starlink routers are made in Texas
>>
>> I doubt that. No Open Source? All major components made in the US?
>>
>> They might be assembled there. But that is not enough under the new 
>> rules.
> 
> Good point. But who will be able to assess all this at a price point 
> that keeps it a consumer device? Or will it be left to lawyers who know 
> exactly what "made in the US" means?

It is up the FCC who has to issue certification. They will demand a lot 
of documentation about the supply chain.

BR
Daniel

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Daniel AJ Sokolov]

On 2026-03-23 at 19:01, Ulrich Speidel via Starlink wrote:
 > Well it's not entirely off-topic:
 >
 > https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74787w149zo
 >
 > Quote:
 >
 >> One exception to the general absence of US-made routers is the newer
 >> Starlink WiFi router. Starlink is part of Elon Musk's company SpaceX.
 >>
 >> The company says the Starlink routers are made in Texas

Would this be latest Starlink router model?

https://olegkutkov.me/2024/02/12/starlink-terminal-revision-4-overview-and-tests/

Just from those pictures I can already see a Kingston eMMC that says 
"Taiwan". And chips from ST, which, according to Wikipedia, has closed 
its US factories over 15 years ago.

BR
Daniel

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Inemesit Affia]

I believe only the internal router in the Starlink mini is made in the US.

The rest are likely made in Vietnam (previously Taiwan).

The Ku band part of the dish is what's using ST Micro parts. The Wi-Fi should be Mediatek

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[David Lang]

If they are actually banning FCC certification for anything not built in the US, 
I don't expect it to last very long, the outcry will just be too much.

and if they ban opensource software, they will ban all routers and a lot of 
other stuff as well.

David Lang

On Mon, 23 Mar 2026, Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink wrote:

> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:36:17 -0700
> From: Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink <starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net>
> Reply-To: Daniel AJ Sokolov <daniel@falco.ca>
> To: Dave Taht via Starlink <starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net>
> Subject: [Starlink] FCC declares all new router models illegal
> 
> Dear All,
>
> this may be somewhat off topic, but I think you will all want to know this: 
> Today, the FCC has declared that only routers manufactured in the US may 
> obtain valid FCC certification.
>
> "Production generally includes any major stage of the process through which 
> the device is made, including manufacturing, assembly, design, and 
> development."
>
> I am not aware of any consumer grade router that would be considered made in 
> the US under these rules. Are there any?
>
> Are there any routers that work entirely without open source software?
>
> Previously approved routers are still OK - kind of. The challenge there is 
> that software updates are affected by the new restrictions. The FCC has 
> provided an exemption until March 1, 2027, for certain software updates - 
> after that, who knows.
>
> Manufacturers can apply for exemptions, if - and only if - they have a 
> detailed, time-bound "U.S. Manufacturing and Onshoring Plan", Also, they must 
> disclose competition-sensitive information.
>
> For the official documents, start here:
> https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers
>
> FYI
> Daniel
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Starlink mailing list -- starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net
> To unsubscribe send an email to starlink-leave@lists.bufferbloat.net
>

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Brandon Butterworth]

On 24/03/2026 04:02:14, "David Lang via Starlink" 
<starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net> wrote:
>If they are actually banning FCC certification for anything not built in the US, I don't expect it to last very long, the outcry will just be too much.

Well, TACO as always.

There are several ways of looking at it.

1. It's just another shakedown to benefit insiders.

2. a lever to get manufacturing into USA, devices may remain much
the same.

3. defensive as they are considering actions that may cause these
to become more of a target so they want to be ready - see Viasat
takedown in 2022.

4. a way to get NSA blessed devices in to replace other country
agencies.

Or any combination of these and more.

brandon

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[David Fernández]

This measure is not contributing to Router Freedom:
https://fsfe.org/activities/routers

Regards,

David

> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:02:14 -0700 (MST)
> From: David Lang <david@lang.hm>
> Subject: [Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal
> To: Daniel AJ Sokolov <daniel@falco.ca>
> Cc: Dave Taht via Starlink <starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net>
> Message-ID: <7qrq5oq9-n28o-9q69-5sn5-84r91411qs8n@ynat.uz>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> If they are actually banning FCC certification for anything not built in the US,
> I don't expect it to last very long, the outcry will just be too much.
>
> and if they ban opensource software, they will ban all routers and a lot of
> other stuff as well.
>
> David Lang
>
> On Mon, 23 Mar 2026, Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink wrote:
>
> > Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:36:17 -0700
> > From: Daniel AJ Sokolov via Starlink <starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net>
> > Reply-To: Daniel AJ Sokolov <daniel@falco.ca>
> > To: Dave Taht via Starlink <starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net>
> > Subject: [Starlink] FCC declares all new router models illegal
> >
> > Dear All,
> >
> > this may be somewhat off topic, but I think you will all want to know this:
> > Today, the FCC has declared that only routers manufactured in the US may
> > obtain valid FCC certification.
> >
> > "Production generally includes any major stage of the process through which
> > the device is made, including manufacturing, assembly, design, and
> > development."
> >
> > I am not aware of any consumer grade router that would be considered made in
> > the US under these rules. Are there any?
> >
> > Are there any routers that work entirely without open source software?
> >
> > Previously approved routers are still OK - kind of. The challenge there is
> > that software updates are affected by the new restrictions. The FCC has
> > provided an exemption until March 1, 2027, for certain software updates -
> > after that, who knows.
> >
> > Manufacturers can apply for exemptions, if - and only if - they have a
> > detailed, time-bound "U.S. Manufacturing and Onshoring Plan", Also, they must
> > disclose competition-sensitive information.
> >
> > For the official documents, start here:
> > https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers
> >
> > FYI
> > Daniel

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[David Lang]

Brandon Butterworth wrote:

> On 24/03/2026 04:02:14, "David Lang via Starlink" 
> <starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net> wrote:
>> If they are actually banning FCC certification for anything not built in 
>> the US, I don't expect it to last very long, the outcry will just be too 
>> much.
>
> Well, TACO as always.
>
> There are several ways of looking at it.
>
> 1. It's just another shakedown to benefit insiders.
>
> 2. a lever to get manufacturing into USA, devices may remain much
> the same.
>
> 3. defensive as they are considering actions that may cause these
> to become more of a target so they want to be ready - see Viasat
> takedown in 2022.
>
> 4. a way to get NSA blessed devices in to replace other country
> agencies.
>
> Or any combination of these and more.

I actually believe that it's intended as a lever to get manufacturing back into 
the US. But if it actually eliminates all routers, there will be pushback and 
they will back off (at least in implementation timeline)

but while this administration has pushed to move manufacturing back, this would 
be the first time where they have banned all products not manufactured in the US 
in a category (they have banned the government from buying some products from 
outside the US, but not all uses of a category of products by anyone in the US)

which is why I question the breathless reports as being both accurate, and the 
intent

David Lang

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[Kenneth Porter]

The threats of revoking TV broadcast licenses as a form of censorship 
suggest desperation by the administration's legal team, and this ploy to 
outlaw foreign products through FCC approvals may have been inspired by 
that. The regulatory bureaucracy holds immense and unchecked power, and 
Congress has handed lots of it to the Executive branch over the past 
century. See DownsizeDC's "Write the Laws Act" for a possible way to 
address that.

[Starlink] Re: FCC declares all new router models illegal

[David Lang]

Kenneth Porter via Starlink wrote:

> The threats of revoking TV broadcast licenses as a form of censorship suggest 
> desperation by the administration's legal team

let's not start down the path of discussing politics here, there is a lot that 
could be said about the last administration in terms of censorship, and there 
are some actions that have happened under this administration that are clearly 
malicious compliance (doing something technically within the letter of the 
instructions, but clearly outside of the spirit of the instructions) that I am 
more willing to hold off on passing judgement for every crazy thing that comes 
out.


> The regulatory bureaucracy holds immense and unchecked power, and Congress has 
> handed lots of it to the Executive branch over the past century.

This I fully agree with, which is part of why I am in less of a rush to blame 
the people voted into power.

David Lang