Bill Summary
The "Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025" aims to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to simplify the regulatory process for undersea fiber optic cables within national marine sanctuaries. Specifically, the legislation prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from requiring additional authorization for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of these cables if they have already been approved by a federal or state agency. This is intended to streamline the permitting process and encourage the continued development and maintenance of undersea telecommunications infrastructure while ensuring that previously authorized activities can proceed without unnecessary regulatory hurdles. Additionally, the act encourages interagency cooperation to facilitate these actions within marine sanctuaries.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Enhanced Internet Connectivity**: By streamlining the authorization process for undersea fiber optic cables that have already been approved by federal or state agencies, this legislation could facilitate faster and more efficient installation and maintenance of internet infrastructure. This would benefit consumers and businesses by improving internet connectivity and potentially lowering costs associated with data transmission and internet services.
2. **Environmental Considerations**: The act may raise concerns among environmentalists and local communities about the potential impact of installing and operating undersea cables within national marine sanctuaries. While the legislation aims to simplify processes, it could lead to increased activities in sensitive marine areas without additional environmental scrutiny, potentially affecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
3. **Regulatory Clarity for Companies**: Telecommunications companies and other stakeholders involved in the installation and maintenance of undersea fiber optic cables would benefit from reduced bureaucratic hurdles. The clarity provided by the prohibition on requiring new authorizations for previously approved projects could encourage investment and innovation in infrastructure development, leading to economic growth in related sectors.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2873 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2873
To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an
authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation,
maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a
national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been
authorized by a Federal or State agency.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025
Mrs. Blackburn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an
authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation,
maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a
national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been
authorized by a Federal or State agency.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Undersea Cable Protection Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING AUTHORIZATIONS FOR UNDERSEA FIBER
OPTIC CABLES PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL OR STATE
AGENCIES.
The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 310 (16 U.S.C. 1441) the following:
``SEC. 310A. PROHIBITION ON REQUIRING AUTHORIZATIONS FOR UNDERSEA FIBER
OPTIC CABLES PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED BY FEDERAL OR STATE
AGENCIES.
``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
the Secretary may not prohibit or require any authorization for the
installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or
recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary
if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a Federal or State
agency authorizing such installation, continued presence, operation,
maintenance, repair, or recovery.
``(b) Interagency Cooperation.--The Secretary may direct the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in
interagency cooperation under section 304(d) in any Federal agency
action described in that section and involving the installation,
continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of
undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.''.
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