The Federal Communications Commission clarified this week that its sweeping ban on foreign-made consumer routers extends to portable hotspot devices.
According to a report from Ars Technica, the agency added a new section to its official FAQ addressing whether specific devices fall under the National Security Determination. The updated guidance explicitly includes "consumer-grade portable or mobile MiFi Wi-Fi or hotspot devices for residential use."
However, the FCC noted that the ban does not cover "mobile phones with hotspot features." While an earlier version of the FAQ mentioned cellphones were exempt, it had not specifically addressed whether portable hotspot devices were covered.
Under these regulations, companies manufacturing consumer hotspots must obtain a government exemption to import or sell any future devices that have not been previously approved by the FCC. Devices that were already approved for sale in the United States are permitted to continue being imported and sold without a special exemption.
The FCC's definition of routers is broad, providing the agency with flexibility to include various networking hardware. The agency defines routers as "consumer-grade networking devices that are primarily intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer."
These devices are further defined by their ability to "forward data packets, most commonly Internet Protocol (IP) packets, between networked systems." The ban also targets several other categories of hardware.
Included in the scope are "consumer or small and medium-sized business routers sold or rented through retail and self-installable by end users." The regulations also cover "LTE/5G CPE [customer premises equipment] devices for residential use."
Additionally, the ban applies to residential routers installed by professionals or internet service providers (ISPs). The agency also included residential gateways that combine modem and router functions in the targeted category.
