Industry Opposed to New Licensing for Subsea Cable Terminals
The FCC proposed a licensing regime, citing national security concerns.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2025 – Industry groups are still largely opposed to a Federal Communications Commission proposal to license companies that operate submarine cable terminals, they said in reply comments posted Monday.
In an August notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency proposed requiring a blanket license from companies operating those terminals, where submarine cables connect with terrestrial broadband networks. A licensing regime for those companies has been opposed by industry groups, but the FCC said in its August notice that federal law enforcement agencies had “identified substantial national security risks associated with” submarine line terminal equipment, or SLTE.
“A blanket license regime on SLTE owners and operators exceeds the Commission’s statutory authority because owning an SLTE is not the equivalent of owning and operating a submarine cable system,” wrote INCOMPAS, which represents software companies and ISPs. “SLTE owned by third parties – particularly passive capacity purchasers, co-location customers, or equipment owners who do not land or operate the submarine cable – fall outside the [Cable Landing Licensing Act]'s plain language.”
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