New FCC Subsea Regulatory Framework Targets SLTEs

The FCC is introducing a new regulatory framework for subsea cables. The previous approach involved a Federal interagency group known as Team Telecom reviewing each cable landing and the associated owners of the subsea network. Team Telecom includes representatives of the FCC, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and Homeland Security. Moreover, advisory agencies include Department of State, Treasury, Commerce, Director of National Intelligence, Office of the US Trade Representative, and General Services Administration.

Consequently, approval delays were common as well as regulatory overkill because each applicant must go through the same steps regardless of previous successful applications. The new regulatory regime places applicants in different risk buckets. Low risk applicants can bypass Team Telecom and quickly get a landing license approved. An applicant shows it is low risk by meeting the following requirements.
1. Applicant certifies compliance with ten FCC security standards.
2. Applicant has operated cable systems without security incidents.
3. Continuous compliance reporting during the operation of a subsea cable network.

The FCC's new approach targets the submarine line termination equipment, which includes transponders, line amplifiers, the optical distribution frame that distributes fibre pairs to cards, the DWDM equipment, and the associated management systems. All owners of SLTEs will require a FCC operating license. In the past ownership of this equipment was unregulated.

For more details: https://www.fibre-systems.com/article/fcc-overhauls-subsea-cable-licensing-introduces-slte-oversight. 

Screenshot of Article On New FCC Subsea Cable Regulatory ApproachScreenshot of Article On New FCC Subsea Cable Regulatory Approach


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