Cybersecurity Policy Report, Security of Submarine Cables, Emergency Alerts on FCC’s Agenda, (Jun 4, 2026)
By Paul Kirby and Lynn Stanton
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr plans to ask his fellow Commissioners at their June 25 meeting to vote on an order and further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) that would require “targeted cybersecurity improvements for the nation’s emergency alert system,” Chairman Carr announced yesterday.
“The item would adopt measures to help protect against hijacking by cybercriminals and our nation’s adversaries and make other targeted improvements” to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and wireless emergency alerts (WEAs), he said in a blog post.
The Commission also will consider an order and FNPRM “that will accelerate the buildout of submarine cables, the unsung heroes of the global internet,” Mr. Carr said. “The order enhances submarine cable security and adopts a range of measures to streamline and accelerate the deployment of secure submarine cable infrastructure by trusted providers who agree to high security standards.”
A news release from Mr. Carr’s office observed that “[c]urrently, all submarine cable applicants get referred to Team Telecom, an Executive Branch interagency task force that reviews license applicants for national security risks. Today’s rule would presumptively exempt applications from Team Telecom review for trusted applicants that have operated cables without incident and can certify to the highest national security standards and agree to ongoing oversight and monitoring.”
“In addition to streamlining deployment, the rules would also, for the first time, adopt a licensing requirement for owners and operators of submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE), which perform the most critical function of a submarine cable system by connecting to U.S. terrestrial facilities,” according to the news release. “This SLTE licensing requirement will ensure FCC oversight of one of the most vulnerable parts of the submarine cable networks. Finally, the rules would also adopt further routine security conditions.”
The FCC unanimously adopted a report and order and further notice in the proceeding last year (CPR, Aug. 8, 2025).
News: FederalLegislation DataSecurity