Netgear lands exemption from foreign-router ban; FCC silent on rationale

Netgear becomes the first major consumer-router maker to win a conditional exemption from the FCC's foreign-made router ban, covering its Nighthawk and Orbi devices (and cable gateways) through Oct. 1, 2027; Adtran also receives a similar waiver. The FCC did not disclose Netgear's justification or its plan to onshore manufacturing, and the approval process remains opaque. Most new routers will require exemptions, a framework critics say could slow approvals, reduce competition, and delay next-gen Wi‑Fi as supply chains adapt.