The Federal Communications Commission has granted Netgear a conditional import approval for consumer routers, cable modems and gateways through October 1, 2027. The approval comes despite the company's manufacturing base remaining in Asia and no announced plans to shift production to the United States.

The FCC's conditional approval cites a "specific determination" by the Pentagon that these devices do not pose risks to U.S. national security. This marks a reversal from the agency's earlier justification that foreign routers inherently threatened security due to incidents like the Volt Typhoon cyber espionage campaign, which primarily targeted Netgear equipment.

The approval mechanism requires manufacturers to submit detailed plans for U.S. manufacturing expansion and capital investment timelines. Netgear has not publicly disclosed such plans, and neither the company nor the FCC responded to inquiries about whether these requirements were met. The FCC's conditional approval specifically covers Netgear's Nighthawk, Orbi and related router families, as well as cable gateways and modems.

In its SEC filing, Netgear suggested the approval would allow indefinite software updates to existing routers, but the FCC clarified that such updates do not require agency approval unless they alter radio performance. Netgear's CEO also characterized the decision as advancing "stronger safety and security standards," though the FCC's process does not evaluate safety or security criteria.

The situation raises questions about the relationship between import approvals and domestic manufacturing commitments, particularly as companies navigate evolving regulatory frameworks for networking hardware.

Update: Neither Netgear nor the FCC provided comment in response to requests for clarification about manufacturing plans and compliance with conditional approval requirements.