The FCC’s Router Ban Is the Wrong Tool for the Right Goal

Sometimes it’s possible to agree on a goal but disagree on how to get there. Such is the case with the Federal Communications Commission’s recent surprise ban on all foreign-made home routers — a blow using a blunt instrument that will inflict unnecessary trauma on the industry and most likely lead to higher prices for consumers.

The FCC’s rationale for placing the routers on the so-called Covered List of products restricted from being imported into or sold in the US centers on two national security concerns. The first is a worry that potential supply-chain compromises open the door for rogue components with secret abilities for cyberattacks or spying.