Cable lobby warns of chaos if FCC doesn’t relax ban on foreign routers

The primary lobbying group for the cable industry is pressing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a waiver concerning its ban on foreign routers. They caution that failure to allow modifications to the components within these routers could lead to significant disruptions for cable Internet service providers and their customers. In March, the FCC classified all consumer-grade routers partly manufactured outside the United States as part of its Covered List. This classification imposes strict limitations on devices thought to pose an unacceptable risk to national security, effectively halting the importation and sale of nearly all consumer routers in the country. In a petition submitted on Tuesday, the NCTA—The Internet & Television Association—requested an expedited waiver that would permit its members’ suppliers to make specific adjustments to substrate materials and memory modules in routers previously certified before the Covered List was updated. Importantly, these changes would not affect the functionality of the routers nor would they replace U.S.-made components with foreign ones, according to the NCTA. The requested component modifications are essential for the continued production of routers that had received FCC approval prior to the new restrictions. The NCTA emphasized the urgency of this request, stating that it is crucial for their members and suppliers to navigate unavoidable supply chain challenges and to prevent interruptions in broadband services for millions of Americans. Last month, the FCC granted a one-year waiver to AT&T's suppliers, which is similar to what NCTA is seeking for all cable broadband companies. In their filing, the NCTA noted that their suppliers are in a comparable situation to AT&T's. While many users opt to purchase their own Wi-Fi routers, it remains common for subscribers to utilize hardware leased or sold by their broadband providers. The NCTA pointed out that due to the current status of the FCC's Covered List, certain changes to routers are now prohibited under the existing regulations.