Back on March 23, 2026, the FCC added foreign-produced consumer-grade routers to the "Covered List", effectively blocking new router models from receiving FCC authorization. Without FCC authorization, routers cannot legally be imported, marketed, and sold in the US (see our story for the full details).
Because most consumer routers are produced overseas, the policy initially functioned as a near-freeze on new consumer router approvals in the US, requiring them to first obtain "conditional approval" from either the Pentagon or the Department of Homeland Security.
Netgear is the first retail router company to obtain conditional approval.
Netgear sent out emails to customers and also announced the approval on its website. The conditional approval covers all of Netgear's consumer router and mobile hotspot product lines. The conditional approval page on the FCC website specifically states the products that have approval:
Netgear, Inc.'s Nighthawk consumer mesh, mobile and standalone routers (R, RAX, RAXE, RS, MK, MR, M and MH series), Orbi consumer mesh, mobile and standalone routers (RBK, RBE, RBR, RBRE, LBR, LBK and CBK series), cable gateways (CAX series) and cable modems (CM series)
The inclusion of Netgear’s MR, M, and MH series indicates that the approval extends to Netgear’s mobile hotspot products.
According to the conditional approval rules, approvals may be granted for "up to 18 months," and Netgear's approval expires just under that timeline, on October 1, 2027. The process allows extensions, but applicants must show progress on their prior US manufacturing and onshoring commitments, and extensions remain discretionary.
As we noted in our original story, the FCC ban applies to consumer products - enterprise manufacturers such as Peplink do not require conditional approval.
On the same April 14 public notice, the FCC also listed Adtran’s Service Delivery Gateway routers as conditionally approved through the same October 1, 2027 date. Adtran's routers are primarily service-provider equipment for landline ISPs, and are not typical retail consumer products.
Netgear gaining approval is not a surprise. As one of the largest US consumer router brands, it had a strong incentive to secure conditional approval quickly and appears to have had the resources to do so.
We expect that at least some other large manufacturers will obtain conditional approvals, especially companies with more transparent supply chains and fewer ties to foreign-adversary sourcing, such as China. Smaller vendors with limited resources may struggle to meet the requirements, especially those who rely on China-based manufacturing.
Key Mobile Internet Related Considerations:
- Netgear is the first company to receive conditional approval to develop and sell new consumer routers in the US after the March 2026 FCC ban.
- Netgear's conditional approval covers all of its major consumer router lines, including mobile hotspots.
- Expect more major manufacturers to obtain conditional approval in the coming weeks and months.
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Related Content at the Mobile Internet Resource Center:
- Guide: Selecting a Router For Use in an RV or Boat
- Guide: Understanding & Selecting Mobile Hotspot Devices (MiFi, Jetpacks, AirCards)
- Guide: Top Cellular Data Plans for RVers & Cruisers – Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile
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