TP-Link, one of the more popular consumer networking brands in the U.S., is currently engaged in discussions with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in a bid to secure a conditional approval to continue introducing new models after the FCC’s blanket ban on imported routers, PCMag reports. According to documents the company filed with the agency, TP-Link argued that it is a U.S. company with a 20% share of the consumer retail market. Furthermore, it said that “TP-Links routers are very positively reviewed by technology reviewers” and that “TP-Link routers are safe and secure.” The company was previously owned by TP-Link Technologies Co., which was based in Shenzhen, China, but it has since separated from its parent in 2022, with the company saying that it’s now an independent entity based in the U.S.
The U.S. government initially wanted to ban TP-Link because of national security concerns, especially with the company’s close ties to China. However, the FCC instead settled for a blanket ban on all imported consumer routers, except for those that can secure a conditional approval. This exemption would allow router manufacturers to continue importing routers until a specific date, provided that they get the nod from either the Department of War or the Department of Homeland Security.
