US home internet access tightens as TP-Link routers face FCC ban and state lawsuits

TP-Link cannot sell new Wi-Fi 8 routers in the U.S. due to an FCC ban on foreign-manufactured devices and four state lawsuits alleging security risks.

The Federal Communications Commission banned consumer-grade routers wholly or partly manufactured outside the United States in April 2026. TP-Link has not received an FCC exemption for its latest Wi-Fi 8 routers despite meeting with officials that month. Four U.S. states—Florida, Montana, Iowa, and Nebraska—filed nearly identical lawsuits claiming TP-Link exploited Chinese state-sponsored hackers and concealed ties to foreign military contractors. The lawsuits allege the company’s routers contain vulnerabilities exploited by Russian intelligence and violate consumer protection laws. TP-Link claims its U.S.-sold routers are manufactured in Vietnam with 0.5% components, undergo security testing, and comply with U.S. privacy laws. The FCC exemption process requires national security clearance from the Department of Defense or Homeland Security.

This friction in the connection sector restricts affordable home internet access for U.S. consumers. The ban and lawsuits create immediate barriers for TP-Link’s market entry while leaving alternatives like Netgear and Amazon’s Eero routers exempt. The source provides limited detail on the resolution timeline.

Source: Ars Technica