The Federal Communications Commission has decided to crack down on “national security risks” by adding consumer-grade routers made outside the United States to its Covered List. Routers, for those blissfully unaware, are the little boxes in your home that make the internet happen. They’re also now apparently potential agents of doom.

According to the ruling (PDF), these devices pose “unacceptable risks” to national security. Here’s where things get a bit awkward: virtually no one in the U.S. actually makes consumer routers. So the ban is less of a targeted move and more of a “guess we’ll figure it out later” situation.

Thankfully, existing routers are “grandfathered in,” meaning your current device is safe, or at least legally tolerated, for now. You can continue doomscrolling in peace, assuming your Wi-Fi holds up.

As for what happens next, here’s the likely solution: companies ship in parts from abroad, assemble something minor stateside (maybe tighten a screw, maybe nod at it respectfully), and voilà, it’s suddenly “approved.”

There’s also a pathway for “Conditional Approval,” which sounds like applying for a visa, but for your router:

The determination included an exemption for routers that the Department of War (DoW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have granted “Conditional Approval” after finding that such device or devices do not pose such unacceptable risks. Producers of consumer-grade routers are encouraged to submit an application for Conditional Approval using the guidance attached to the determination. Applications should be submitted to [email protected].

In the end, your internet isn’t going anywhere, but the idea that your glitchy, overheating router is now considered a national security threat might be the funniest signal drop of all.

[Via BoingBoing (Including the picture)]