The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted the Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), which aims to strengthen U.S. control over submarine cable infrastructure in response to growing threats from foreign adversaries, particularly China.
Announced on August 7, the rules introduce a “presumption of denial” for license applications from entities controlled by foreign adversaries and ban the use of certain equipment flagged as high-risk by the FCC. These cables carry the vast majority of global internet traffic and are critical to U.S. and global communications.
Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Brett Guthrie, said:
Last week’s unanimous decision protects that critical infrastructure from interference by our foreign adversaries. Continued investment and streamlining our approval processes for submarine cable infrastructure will enhance the resiliency of these critical networks and enable the United States to expand our global technological dominance. We must defend against our adversaries, such as China, who seek to access and tamper with American networks.
The move supports the administration’s America First Investment Policy, which seeks to safeguard critical infrastructure while streamlining domestic investment.
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The FCC’s action aligns with similar efforts by the European Union (EU), which launched a submarine cable security plan earlier this year. The EU’s approach includes boosting smart cable deployment, expanding threat monitoring, and establishing rapid response fleets, backed by nearly EUR 1 billion in funding through 2027.
International cooperation is also growing. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recently established an International Advisory Body on Submarine Cable Resilience, bringing together countries including China, the UK, and South Africa.
The FCC is now seeking public comments on additional measures, including incentives for U.S.-flagged cable repair ships and potential exemptions from government review for low-risk license applications.
With over 90 cable systems licensed by the FCC delivering thousands of terabits per second of capacity, officials say these measures are crucial to safeguarding the backbone of global communications from increasing foreign threats.
