Submarine Cable Landing License Applications
To land or operate a submarine cable in the United States, submarine cable operators must obtain a cable landing license from the FCC. The FCC’s International Bureau, Telecommunications and Analysis Division (TAD) issues licenses to own and operate submarine cables and associated landing stations in the United States pursuant to the Commission’s authority under the Cable Landing License Act of 1921 and Executive Order No. 10530. Before granting the application, the FCC coordinates with the Department of State and any other agencies, as needed.
As of September 2021, we have 4 pending new submarine cable landing license or renewal applications. The applications listed in the table, “Pending Applications for Submarine Cable Landing License,” are pending applications for new cable landing licenses or renewals that the International Bureau has reviewed and placed on the Accepted for Filing Public Notice (AFF PN). The applications listed in this table do not include modifications and transfers or assignments of existing cable landing licenses.
Pending Applications by Date of Public Notice |
Name of Cable |
Applicant & |
Location |
Accepted for Filing Public Notice |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) |
GU Holdings Inc. SCL-LIC-20200827-00038 |
Application filed for a license to operate a non-common carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting the United States to Taiwan and the Philippines. |
9/11/2020 Report No. SCL-00282NS |
2 |
CAP-1 |
Edge Cable Holdings USA, LLC SCL-LIC-20200910-00044 SCL-AMD-20210809-00032 |
Application filed for a license to land and operate within the United States a non-common carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting Grover Beach, California and Pagudpud, Philippines. |
9/30/2020 Report No. SCL-00284NS 8/13/2021 Report No. SCL-00328NS |
3 |
Grace Hopper |
GU Holdings Inc. SCL-LIC-20210225-00014 |
Application filed for a license to construct, land, and operate a non-common carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting the United States with the United Kingdom and Spain. |
3/26/2021 Report No. SCL-00308S |
4 |
Echo |
Edge Cable Holdings USA, LLC SCL-LIC-20210329-00020 |
Application filed for a license to land and operate a non-common carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting California, Guam, Singapore and Indonesia. |
4/23/2021 Report No. SCL-00315S |