FCC Approves Licenses for PLCN

Upon recommendations by Team Telecom, the FCC has approved Submarine Cable Landing License for the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) system. PLCN connections from the US to Taiwan and the Philippines are now operating in-service commercially. 

In last December, Team Telecom entered into National Security Agreements with Google LLC and its subsidiary GU Holdings Inc., and Meta Platforms Inc. (formerly known as Facebook Inc.) and its subsidiary Edge Cable Holdings USA LLC to protect data on the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) system, an undersea fiber optic cable system that will connect the United States, Taiwan and the Philippines. Consequently, Team Telecom recommended FCC grant Google and Meta cable landing licenses for the PLCN system.

According to the Department of Justice, Google and Meta (and their subsidiaries) have agreed under the National Security Agreements to (among other terms):

• Conduct annual assessments of risk to sensitive data that transits the PLCN cable system, including when the data exits the cable;
• Pursue diversification of interconnection points in Asia, including but not limited to Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam; and
• Restrict access to information and infrastructure by Pacific Light Data Communications Co. Ltd (PLDC), the Hong Kong-based owner of PLCN that withdrew its application for an FCC license.

Upon recommendations by Team Telecom, the FCC referred to the Department of State for a further 30-day review process.

On January 26, 2022, the FCC granted Google and Meta Submarine Cable Landing Licenses for the PLCN system. 

The PLCN system has been finally achieved commercial operation, with connections from US to Taiwan and the Philippines (the red lines shown in the following diagram).