The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has clarified its sweeping ban on foreign-made consumer routers, stating that it also applies to portable hotspot devices. The agency added a new FAQ section titled 'Is my device a consumer-grade router under the National Security Determination?' which includes portable or mobile MiFi Wi-Fi or hotspot devices for residential use.
The ban does not cover mobile phones with hotspot features, but companies making consumer hotspots need an exemption from the government to import and sell any future hotspots that haven't previously been approved by the FCC. Devices previously approved for sale in the US can continue to be imported and sold without obtaining a special exemption.
The FCC defines routers broadly, giving the agency flexibility to include various types of consumer networking devices in the ban. The new FAQ section also applies to other types of devices, including 'consumer or small and medium-sized business routers sold or rented through retail and self-installable by end users'; 'LTE/5G CPE [customer premises equipment] devices for residential use'; 'residential routers installed by a professional or ISP'; and 'residential gateways that combine modem and router functions.'
The FCC announced the ban last month, defining routers as 'consumer-grade networking devices that are primarily intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer,' which forward data packets between networked systems.