FCC Adopts New Rules to Accelerate the Buildout of Secure Submarine Cable Infrastructure

The Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules to unleash submarine cable deployment for the United States. Submarine cable systems move the vast majority of the world’s internet traffic and strengthen the nation’s capacity to maintain secure, dependable communications across consumer, commercial, and defense sectors. The new rules adopted will speed up the rollout of submarine cables—the backbone and unsung heroes of the global internet. They also support the essential capacity for the increasing computing demands and connectivity for artificial intelligence. The Report and Order enhances submarine cable security and adopts a range of measures to streamline and accelerate the deployment of secure submarine cable infrastructure. Specifically, the rules presumptively exempt cable applications from the rigorous Team Telecom licensing review when licensees can certify to high security standards that are structured to increase certainty, predictability, and faster timelines for the licensing process.