Companies that operate undersea fiber optic cables — the kind that carry most of the world's internet traffic — currently need separate approval from NOAA to work in national marine sanctuaries, even if they already have a federal or state license for that cable. This bill would eliminate that extra layer of permitting. If a cable has already been authorized by another federal or state agency, NOAA could not require additional authorization for installing, maintaining, repairing, or recovering it within a sanctuary.
Congressional Summary
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025This bill prohibits the Department of Commerce from enforcing certain permit requirements for activities related to undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries. Specifically, Commerce may not prohibit or require an authorization for any covered activities related to undersea fiber optic cables if a license, lease, or permit has been issued by a state or federal agency to authorize the covered activity. Covered activities are the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.The bill also authorizes Commerce to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in interagency cooperation regarding federal agency actions that are likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure a resource in a national marine sanctuary and involve covered activities.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-09-18
- Date Added
- 2026-04-09