The Federal Communications Commission has released a notice today designating any consumer routers manufactured outside the US as a security risk.
  • themurphy@lemmy.mlEnglish
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    2 months ago

    Be ready to get shut out of the global internet and only use Trumpernet.

    Seriously though, they’ll block yalls internet access in a few years.

  • Jhex@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 months ago

    I think you guy are forgetting Occam Razor… the most likely scenario (least assumptions) here is that some inept appointee from the orange pedo thought this would be a good idea and pushed it with the research, planning and preparation we all put at farting after eating Taco Bell

    • hansolo@lemmy.todayEnglish
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      2 months ago

      There’s a line about “… unless they have a waiver.”

      That’s the razor, it’s gatekeeping for who can get your special permit.

  • maplesaga@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 months ago

    Something is happening, first the age verification and now this. They’re setting up to verify identities online I presume?

    • Australis13@fedia.io
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      2 months ago

      I’m more wondering that if all consumer network routers have to be made in the US (e.g. forcing people to use the ISP-provided one), it makes it easier for them to utilise the ISP’s backdoors for monitoring of people’s LANs. If that’s actually the goal, then the next logical step would be to deny anyone access using a third-party router or ISP-provided router that didn’t have their firmware.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
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      2 months ago

      They’re setting up to verify identities online I presume?

      To track online activities.

      To ensure nobody is doing anything the government (or its corporate funders) don’t like.

      Look at the Project2025 manifesto and see how much they want people’s activities to be controlled.

  • kieron115@startrek.websiteEnglish
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    2 months ago

    lmfao. apparently the way this was originally written would have prevented non-exempt routers from getting security updates. you know, the alleged reason this ruling even exists. somebody at the FCC office of engineering and technology must have noticed because they issued a temporary waiver (PDF file).

    Applying the revised 47 CFR §§ 2.932(b) and 2.1043(b) to the newly added Covered Routers would have the effect of prohibiting permissive changes to Covered Routers even if they were authorized prior to the March 23, 2026, Covered List addition. This prohibition would be in effect even for Class I permissive changes—such as software and firmware security updates that mitigate harm to U.S. consumers—because previously-authorized Routers are now covered equipment. … Therefore, OET concludes that a limited waiver until March 1, 2027, is warranted and inthe public interest. March 1, 2027, is convenient because it is the date until which the recent DoW determination excepts certain otherwise Covered Routers. Prior to March 1, 2027, the OET will re-evaluate whether to further extend applicability.

  • Phoenix3875@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 months ago

    So consumer grade routers are a security risk, but not ISP switches or server routers? That’s the opposite of what a state level actor would look for.

    • ferret@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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      2 months ago

      I mean, it’s kind of old news that these consumer routers make up the majority of bot nets, although I doubt requiring them to be US-made will change much.

      • 8oow3291d@feddit.dkEnglish
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        2 months ago

        As I read it, they are scared of the Chinese Communist Party having an “official” back door built in. Not run-of-the-mill criminal bot-nets.

  • just_another_person@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 months ago

    This is a good time to remind everyone to avoid any of the major manufacturers. Get pre-built OPEN boxes and install OpenWRT. You performance and capabilities will beat the shit out of any of the other stuff anyway.

    Sadly, there were a few great foreign-made manufacturers who had great hardware for this. Technically they aren’t “network routers” and just blank hardware, so probably don’t fall into the idiotic language put forth here.

    • Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
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      2 months ago

      And open software will probably have the ability to show up as a “correct” router when that day comes.

    • NewOldGuard@lemmy.mlEnglish
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      2 months ago

      I’ve got a GLiNet router with OpenWRT, running adguard on it. Best router experience I’ve ever had. I wonder how quick this ruling takes effect, might be smart to buy another while I can lol

      • just_another_person@lemmy.worldEnglish
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        2 months ago

        YUP. I’ve deployed hundreds of these. They make good hardware, their developers and hardware engineers are quick to respond to customers, and they just make a good product. They even share their board designs, because why not?

        Sucks they’re going to be caught in the crossfire here.

    • classic@fedia.io
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      2 months ago

      any recommended resources to learn more? Is this a lay person accessible option?

  • Australis13@fedia.io
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    2 months ago

    Are there actually any US-made consumer network routers on the market? All the brands I can think of are pretty much made in Asia these days.

    • thejml@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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      2 months ago

      Ubiquiti is an American company, not sure if the tech is really MADE here though, seems like that’d be weird considering the components are all made outside the US anyway.

      • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
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        2 months ago

        Ubiquiti may not be considered consumer with regards to this, but it’s pretty unclear so it’s a bit of a gamble.

        • kieron115@startrek.websiteEnglish
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          2 months ago

          It would be funny if, like, the UniFi line got banned but the EdgeOS line didn’t just based on target audience

        • thejml@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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          2 months ago

          Yeah, it’s all so ambiguous. I switched to them because they were better made and cheaper than the Netgear I was forced to replace after 1.5yrs. It’ll be interesting to see where this ends up. Probably lawsuits. Glad I’m already set for a while, I guess.

        • theneverfox@pawb.socialEnglish
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          2 months ago

          It’s not a ruling, the FCC was ordered decided that they’re not going to certify any new foreign made home routing equipment. No certification means the radios won’t be legal for consumers to operate

          This isn’t a law or judicial ruling, it’s policy

        • Mirshe@lemmy.worldEnglish
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          2 months ago

          Nah, “conditional approval” is written into the regulation. You might know this wording better as “pay us a large sum and we’ll give you approval.”

          • Pommes_für_dein_Balg@feddit.orgEnglish
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            2 months ago

            Based on the regulation as written, approval is granted only if the company:

            • Fully reveals their entire supply chain
            • All business relationships and contracts
            • Justifies why they aren’t producing in the US
            • And provides a detailed step-by-step plan with a fixed schedule for moving production to the US
            • Which is then monitored by the government
  • LoafedBurrito@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    2 months ago

    Figures, make it difficult and expensive for consumers to get routers. Make it so people must pay 5 times as much for a lower quality “US made” router in 4-5 years once the factories are built; or people just stop using the internet at home like the administration wants.

    The US does not make many electronics, and when we do, they are ALWAYS made with imported components. So this is once again a threat to companies to move production to the US, but with ZERO incentive for the companies to do so.

    No wonder our economy is tanking so hard under these nazi’s. They are so incompetent, it hurts.

  • LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyzEnglish
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    2 months ago

    Great, so zero network products can be sold, and we have to dispose of any existing ones in a couple years.

    I guess the US won’t have any Internet anymore.

    • compostgoblin@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
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      2 months ago

      Where did it say we have to dispose of existing ones? It doesn’t say that no products can be sold, and the article specifically says models that have already been approved can continue to be sold. I also think it’s dumb, but it’s important to be accurate.

      • LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyzEnglish
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        2 months ago

        In an exception to the usual rule, routers included on the Covered List can continue to receive updates at least through March 1, 2027, although the date could potentially be extended.

        I guess it depends on what this means here. It COULD mean that you won’t get software updates (security updates) next year.

        • HeyJoe@lemmy.worldEnglish
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          2 months ago

          Lol i love how something so massive was just given an arbitrary 1 year date. We all know it’s because nobody dealing with this has any clue what the impact is, and any that do don’t care because it will probably be making them more money… no way this all happens within a year, and if it does it’s gonna be a shit show.

    • kieron115@startrek.websiteEnglish
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      2 months ago

      Based on the language, it would seem to exclude ISP provided routers as those are not “designed to be installed by the consumer”. It also excludes anything not SoHo.

      • darkdemize@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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        2 months ago

        I haven’t seen an ISP offer tech installation on anything in years unless the home wasn’t pre-wired. Self installation kits are the norm these days.

        • oaklandnative@lemmy.worldEnglish
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          2 months ago

          Seems like a great opportunity for ISP to start charging whatever they want to install their crap. Don’t want to pay for the installation and use their router? No internet for you!

    • henfredemars@infosec.pubEnglish
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      2 months ago

      Perhaps it’s a fallback plan in case the universal Internet ID thing doesn’t work out. Gotta keep the masses stupid and uncoordinated.