Also…after some consults today…
Under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, the FCC maintains a list of specific companies whose equipment is prohibited for use in U.S. telecom networks (especially federal funding contexts).
Key companies include:
Huawei
ZTE
Hytera Communications
Hikvision
Dahua Technology
There has been some confusion recently about a “ban on foreign-made routers.” To clarify, there is no blanket ban on all routers manufactured outside the United States.
What has actually happened is that federal regulators have restricted and prohibited equipment from a small number of specific companies identified as national security risks. These restrictions apply mainly to certain telecommunications infrastructure and federally funded networks, not to all consumer or privately used networking equipment.
Most networking devices used by individuals, businesses, and amateur radio operators remain legal and unaffected, even if they are manufactured overseas.
In short:
It’s not about where the equipment is made — it’s about which companies are involved and whether they are on restricted lists.