The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changed course on a key part of its policy regarding foreign-made, consumer-grade Wi-Fi devices on Friday. Originally having put an expiration date of 2027 for software updates on banned (or “covered”) routers, the FCC has extended its cutoff, allowing more time before these devices lose access to critical support.
This extension also applies to drones on the covered list, as well as cellular routers and mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.
Details on the revised update cutoff for router software
On Friday, May 8, 2026, the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) issued a waiver regarding the original cutoff for software updates on covered (or banned) devices, moving it from March 1, 2027, to January 1, 2029.
In its decision, the OET cited “public interest” as a major reason for the waiver with the FCC acknowledging continued software support as being critical to protect US consumers.
The waiver notes:
“These include all software and firmware updates to ensure the continued functionality of the devices, such as those that patch vulnerabilities and facilitate compatibility with different operating systems. OET finds that special circumstances warrant a deviation from the general rules and the public interest would be better served by extending the waiver of the prohibitions on these Class I permissive changes in these circumstances.”
Why the waiver matters
The software update cutoff had been seen as one of the more problematic aspects of the original FCC policy regarding foreign-made routers, with cybersecurity experts and industry associations (like the CTA) urging that the FCC reconsider its stance due to the potential security risks it could introduce into digital ecosystems.
Groups had previously argued that unsupported hardware would be more vulnerable to cyberattacks, as any vulnerability found within the software following the cutoff would not be able to be updated or patched out, allowing for easier exploitation of those devices by bad actors.
What the waiver does not cover
The waiver does not remove any routers currently on the covered list off it, nor does remove the software update restriction for those who have not received a conditional approval from the Pentagon or Department of Homeland Security.
So far, only Netgear and Amazon’s eero have received conditional approval to continue selling new routers in the US. Router brand TP-Link has, however, announced that it plans to apply for an exemption and that it’s investing “hundreds of millions of dollars” in manufacturing, per a statement to the FCC.
