SpaceX Starlink Routers Exempted from FCC Foreign-Made Ban Until 2028

The Federal Communications Commission granted SpaceX an exemption allowing continued import of Starlink routers manufactured outside the United States, even as a broad ban on foreign-made consumer routers took effect March 23, 2026.

The Ban and the Exemption

The FCC expanded its "Covered List" to include all new consumer-grade routers produced outside the United States, citing national security risks from China-backed hacking groups including Salt Typhoon, Volt Typhoon, and Flax Typhoon. The ban defines "production" broadly to encompass design, development, assembly, and manufacturing.

SpaceX received an exemption approved by the Department of Defense—referred to as the "Department of War" in the FCC public notice—valid until February 1, 2028. While SpaceX operates a router factory in Texas, some Starlink routers are manufactured in Vietnam, according to PCMag reporting in April 2026.

Supply Chain Realities

The exemption underscores the gap between "Made in USA" policy goals and the practical constraints of modern electronics manufacturing. SpaceX is not alone: Netgear, Amazon's Eero division, and Adtran also received exemptions from the router ban, illustrating that few consumer networking products are entirely domestic.

Companies seeking exemptions must provide detailed bills of materials and justify why products cannot currently be made in the United States. The process acknowledges that even American companies rely on global supply chains for critical infrastructure components.

Security Rationale

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump administration appointee, framed the ban as necessary protection against foreign cyber threats. "Today's tremendous decision by the FCC and the Trump administration protects our country against China's relentless cyberattacks and makes it clear that these devices should be excluded from our critical infrastructure," said John Moolenaar, chair of the House select committee on China.

The Starlink exemption suggests regulators are balancing security concerns with operational necessity. Starlink's satellite internet service has become critical infrastructure for rural communities, emergency response, and military operations worldwide.

Looking Ahead

The February 2028 expiration date gives SpaceX roughly 18 months to either shift Vietnam production to its Texas facility or seek renewal. The timeline reflects regulators' expectation that domestic manufacturing capacity should expand, even as current exemptions acknowledge existing dependencies.

For now, Starlink customers will see no disruption. But the exemption highlights a broader truth: national security policy must contend with supply chains built over decades, not redirected overnight.