FCC: Router ban includes portable hotspots, but not phones with hotspot features

The FCC’s clarified router ban now explicitly covers portable hotspots, but leaves smartphone hotspot features exempt—creating a split rule that affects 12 million hotspot users nationwide. The ban, rooted in national security concerns, targets devices from five Chinese manufacturers, including Huawei and ZTE, which controlled 35% of the US portable hotspot market in 2025. For consumers, this means your dedicated hotspot device may be illegal starting July 2026, while your phone’s tethering remains untouched. The FCC estimates the ruling affects $2.3 billion in existing hardware, a 15% larger impact than the initial router ban targeted.