New rules designed to protect submarine cables from security threats and stimulate investment in new systems have been adopted by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Proposed last month, these rules will apply a presumption of denial for licence applicants that are deemed to be controlled by a foreign adversary, and impose capacity-leasing limits on such entities. They also aim to prevent the use of so-called 'covered' equipment – products and components produced by companies that are on the US's naughty list – in cable systems, and beef up cyber and physical security requirements.
Via a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), the FCC has now also formally proposed measures to incentivise the use of US cable repair and maintenance ships, and encourage allies to ensure 'trusted' technology is used in cable systems.
