Why It Matters

Subsea cables carry over 95% of all international data traffic, making them critical to global finance, commerce, and communications. The Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing plans to address growing threats to this essential infrastructure from foreign adversaries.

What’s at stake: These cables underpin U.S. government communications, intelligence operations, and trillions in daily financial transactions. Foreign entities could target cable manufacturing, deployment, and landing stations, while international waters complicate protection efforts.

Key stakeholders: Telecommunications companies like SubCom LLC, Ciena Corporation, and NEC Corporation of America face regulatory changes affecting operations. Cable operators including PC Landing Corp. must navigate new security requirements.

Extensive lobbying on the Undersea Cable Control Act and Undersea Cable Security and Protection Act demonstrates industry consensus that federal policy action is urgently needed.

Broader Context

Recent incidents have intensified congressional concern. Between November 2024 and January 2025, approximately seven subsea cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea region. The Guardian reports that state-sponsored attacks are likely to increase. Suspected incidents involve Chinese-flagged and Russian-associated vessels using anchor dragging and AIS spoofing tactics.

The threat prompted international coordination. NATO launched Baltic Sentry in January 2025 to deter cable attacks, while the EU developed comprehensive security strategies for 2025-2026.

Domestically, the FCC approved new rules in August 2025 to accelerate cable deployment and security, citing threats from China. The Telecommunications Industry Association has linked cable security to broader China competitiveness concerns in 2025 lobbying disclosures.

Vulnerability stems from shallow waters, heavy shipping traffic, limited redundancy, and international legal obstacles. With only 80 cable repair vessels globally and repair times exceeding 40 days, capacity remains constrained.

The Agenda

The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security will examine "Securing Global Communications: an Examination of Foreign Adversary Threats to Subsea Cable Infrastructure" on November 20, 2025.

While witness details remain unavailable, companies actively lobbying on related legislation—including SubCom LLC, Ciena Corporation, and the International Connectivity Coalition—suggest industry expertise will feature prominently.

Subcommittee members include Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-7), Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL-28), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-2), Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA-2), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ-2), Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26), Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC-3), and Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX-18).

Between The Lines

No public records show subcommittee members making statements or sponsoring legislation on subsea cable security. This silence likely reflects the classified nature of critical infrastructure security discussions—national security matters involving specific vulnerabilities are typically handled through non-public channels.

While committee members remain publicly quiet, their industry constituents are active. SubCom LLC and Ciena Corporation lobby for the Undersea Cable Control Act to eliminate foreign adversaries’ access to cable technologies. NEC Corporation pushes the Undersea Cable Security and Protection Act.

The hearing marks the first major public forum for these members to outline their policy direction on infrastructure protection.

Competitive Landscape

Multiple telecommunications firms are actively lobbying Congress on subsea cable security, signaling substantial private-sector mobilization around federal protection frameworks.

SubCom LLC has lobbied on the Undersea Cable Control Act through Sununu Enterprises LLC. Ciena Corporation supports HR 2503 while advocating on permitting reform and export controls. NEC Corporation of America pursues comprehensive lobbying on multiple bills, including HR 1189 and HR 9766.

PC Landing Corp. consistently lobbies on the Undersea Cable Protection Act through Womble Bond Dickinson. The International Connectivity Coalition maintains sustained pressure via Salt Point Strategies LLC.

These coordinated efforts underscore industry consensus that federal legislative action is essential for protecting this critical global infrastructure.

The Bottom Line

Congress is examining growing threats to subsea cable networks carrying over 95% of international data traffic. A broad telecommunications coalition is pushing legislation to secure cable supply chains and protect landing stations. The hearing provides Congress’s first major public forum to gather expert testimony, though the lack of prior public statements suggests discussions have occurred primarily through classified channels. The private sector’s coordinated lobbying indicates urgent industry-wide demand for federal policy addressing this critical vulnerability.

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