A one-year FCC waiver lets AT&T suppliers make limited hardware changes to previously certified foreign-made Wi-Fi routers, with the relief running until mid-2027.
The agency allowed substrate and memory-module substitutions because component shortages were threatening production of approved models and risking customer-equipment gaps for millions of households.
The modifications cannot boost performance, alter core functions or marketing identity, or swap in foreign parts in ways that create new security concerns, the FCC said.
The waiver sits within broader FCC rules aimed at reducing risks from networking gear tied to countries of concern; software support for already approved equipment is extended through at least early 2029.
AT&T, which serves tens of millions of broadband customers, can keep deployment and replacement schedules on track, while other carriers facing similar shortages may seek comparable relief.
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