To direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to conduct a study of the national security risks posed by consumer routers, modems, and devices that combine a modem and router, and for other purposes.
Summary
What This Bill Does
The ROUTERS Act directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to study national security risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities posed by certain consumer networking devices. The covered devices are consumer routers, consumer modems, and combined modem-router devices that are designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the influence of a covered country. The covered-country definition points to the countries listed in section 4872(f)(2) of title 10. The Secretary must consult with appropriate bureaus and offices inside the Department of Commerce and submit a report on the study within one year to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Who Benefits and How
Consumers using home internet equipment benefit because the study could identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities and national security risks in routers and modems used in homes. U.S. cybersecurity officials benefit from a required Commerce Department assessment of risks tied to covered-country ownership, control, or influence. Domestic router and modem manufacturers benefit if the report highlights risks associated with foreign-controlled competitors. House Energy and Commerce Committee members and Senate Commerce Committee members benefit from a formal report they can use for oversight or future legislation.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Secretary of Commerce and NTIA leadership must conduct the study, consult Commerce bureaus and offices, and deliver the report within one year. Commerce Department cybersecurity and telecommunications staff must gather information on device supply chains, covered-country influence, and vulnerabilities. Covered-country consumer network device suppliers may face scrutiny if the study identifies security risks. Manufacturers of consumer routers and modems may need to respond to congressional or market attention generated by the report, although the bill itself does not ban products or impose direct compliance rules.
Key Provisions
- Requires a Commerce Department study of national security risks from consumer routers, modems, and combined modem-router devices.
- Requires the study to cover devices designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons under covered-country ownership, control, or influence.
- Requires consultation with appropriate bureaus and offices within the Department of Commerce.
- Requires a report to House and Senate commerce committees within one year of enactment.
- Defines covered country by cross-reference to section 4872(f)(2) of title 10.
- Defines the Secretary as the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Requires the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to study national security risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities from consumer routers, modems, and combined modem-router devices designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the influence of covered countries, and to report results to House and Senate commerce committees within one year.
Key Policy Areas
Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, National Security
Primary Purpose
Requires the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to study national security risks and cybersecurity vulnerabilities from consumer routers, modems, and combined modem-router devices designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the influence of covered countries, and to report results to House and Senate commerce committees within one year.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Consumers using home internet equipment
- U.S. cybersecurity officials
- Domestic router manufacturers
- Domestic modem manufacturers
- House Energy and Commerce Committee members
- Senate Commerce Committee members
Identified Costs
- Secretary of Commerce
- NTIA leadership
- Commerce Department cybersecurity staff
- Commerce Department telecommunications staff
- Covered-country consumer network device suppliers
- Consumer router manufacturers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
Passed HouseReported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the …
Passed House (inferred from eh version)
Mr. Latta (for himself and Ms. Kelly of Illinois) introduced …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Commerce Department cybersecurity staff, House Energy Committee members, NTIA leadership
Positive-direction: House Energy Committee members, Senate Commerce Committee members
Negative-direction: Commerce Department cybersecurity staff, NTIA leadership, Secretary of Commerce
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "ntia"
- → National Telecommunications and Information Administration
- "secretary"
- → Secretary of Commerce acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A country specified in section 4872(f)(2) of title 10, United States Code.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology