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 May 2022, there are 6 pending new submarine cable landing license or renewal applications. The applications listed in the table below are pending applications for new cable landing licenses or renewals. The table provides a link to an Accepted for Filing Public Notice (AFF PN) if the International Bureau has reviewed the application and placed it on an AFF PN, or a link to the application. The applications listed in this table do not include modifications and transfers of control or assignments of existing cable landing licenses. A complete list of all pending submarine cable applications, including modifications and transfer of control or assignment applications, can be found in IBFS at FCC Submarine Cable Landing Pending Applications List By File Number.
|
Pending Applications by Date of Public Notice |
Name of Cable |
Applicant & |
Location |
Accepted for Filing Public Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
MTC Interisland Cable System (MICS) |
PTI Pacifica Inc. SCL-LIC-20211013-00048 |
Application filed for a new cable landing license to allow the continued operation of the MTC Interisland Cable System (MICS) for an additional 25-year term following the expiration of the current license on February 13, 2022 (SCL-LIC-19921015-00007). The MICS Cable is a common carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system that connects three islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) - Saipan, Tinian, and Rota - with each other and to Guam. |
10/22/2021 |
|
2 |
Neutral Networks Laredo Cable |
Neutral Networks USA LLC |
Application filed for a license to construct, land, and operate within the United States a non-common carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. |
10/28/2021 |
|
3 |
St. Thomas-St. Croix Cable System |
AT&T Corp. SCL-LIC-20220114-00004 |
Application filed for a new cable landing license to allow the continued operation of the St. Thomas-St. Croix Cable System for an additional 25-year term following the expiration of the current license on April 30, 2022 (SCL-LIC-19940815-00003). The St. Thomas-St. Croix Cable System is a non-common carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system that connects Magens Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Butler Bay, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. |
2/3/2022 |
|
4 |
Hawaiian Islands Fiber Network (HIFN) |
Hawaiian Telcom, Inc. SCL-LIC-20220111-00003 |
Application filed for authority to renew the cable landing license for the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Network (HIFN or HIFN Cable) (SCL-LIC-19950627-00024, SCL-MOD-20131114-00012) for an additional 25 years. The HIFN Cable’s initial 25 year license term is scheduled to expire June 27, 2022. HIFN is a common carrier cable system that consists of approximately 400 miles of undersea fiber that connects, and provides capacity for broadband traffic between, six of the Hawaiian Islands: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the island of Hawaii. |
3/11/2022 |
|
5 |
Firmina |
GU Holdings Inc. SCL-LIC-20220422-00015 |
GU Holdings Inc. requests a license to construct, land, and operate a private, noncommon carrier fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting the United States with Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. |
|
|
6 |
BAHAMAS II Cable System |
Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited SCL-LIC-20220422-00016 |
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited applies for a cable landing license for the BAHAMAS II Cable System to allow the continued operation of this submarine cable for an additional 25-year term. The Bahamas II Cable is a common carrier submarine cable that extends from a landing point at Vero Beach, Florida to Nassau, the Bahamas, with an intermediate point at Eight Mile Rock, the Bahamas. |