On January 15, the Federal Communications Commission’s (“Commission”) International Bureau announced its decision to remove Cuba from the Commission’s Exclusion List for International Section 214 Authorizations (“Exclusion List”). Countries and facilities on the Exclusion List are not covered by grant of a global facilities-based Section 214 application. Providing facilities-based service between the U.S. and a country on the Exclusion List requires a separate international Section 214 application filed under Section 63.18(e)(3) of the Commission’s rules.

U.S. telecommunications carriers wishing to operate facilities-based service in Cuba no longer need to obtain a separate Section 214 license under Section 63.18(e)(3) to operate in Cuba. Instead, they can take advantage of the more streamlined process available pursuant to Section 63.18(e)(1).  And, for carriers with existing global Section 214 authority, this authority can now be used to provide services between the United States and Cuba without additional authorization. According to the International Bureau, removing Cuba from the Exclusion List “opens the door for U.S. telecom carriers to provide facilities-based telephone and Internet service to Cuba.” The Order will take effect upon release but has not yet been released.

If you have any questions about international Section 214 licenses or would like help filing an international Section 214 application for your company, please contact Allison D. Rule at adr@commlawgroup.com or Michael P. Donahue at mpd@commlawgroup.com.