GTI, Others Ask FCC for STA to Launch Parts of Southeast Asia-US Undersea Cable

GTI Corp. and others sought FCC special temporary authority to deploy, connect and test U.S. parts of the Southeast Asia-U.S. undersea cable system, pending approval of their cable landing license application. They said an STA is needed for 180 days starting Oct. 1 to avoid a potential delay and added costs in building the system, which is also being reviewed by executive branch departments. Applicants said they believe they're nearing the end of the "Team Telecom" review, but can't be certain it will be completed by early October, "when the system -- which has already been manufactured in its entirety -- will be loaded on cable ships" to begin marine installation. "System loading sets in motion a series of interrelated processes the delay or rescheduling of which would impose substantial costs on the Applicants and raise concerns about continuing cable ship availability," said their STA request Wednesday in file No. SCL-LIC-20150626-00016. The system will connect Indonesia, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii and California, adding competition and capacity, and avoiding the "disaster-prone Luzon Strait," it said.