FCC to undertake extensive review of submarine cables in more than two decades

The Federal Communications Commission will carry out an intensive and in-depth review of licensing rules for submarine cables that transmit information between continents on grounds of national security, the U.S. government agency said on its website Thursday.

The agency said it is looking to update application requirements for submarine cable systems and collect granular information from applicants regarding ownership, control, and use of such systems.

The FCC is also looking to improve the quality of the circuit capacity data it collects from licensees and facilitate the sharing of such information with federal partners. The agency said a review on submarine cables issue was last conducted in 2001.

Under the proposed new rules, there is a three-year periodic reporting requirement for cable landing licenses. The FCC is also seeking comment on shortening the current 25-year license term or in combination with periodic reporting.

“Today’s action continues the FCC’s recent efforts to support national security. The Commission has proposed new rules that would require, for the first time, companies with international telecommunications authorizations to file renewal applications with the FCC. It has proposed steps applicable to broadband providers to improve the security of BGP routing, the internet’s global routing system,” the FCC said Thursday.

In a separate press release, the agency announced that chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel will step down on January 20, 2025. She famously led efforts to restore net neutrality rules that were reversed under the first Trump administration and have since been put on hold by a court.