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

David Fernández
2026-03-24T18:10:56Z

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