Policy

New draft rules under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would streamline the deployment of submarine cables.

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

June 3, 2026 — Operators that have managed submarine fiber-optic cables in the U.S. without incident could be in for a leg up if draft rules proposed by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr are adopted.

One of the draft rules would waive review by an executive branch interagency task force, known as Team Telecom, for some applicants, according to the FCC’s June 3 release.

If adopted, applicants who have operated cables without incident will be eligible for the waiver, provided they can meet national security standards and agree to ongoing oversight and monitoring, the FCC’s release stated.

“Submarine cables are some of the most consequential and critical communications infrastructure serving the United States,” said Carr, in a statement included with the FCC’s announcement. “By ensuring that secure and trusted submarine cables get streamlined approval, we apply the Build America Agenda under the ocean.”

Licensing requirement under consideration

Another draft rule being considered by the FCC would create a licensing standard for owners and operators of submarine line terminal equipment.

In the release, the FCC said their goal is to ensure they have oversight over “one of the most vulnerable parts of the submarine cable networks.”

According to the FCC, submarine line terminal equipment performs the most critical function of a submarine cable system by connecting to U.S. terrestrial facilities.

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