Notice2026-02545
Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 10, 2026
Issuing agencies
Federal Communications Commission
Abstract
As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5948-5949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02545]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[OMB 3060-0944; OMB 3060-1156; FR ID 329893]
Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal
Communications Commission
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens,
as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment
on the following information collections. Comments are requested
concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission,
including whether the information shall have practical utility; the
accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on the
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer
than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any
penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject
to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.
DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before April 13,
2026. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments but find
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice,
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#376765767751545419505841"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d080829190b6b3b3feb7bfa6">[email protected]</span></a> and to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#793a180d1100572e1015151018140a391f1a1a571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d596b4a1bdacfb82bcb9b9bcb4b8a695b3b6b6fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0944.
Title: Cable Landing License Act, Executive Order 10530, 47 CFR
1.70000-1.70024, 1.40001, 1.40003.
Form Number: SCL-LIC--Submarine Cable Landing License Application
(revising form); SCL-STA--Submarine Cable Landing License Special
Temporary Authority (revising form); SCL-FCN--Submarine Cable Landing
License Foreign Carrier Affiliation (revising form); SCL-ASG/TC--
Submarine Cable Landing License Assignment or Transfer of Control of
License (revising form); SCL-LPN--Submarine Cable Landing License
Landing Point Notification (revising form); SCL-MOD--Submarine Cable
Landing License Modification (revising form); SCL-RWL--Submarine Cable
Landing License Renewal (revising form); Foreign Adversary Annual
Report (new form); One-Time Covered List Certification (new form); One-
Time Cybersecurity and Physical Security Certification (new form).
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business and other for profit entities and State,
Local or Tribal Governments.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 429 respondents; 472
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 4 to 320 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement, Annual
reporting requirement, One time reporting requirement, Recordkeeping
requirement, and third-party disclosure requirement.
Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in
Sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201-255, 303(r), 403, 413 of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-255,
303(r), 403, 413, and the Cable Landing License Act of 1921, 47 U.S.C.
34-39, and Executive Order No. 10530, Section 5(a) (May 12, 1954)
reprinted as amended in 3 U.S.C. 301.
Total Annual Burden: 14,180 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $4,354,490.
Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission)
is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve
revisions to OMB Control No. 3060-0944 to incorporate the requirements
adopted by the Commission in the Submarine Cable Report and Order, FCC
25-49. The Submarine Cable Report and Order modernized the Commission's
submarine cable rules to facilitate infrastructure deployment, while
strengthening national security. Submarine cables serve as the backbone
of global communications, carrying 99% of global internet traffic. To
support growing demand and address evolving national security threats,
the Commission updated its rules and procedures to streamline and
improve the timeliness and transparency of its submarine cable
licensing process. The Commission also modernized the process by
identifying entities that pose a threat to submarine cable systems,
such as foreign adversaries, and adopted common sense measures to
preclude them from accessing the nation's communications networks. The
updates will provide greater certainty for applicants, while making
targeted improvements to address national security threats.
Specifically, in the Submarine Cable Report and Order, the
Commission clarified when a cable landing license is required under the
Cable Landing License Act to provide regulatory certainty to submarine
cable owners and operators. The Commission updated application
requirements and definitions to provide a clear regulatory framework,
while also making targeted adjustments for national security purposes.
The Commission modernized the definition of ``submarine cable system''
to better reflect the range of technological advancements and
components of current systems. The Commission adopted foreign adversary
definitions to protect the security of submarine cables by
presumptively precluding the grant of applications filed by an
applicant owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or
direction of a foreign adversary and/or identified on the Commission's
Covered List, among others; adopting a presumption that denial of an
application is warranted where an applicant seeks to land a submarine
cable in a foreign adversary country or add a new landing located in a
foreign adversary country; and
[[Page 5949]]
prohibiting licensees from entering into certain IRU or capacity lease
arrangements, where it would give a foreign adversary-controlled entity
the ability to install, own, or manage Submarine Line Terminal
Equipment (SLTE) on a submarine cable landing in the United States.
On September 11, 2025, OMB approved a non-substantive change
approval request related to the Submarine Cable Report and Order. On
October 27, 2025, the Commission published a notice in the Federal
Register announcing the effective date of the rules adopted in the
Submarine Cable Report and Order except for amendatory instructions
(Sec. 1.767), 7 (Sec. 1.768), 10 (Sec. 1.70002), 11 (Sec. 1.70003),
12 (Sec. Sec. 1.70005 and 1.70006), 13 (Sec. 1.70007), 14 (Sec. Sec.
1.70008 and 1.70009), 15 (Sec. Sec. 1.70011 through 1.70013), 16
(Sec. 1.70016), 17 (Sec. 1.70017), 18 (Sec. 1.70020), 19 (Sec. Sec.
1.70023 and 1.70024), and 22 (Sec. 43.82).
Relatedly, the Commission transitioned its International
Communications Filing System (ICFS) to a new cloud-based platform in
June 2025. Following OMB's approval of modifications to this
information collection, the Commission will develop and submit for OMB
review revised submarine cable application forms and new forms to
comply with the new requirements. Until the new and revised electronic
forms are approved by OMB, submarine cable applicants and licensees
will be required to provide the information required by the Submarine
Cable Report and Order by submitting the current application forms and
providing additional information as required in an attachment filed in
ICFS.
OMB Control Number: 3060-1156.
Title: 47 CFR 43.82, Annual Circuit Capacity Reports.
Form Number: N/A.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business and other for profit entities and State,
Local or Tribal Governments.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 133 respondents; 266
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 1 to 20 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annual reporting requirement.
Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The
statutory authority for this information collection is contained in
Sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201-255, 303(r), 403, 413 of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-255,
303(r), 403, 413, and the Cable Landing License Act of 1921, 47 U.S.C.
34-39, and Executive Order No. 10530, Section 5(a) (May 12, 1954)
reprinted as amended in 3 U.S.C. 301.
Total Annual Burden: 2,793 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $12,000.
Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission)
seeks approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the
revised information collection for the annual submarine cable circuit
capacity reports required pursuant to the Cable Landing License Act of
1921 and section 43.82 of the Commission's rules. On August 7, 2025,
the Commission adopted a Report and Order and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (Submarine Report and Order), FCC 25-49, that
modernized the Commission's submarine cable rules, including adopting
new rules regarding the annual circuit capacity reports. With respect
to the annual submarine cable circuit capacity data collection, the
Commission modified the circuit capacity reporting requirements to
enhance the quality and usefulness of the data for national security
and other purposes, provide greater clarity to licensees and common
carriers (Filing Entities) on the reporting requirements for Filing
Entities, and eliminated duplicative burdens.
Specifically, in the Submarine Report and Order, the Commission
streamlined the rules and eliminated the requirement for licensees to
file a Cable Operator Report about the capacity on a cable and instead
required Filing Entities to file one report, the Capacity Holder
Report, on an individual basis. The Commission retained important
information from the Cable Operator Report by integrating and
clarifying information about available, planned, and design capacity
that was previously reported in the Cable Operator Report. The
Commission required Filing Entities to report their capacity on
domestic cables, as the lack of this information created a critical gap
regarding the ownership and use of capacity on submarine cables
regulated by the Commission. The Commission also required Filing
Entities to identify, with respect to each sale, lease, or purchase of
a fiber pair and/or spectrum, the submarine cable, the U.S. and foreign
landing points of the fiber pair and/or spectrum, and the entity that
manages the fiber pair and/or spectrum, if different from the entity
that owns it. The Commission also required Filing Entities to provide
certain information about their submarine line terminal equipment
(SLTEs) in the Capacity Holder Report as SLTEs are among the most
important equipment associated with the submarine cable system for
national security and law enforcement purposes.
Additionally, the Commission allowed any subsidiary, parent entity,
or affiliate to file the Capacity Holder Report on behalf of a
licensee(s) or common carrier(s), so long as the legal name of the
licensee or common carrier is identified in the report and an officer
of the licensee or common carrier certifies that the information in the
report is accurate and complete. The Commission codified a compliance
provision in section 43.82 of the rules. The Commission modified
section 43.82 of the rules to allow the Commission to share with the
Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S.
Telecommunications Services Sector, Department of Homeland Security,
and the State Department the capacity data filed on a confidential
basis without the pre-notification requirements of 47 CFR 0.442(d).
The Commission directed its Office of International Affairs to
revise the Filing Manual to conform with the changes adopted in the
Submarine Cable Report and Order.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-02545 Filed 2-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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