Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-73not60
§34 Licenses for Landing or Operating Cables Connecting United States with Foreign Country; Necessity For
Title 47 › Chapter 2— SUBMARINE CABLES › § 34
Summary
You need a written presidential license to land or run submarine cables that link the U.S. with foreign countries or different U.S. regions; sections 34–39 do not apply to cables fully inside continental U.S.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §34
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
No person shall land or operate in the United States any submarine cable directly or indirectly connecting the United States with any foreign country, or connecting one portion of the United States with any other portion thereof, unless a written license to land or operate such cable has been issued by the President of the United States. The conditions of sections 34 to 39 of this title shall not apply to cables, all of which, including both terminals, lie wholly within the continental United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was not enacted as part of the Submarine Cable Act which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Act May 27, 1921, ch. 12, which enacted sections 34 to 39 of this title, is popularly known as the Cable Landing Licensing Act.
Executive Documents
Delegation of Functions For delegation of functions, vested in President by sections 34 to 39 of this title, to Federal Communications Commission, see section 5(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 10530, eff. May 10, 1954, 19 F.R. 2709, set out under section 301 of Title 3, The President.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 34
Title 47 — Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60