[chatmasta]

As a skeptic I have to wonder whether Google lobbied for this prior to their OnHub release. I'm also expecting Apple to announce some sort of router on Sep 9 to go with HomeKit + AppleTV. Both parties would have a vested interest in locking down the open source router ecosystem.

[tzs]

If you are not using a Google or Apple router, I don't see why they would care if you are running third party firmware on your router.

If you are using a Google or Apple router and they do not want you to replace the firmware on it they could use signed firmware already. They would not need to have the FCC tell them that they have to use signed firmware in order to use signed firmware.

If there was some way to use third party firmware on a non-Google, non-Apple router in order to interact with Google or Apple routers in a way that compromises something Google or Apple are trying to do, then maybe Google or Apple would have an interest in trying to stop that...but this would not be an effective way to stop that.

It would not be effective because people would simply build their own routers using a PC with a wifi card to attack the Google or Apple routers, instead of attacking by replacing firmware on stand-alone consumer routers with firmware that supports that attack.

I can't think of anything else. Did you have some other vested interest in mind?

[function_seven]

I think parent meant competition. If all other choices are super-exploitable crapware-laden routers, then Google's and Apple's devices become that much more valuable. Not sure effects on the market would be that great, but I can see how it would benefit GOOG/AAPL to reduce choices.

[noir_lord]

Oth hand no way in hell would I consider putting a Google device in the most important spot on my network, My distrust of them grows by the day.

[PhantomGremlin]

When Google bought Nest, someone quipped something like: "great, now I'll have to listen to an ad before my smoke alarm goes off".

[thrownaway2424]

Believing every crackpot conspiracy theory that pops into your mind is actually the opposite of skepticism.