The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has expanded its ban on foreign-made consumer routers to include portable hotspot devices. This means that companies selling such hotspots now need government approval for future imports and sales. However, mobile phones with built-in hotspot features remain exempt from this rule.

This broadened ban is part of the FCC's National Security Determination and affects a variety of networking devices, including residential routers installed by professionals or internet service providers (ISPs), as well as those combined with modems in one device. The agency defines routers broadly, giving it flexibility to include different types of consumer networking equipment.

Previously, the FAQ suggested that mobile phones were exempt from this ban due to their built-in hotspot features. However, portable hotspots are now included under the same category as traditional routers. While devices already approved for sale in the US can continue to be imported and sold without special exemptions, companies making new consumer or small business routers will need an exemption.

The FCC's definition of routers includes those that are primarily intended for residential use and which forward data packets between networked systems. This expansive definition allows the agency significant leeway in determining what devices fall under the ban, ensuring a wide net is cast to potentially protect national security interests.