Review of Submarine Cable Landing License Rules and Procedures To Assess Evolving National Security, Law Enforcement, Foreign Policy, and Trade Policy Risks
Abstract
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopted a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Second FNPRM) that seeks to further prevent evolving national security risks associated with submarine line terminal equipment (SLTEs) posed by foreign adversaries. The Second FNPRM seeks comment on the routine conditions that the Commission should consider to improve its oversight of SLTE owners and operators. The Second FNPRM seeks comment on whether the Commission should adopt routine conditions for cable landing licensees that are subject to our current licensing requirement, as amended. With respect to SLTE, the Second FNPRM also seeks comment on whether to consider consistent or differing routine conditions for cable landing licensees that own and/or operate SLTE on their licensed submarine cable, or owns an SLTE and either owns or leases the underlying fiber, capacity, or spectrum, or leases the SLTE and the underlying fiber, capacity, or spectrum to another entity. Finally, the Second FNPRM seeks comment on whether it should adopt any other routine conditions for submarine cable landing licensees, including SLTE owners and operators.
Federal Register Source
This document is published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. Access the full regulatory text, preamble, and docket comments below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026-15120 Federal Register document?
Document 2026-15120 is a Proposed Rule published by the Federal Communications Commission in the Federal Register on July 27, 2026, with an effective date of August 26, 2026. In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopted a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Second FNPRM) that seeks to further prevent evolving national security risks associated with submarine line terminal equipment (SLTEs) posed by foreign adversaries. The Second FNPRM seeks comment on the routine conditions that the Commission should consider to improve its oversight of SLTE owners and operators. The Second FNPRM seeks comment on whether the Commission should adopt routine conditions for cable landing licensees that are subject to our current licensing requirement, as amended. With respect to SLTE, the Second FNPRM also seeks comment on whether to consider consistent or differing routine conditions for cable landing licensees that own and/or operate SLTE on their licensed submarine cable, or owns an SLTE and either owns or leases the underlying fiber, capacity, or spectrum, or leases the SLTE and the underlying fiber, capacity, or spectrum to another entity. Finally, the Second FNPRM seeks comment on whether it should adopt any other routine conditions for submarine cable landing licensees, including SLTE owners and operators. View the original at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/27/2026-15120/review-of-submarine-cable-landing-license-rules-and-procedures-to-assess-evolving-national-security.
Is document 2026-15120 an economically significant rule?
No. Document 2026-15120 is not classified as economically significant under Executive Order 12866. Economically significant rules require OIRA review and are estimated to have impacts of $100 million or more per year.