The Trump administration granted SpaceX’s (NASDAQ:SPCX) Starlink routers an exemption from Federal Communications Commission restrictions on foreign-made consumer routers, allowing the company to seek approval for new hardware through Feb. 1, 2028.
Starlink Secures Conditional Approval Through 2028 The FCC’s Covered List now identifies Starlink routers as conditionally approved by the Department of War.
SpaceX makes routers in Vietnam, although it produces hardware in Texas and labels devices "Made in the USA." The FCC added foreign-produced consumer routers to the Covered List in March after national security agencies concluded they posed "unacceptable risks." The agency said foreign hardware could create supply-chain vulnerabilities and expose U.S. households and critical infrastructure to cyberattacks.
The rule blocks new covered models from receiving FCC equipment authorization before entering the U.S. market.
It does not stop consumers from using existing routers or retailers from selling approved models.
