If the recent FCC crackdown made it sound like new Wi-Fi routers were about to hit a wall in the US, the latest update shows the situation is a little more selective than that. Federal regulators have started issuing conditional approvals to certain routers, which means some models can still launch in the US as long as they clear national security checks.
According to Android Authority, the first group of approved devices includes several Netgear Nighthawk and Orbi routers, along with service-grade routers from Adtran. The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau said those products were reviewed and do not present unacceptable risks to users.
That is a notable development because, in March 2026, the FCC said new foreign-made Wi-Fi routers would be blocked from entering the US market unless they passed stricter government review. This new round of approvals does not undo that policy, but it does show that companies can still move forward if their products satisfy the review process.
Netgear is treating the decision as an early win, saying it is the first retail router brand to receive this kind of approval. The company also said the move fits with its security-first approach and suggested it expects to remain in good standing.
The FCC’s list of conditionally approved routers shows Netgear devices are cleared through October 1, 2027. At the same time, the bigger message from regulators has not changed: new router models will still need this approval before reaching the US market, while routers already approved or already being sold are not affected
Source: Android Authority
