Cybersecurity Policy Report, Trade Group Presses FCC on Treatment of Undersea Cable Applications, (Apr 3, 2026)

By Paul Kirby

The International Connectivity Coalition (ICC) has pressed the FCC on the treatment of pending applications and granted authorizations subject to national security agreements (NSAs) under new agency rules and procedures for undersea cable landing licenses.

In an ex parte filing in OIA docket 24-523 and MD docket 24-524, the ICC said “the upcoming Second Report and Order should specifically address the treatment of new or existing applications pending the outcome of the proceeding and adoption of new rules, and the treatment of existing NSAs once the rules are adopted.”

The ICC added that the FCC should “[e]xpressly allow applications pending as of the effective date to be processed under the new rules without requiring withdrawal/refiling, subject to the submission of any required certifications.”

The group also said the Commission should “[c]onfirm streamlined mitigations under the new rules will be available for NSA-conditioned licensees to ‘opt in’ if they submit the required certifications, supplanting the mitigations set forth in the NSAs.”

In addition, ICC urged, the FCC should “[e]nsure that the Commission’s new ‘fast track’ rules do not inadvertently exclude the majority of cable license applications. For example, many subsea cables include as owners the parties that land the cables in other countries. Accordingly, the ‘fast track’ rules should not automatically exclude cable systems with applicants that have non-U.S. ownership, and should make provision for such applicants that have previously been reviewed by Team Telecom in connection with other cable systems, or are from trusted U.S. partner countries.

“The ICC urges the Commission to incorporate explicit transitional language for pending applications and clear treatment for granted authorizations with NSAs, consistent with the Commission’s objectives to modernize licensing, improve predictability, and maintain strong national security protections,” according to the filing.

News: FederalLegislation DataSecurity