New Hampshire Becomes Unlikely Hub for Undersea Internet Cables
Published Date: 11/25/2025
Notice
Summary
SubCom, LLC wants to make undersea fiber-optic cables and repeaters at its Newington, New Hampshire facility inside Foreign-Trade Zone 81. This means they can bring in certain parts from other countries with lower or no import taxes, helping them save money and boost production. The public can share their thoughts until January 5, 2026, before the government decides.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
FTZ lets SubCom reduce import duties
SubCom proposes to manufacture undersea fiber‑optic cables and repeaters at its Newington, New Hampshire facility inside Foreign‑Trade Zone 81. The proposed finished products would be duty‑free, and listed foreign components may be admitted with duty rates that range from duty‑free to 4.5%, allowing the company to reduce import taxes on parts used in production.
Some parts subject to special tariff rules
The request says certain materials may be subject to duties under section 1702(a)(1)(B) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, section 232, or section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 depending on country of origin. Those items must be admitted into FTZs in privileged foreign status pursuant to 19 CFR 146.41, which can affect how and whether those parts enter FTZ production.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17022, Foreign-Trade Zone 163; Approval of Subzone Status; Pompina Mayaguez LLC; Ponce, Puerto Rico
2026-16752, Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 176, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Coilcraft, Inc.; (Ferrous Iron Pre-Fabrication Material); Princeton, Illinois
2026-16104, Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 21, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Translucent Solar, LLC; (Solar Modules); Summerville, South Carolina
Translucent Solar, LLC wants to make solar panels in Summerville, South Carolina, using some imported parts with special duty rules inside Foreign-Trade Zone 21. This move could save money on import taxes and speed up production. Public comments are open until September 16, 2026, so folks can share their thoughts before the plan moves forward.
2026-15937, Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 18, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Western Digital Technologies, Inc.; (Semiconductor Die); San Jose and Fremont California
2026-15804, Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 12; Authorization of Production Activity; Avant Technology, Inc.; (Solid-State Drives and Memory Modules); Pharr, Texas
2026-15564, Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 202, Notification of Proposed Production Activity; Industrial Parts Depot, LLC; (Engine Parts and Components); Carson, California
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-20937, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
The NIH’s Center for Scientific Review is holding a closed virtual meeting on December 10, 2025, to review important grant applications in immune oncology research. This meeting was delayed due to a government shutdown but is now urgent to keep vital health research funding on track. Scientists and researchers waiting on NIH grants are the ones affected, with no direct cost changes but a tight timeline to meet funding deadlines.
Next: 2025-20939, Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Form No. I-515A; Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor
The government is keeping the Form I-515A, which lets students and exchange visitors know important info, just as it is—no changes! This affects international students and exchange visitors who use this form. They’re asking for public comments until December 26, 2025, but there’s no new cost or extra paperwork involved.