The FCC is banning new foreign-made routers, but existing ones can keep getting updates until 2029

The FCC extended software-update access for some already approved foreign-made routers and drones until Jan. 1, 2029, instead of March 2027.

The agency also broadened the firmware changes allowed under its waiver, making security patches and compatibility fixes easier to deliver.

This helps keep widely used devices secure, while the ban on approving new foreign-made consumer routers remains in place.

The move affects devices tied to FCC national-security restrictions, including firms such as Netgear, Eero, and TP-Link.