Modification of the Rules and Procedures Governing the Provision of International Telecommunications Service

The Federal Communications Commission amends its rules to grant in part the Petition for Reconsideration filed by the North American Submarine Cable Association (NASCA) and otherwise affirm the Commission's Report and Order, Amendment of parts 1 and 63 of the Commission's Rules, IB Docket No. 04-47, Report and Order, FCC 07-118, 22 FCC Rcd 11398, 72 FR 54363 (2007) (Report and Order), establishing that the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) applies to cable landing licenses granted by the Commission. NASCA's Petition for Reconsideration argues that the Commission should rescind the rules adopted in that Report and Order. Although we decline to rescind the rules, we amend them to clarify the applicable licensing requirements and to ensure that the Commission's process for evaluating cable landing licenses complies with the CZMA review procedures established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).