The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is questioning the accuracy of TP-Link’s equipment certifications after testing four Wi-Fi routers purchased from retail stores and finding they all transmitted at higher power levels than the company had reported to regulators.
Three of the four models also exceeded federal transmission-power limits, according to two FCC letters dated Oct. 15.
The agency said it had “tentatively determined” that TP-Link submitted “false or incorrect information” in its certification applications and asked the company to explain the discrepancies by Oct. 30.
Founded in China in 1996 and now operating a global business headquartered in Irvine, California, TP-Link is a major supplier of home Wi-Fi routers and networking equipment.
In an Oct. 27 statement to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for TP-Link Systems Inc. described the FCC’s inspections as routine and said product test results are not always consistent.
“Individual product test results can occasionally vary,” the spokesperson said.
The company pledged to cooperate with the regulator and address any confirmed technical problems.
Routers Transmitted Above Certified Levels
Wi-Fi routers use radio signals to connect phones, computers, and other devices to the internet. Before selling wireless equipment in the United States, manufacturers generally must obtain FCC authorization demonstrating that their products comply with technical standards, including limits on radio transmission power.
Those limits help prevent wireless devices from interfering with other communications systems. Stronger transmissions can sometimes improve wireless coverage, but excessive power can also increase interference risks.
The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology identified discrepancies in four models: Archer BE670, Deco BE67, BE3600 TL-WR3602BE, and Archer GE800.
The largest discrepancy was found in the Deco BE67. At one tested frequency, the router transmitted at approximately 2.6 times the power level specified in its certification documents, exceeding the applicable FCC limit.
The Archer GE800 and Archer BE670 also exceeded their specified federal limits.
The fourth model, the BE3600 TL-WR3602BE, transmitted at approximately 1.82 times its certified power level, although the FCC did not identify a separate regulatory limit exceeded by that device.
The letters, signed by FCC Laboratory Division Chief Clifford Jones, do not explain what caused the discrepancies or report any actual interference with other communications.
The findings remain preliminary. The letters do not impose penalties or revoke the affected equipment authorizations.
TP-Link Faced Similar FCC Case in 2016
The new findings follow an earlier FCC investigation involving excessive transmission power in TP-Link routers.
In 2016, TP-Link Technologies agreed to pay a $200,000 civil penalty after regulators found that several of its routers could operate at power levels above those permitted on certain restricted Wi-Fi channels.
The problem involved a software setting that allowed users to change the country associated with the router, potentially enabling higher transmission power than U.S. rules allowed.
The company admitted violations and agreed to stop selling noncompliant devices, provide software updates, and implement a compliance program.
The October 2026 letters do not identify whether the latest discrepancies resulted from similar software settings, manufacturing variations, testing differences, or inaccurate certification information.
China Origins and New US Restrictions
TP-Link’s corporate structure has changed since the earlier FCC case.
The company was established in Shenzhen, China. In October 2024, TP-Link Systems Inc. announced that its global operations would be headquartered in Irvine, California, following a restructuring separating them from TP-LINK Technologies, which serves the Chinese market.
The two October FCC letters were addressed to different entities. One concerned three products registered to California-based TP-Link Systems Inc.; the other concerned the Archer GE800, registered to TP-Link Corporation Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. Both companies listed Sarah Wang as their certification contact, although the contact email addresses and company addresses differed.
TP-Link also faces lawsuits from five states over its connections to China and the security of its routers. Texas sued the company in February, followed by Florida, Iowa, Montana, and Nebraska in October, alleging that it misled consumers about its reliance on Chinese suppliers, manufacturing operations, and technology.
TP-Link has denied the allegations. In response to the four October lawsuits, the company said the complaints were based on false premises and maintained that it does not share customer network data with foreign governments or unauthorized third parties.
In March, the FCC added foreign-produced consumer routers to a list of equipment subject to national security restrictions. The action generally blocks new authorizations unless manufacturers obtain conditional approval, but does not automatically prohibit the continued sale or use of previously authorized routers.
The October testing findings concern radio power compliance, not evidence of cybersecurity breaches or espionage.
TP-Link announced on Oct. 19 that it had signed a letter of intent with U.S. manufacturer Key Tronic to assemble next-generation routers in Mississippi. Production could begin in 2027, the company said, subject to regulatory approval.
The Epoch Times sought additional explanations from TP-Link about the cause of the power discrepancies and potential corrective measures. No further response was received by publication time.
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