FCC Acts to Accelerate Submarine Cable Buildout & Security

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to unleash the buildout of secure submarine cable infrastructure. Submarine cable systems carry roughly 99 percent of global internet traffic and are key to further extending America’s leadership in AI and next-generation technologies. The new rules streamline the submarine cable licensing process, give certainty to investors, and accelerate the timelines for building cables. The Report and Order portion of the item adopts a range of measures to protect submarine cables against foreign adversaries. The Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes and seeks comment on various additional measures to protect submarine cable security against foreign adversary equipment and services, while incentivizing the use of American submarine cable repair and maintenance ships and the use of trusted technology abroad.