United States Submarine Cable Security Policy Act of 2026

This bill establishes new security requirements and licensing procedures for submarine cables landing or operating in the United States. It directs the creation of a security policy and requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt standard and enhanced security measures as conditions for cable licenses. It also amends the Cable Landing License Act to set application timelines, self-certification options, and referral processes for national security review.

Sec. 2, Submarine cable security and licensing: The bill requires a Committee, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, to create a United States Submarine Cable Security Policy within 180 days. This policy must address security concerns for cables connecting to foreign nations, especially covered nations, and entities on the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act list. The policy must include recommended standard and enhanced security measures.

The FCC must then adopt rules for standard security measures (covering physical and supply chain security, risk management plans, and listed entities) and enhanced measures for licenses posing national security risks not addressed by standard measures. The FCC cannot require license conditions that involve security agreements with the Committee or require prior Committee approval.

The FCC must also issue rules for referring applications to the Committee for national security review, allowing self-certification for applicants with recent licenses or certain ownership, and letting licensees opt into the new security measures instead of existing agreements.

The bill amends the Cable Landing License Act to add a new section 7 on application and licensing. It sets deadlines for the FCC to accept or deny applications (20 days for acceptance, 45 days for approval, or 1 year if referred to the Committee). Applications can be deemed approved if the FCC misses deadlines. The FCC may refer applications to the Committee only if the applicant seeks to overcome a foreign adversary disqualifying condition or cannot self-certify. Additional security measures beyond the standard or enhanced ones require a Committee petition showing a national security risk.

Licensees must comply with applicable security measures. The bill allows certain applicants to land a cable while their application is pending, unless the Committee objects and the FCC concurs within 20 days. The bill defines key terms and applies to applications pending or submitted after the required rules take effect.