The ROUTERS Act mandates a study on the national security risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities of consumer routers and modems from entities tied to covered countries.
Robert Latta
Representative
OH-5
The ROUTERS Act mandates the Secretary of Commerce to study and report on the national security risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities of consumer routers, modems, and modem-router combinations from entities tied to covered countries. This study will assess devices from countries like China and Russia, known for potential security threats. The report, due within a year, will be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Commerce.
New Bill Orders 1-Year Study on Security Risks in Home Routers and Modems from Specific Foreign Countries
A piece of legislation called the ROUTERS Act sets the stage for a deep dive into the technology connecting many of us to the internet. Specifically, Section 2 mandates the Secretary of Commerce to launch a one-year study examining the national security and cybersecurity risks associated with consumer routers, modems, and those all-in-one combo units. The focus is squarely on devices originating from entities linked to specific foreign nations.
What's Under the Microscope?
This isn't about every gadget out there. The study targets equipment from companies owned, controlled, or influenced by what the bill terms "covered countries." Who are they? The bill points to an existing law (10 U.S.C. 4872(f)(2)) which currently includes North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran. The core task is to figure out if these essential home networking devices pose hidden security vulnerabilities or national security concerns simply because of where they, or the companies behind them, come from. Think of it as a government-led check under the hood of the tech that handles your home Wi-Fi and internet access, specifically looking at potential risks tied to its origin.
Just the Facts: A Study, Not a Ban
It's important to understand what this part of the bill does and doesn't do right now. This section only requires a study and a report. Within one year of the bill becoming law, the Secretary of Commerce needs to deliver findings to key committees in the House and Senate. There are no immediate changes for consumers – no bans on existing equipment, no new rules you need to follow. The goal here is information gathering. The results of this study could potentially shape future policies or regulations regarding tech imports or cybersecurity standards, but this legislation itself is focused purely on conducting the research and reporting back to Congress.