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119-hr-10695119th CongressWALLET

United States Submarine Cable Security Policy Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a U.S. Submarine Cable Security Policy that would set standard and enhanced security rules and remake the Cable Landing License Act process to add ownership checks, faster review timelines, and a 20-day conditional landing review with the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector.

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  • Cable applicants and operators would face mandatory standard security measures as license conditions and could be required to meet enhanced measures for higher risks. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) would have a 20-day filing/acceptance window and must decide within 45 days after acceptance.
  • Owners and investors in cables would need to meet new self-certification rules to avoid referral. The bill would require no material ownership changes in the prior 48 months and at least 40% ownership by entities that meet the self-certification criteria.
  • National security review would get a formal notification-and-review path. An applicant could notify the FCC and the Committee to land for construction and testing while the license is pending, and the Committee would have a 20-day window to object. The bill would limit the FCC from imposing security conditions beyond the defined standard and enhanced suites unless the Committee shows a specific gap.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

New U.S. cable security policy

If enacted, a committee would submit a United States Submarine Cable Security Policy within 180 days. The FCC would then have 180 days after receiving that policy to adopt rules that set standard and enhanced security measures. Standard measures would be license conditions and would cover physical, supply-chain, and cybersecurity risks and listed equipment or services. Enhanced measures would apply where national-security risks exceed standard measures. The FCC could require extra measures only after a Committee petition shows an unaddressed risk.

Faster FCC cable licensing decisions

If enacted, the bill would move specified submarine cable licensing duties from the President to the FCC and add a new Section 7. The FCC would have 20 days to accept or explain an application and 10 days for the applicant to fix defects. After acceptance, the FCC would have 45 days to decide, or up to 1 year if it refers the application to the Committee. If the FCC misses its deadline, the application would be deemed approved, subject to applicable security measures.

Ownership self-cert rules for applicants

If enacted, the FCC would let submarine cable applicants self-certify ownership and prior-license facts. One test would require no material ownership change in the prior 48 months. Another test would apply when qualifying entities own at least 40 percent of the cable. The FCC could set other ownership criteria to avoid Committee referral. Holders of older licenses conditioned on Committee agreements could petition to opt in to the standard or enhanced measures.

Early landing for construction/testing

If enacted, an applicant who meets the ownership self-cert rules could land a submarine cable for construction and testing 20 days after notifying the FCC and the Committee. The Committee may object within that 20-day window, and landing would be barred if the FCC concurs with the objection. If the FCC does not notify non-concurrence within 20 days, it would be deemed to have concurred on the last day. Landing would not allow operation for service before a license is issued.

Which pending applications are covered

If enacted, the new Section 7 rules would apply to cable license applications pending on, or filed on or after, the first date all required FCC rules take effect. Two specific parts of the new Section 7 would not apply to applications submitted before that date.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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