As the federal government started to thaw its relationship with Cuba, several opportunities for trade and business have risen. In addition to this, another door opened as the FCC recently dropped the telecom ban on Cuba.

On 15th January, it ordered Cuba to be removed from the Exclusion List for International Section 214 Authorizations. The order adds Cuba to the list of multiple countries around the world where telecom carriers can receive standard international authorization to start developing facilities and services.

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The US government holds a federal registry which identifies various countries that are not under Section 214 authority, a global regularity structure for telecom. Before the Commission’s order was passed, telecom companies would seek additional permission from the FCC before providing services to Cuba.

Cuba was the last remaining country on the Commission’s Exclusion List,” noted the FCC’s news release.

“By removing Cuba from the Exclusion list, the Commission opens the door for U.S. telecom carriers to provide facilities-based telephone and Internet service to Cuba without separate approval from the Commission,” the FCC stated.

“Specifically, this action allows carriers seeking new international Section 214 authority for facilities-based service to Cuba to receive such authority sooner, and permits carriers with existing global Section 214 authority to provide services between the United States and Cuba without additional authorization.”

Undoubtedly, US telecom companies will now make their way to Cuba now that they are removed from the Exclusion List. AT&T, for example, has publicly requested such changes a long time ago. Telecom companies will now be anxious to go to Cuba now that they will be subjected to similar regulations as other countries.