The FCC has expanded its Covered List to include foreign-made consumer routers, effectively restricting approval and import of new devices in this category.
This action does not impact currently deployed equipment, but it introduces long-term considerations for supply chain availability, especially for providers relying on cost-effective edge hardware such as MikroTik hAP and hEX platforms.
The FCC is not banning routers already in use. Instead, it is:
Without FCC approval, new devices cannot legally be imported or sold in the U.S.
Your current network remains fully operational and compliant.
Core MikroTik platforms such as CCR (Cloud Core Routers) and CRS switching systems are not the primary targets of this FCC action.
However, long-term policy expansion could bring additional scrutiny to foreign-manufactured infrastructure platforms.
Consumer and subscriber-edge devices are where the impact becomes operationally significant.
WISPs relying on these platforms for customer deployments should monitor supply closely.
Short-Term:
Mid-Term:
Long-Term:
The FCC router import restriction is a forward-looking policy targeting future supply chains rather than existing deployments. For MikroTik users, core infrastructure remains unaffected today, but consumer and subscriber-edge devices represent the primary area of risk moving forward.
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