FCC clarifies third-party router firmware is allowed — but with restrictions

[Cereberus]

A few weeks ago, we covered news that the FCC was considering rules that could ban the use of third-party router firmware. The FCC has issued new draft rules that would prevent customers from making changes to certain radio settings that would allow for operation outside of certain parameters. Typically these restrictions are designed to prevent multiple devices in the same geographical area from overlapping and conflicting with each other.

The FCC has now revealed more details on these new policies, which could theoretically be read to prevent the installation of all third-party router firmware. The FCC’s initial order specifies, for example, that programs like DD-WRT should not be allowed, which is part of why people have been concerned about new restrictions in the first place. According to the FCC, manufacturers don’t need to lock out third-party firmware — they just need to prevent the third party firmware from changing settings the FCC doesn’t allow consumers to modify.

The chief concern has been that third-party manufacturers like Belkin, Asus, and Linksys might simply interpret the FCC’s rule against changing some settings as a flat ban against third-party firmware installation. The FCC told Ars Technica that the device in question must be protected from flashing a third-party firmware “that would modify the RF parameters in a way that would take the device out of compliance and cause harmful interference.”

As he notes, there are minimal reasons for an OEM to go to the trouble of supporting a router that can use third-party firmware and now, much higher bars required to implement such support. Locking the firmware altogether is much simpler. And while the FCC says no one has notified it that they will do so, Ars does note that a number of older routers have recently been patched with updated firmware that implements signature checking and ostensibly prevents third-party updates. !!!!

Undoubtedly the user community will hack their way around some of these restrictions, but this could be the beginning of the end for open router firmware, unless the FCC changes its guidance or companies see enough value in offering support for DD-WRT or its equivalents to go to the trouble of locking down the radio.

Source:

http://www.extremetech.com/internet/215012-fcc-clarifies-third-party-router-firmware-is-allowed-but-with-restrictions

[Cereberus]

My concern is, their using the wireless issue to sneak in sinister changes by effectively killing off third party router firmware, which has kept us safe by adding security patches more faster compared to the original manufacturers who tend to leave it to the last second, or delayed......

and to my understanding, the reason why they modify the wireless settings, is to improve the compatibility. so if they don't allow this anymore, then the wifi on third party firmware routers won't be able to fix existing issues for that wouldn't it ?

sorry to say, but if these router brands don't bother making their firmwares as competitive as free third party alternatives, then they only have themselves to blame. Kinda like how taxis are trying to shutdown ubers because they don't want to compete and provide a better service......

even in terms of hardware, people are now also considering their own builds using pfsense. i predict if the standard branded routers chase their userbase away from third party firmware, people will resort to their own router builds, or prebuilt ones. which ironically can have better hardware for less money...

[Bausch]

What I don't get is that by restricting the number of available channels, that overlap they calim to be trying to avoid is even more of a problem than with allowing more channels.