Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Rules in Marine Sanctuaries
The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 has passed the House and is now being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill is actively moving through the legislative process. There are no specific upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
218–212
The bill has already passed the House with enough support to move to the Senate. Infrastructure bills that reduce government paperwork often have a good chance of becoming law.
Key Points
- This bill changes how the government handles fiber optic cables that run under the ocean. These cables are vital because they carry almost all the internet traffic between countries.
- Under this plan, the Department of Commerce cannot block or require extra permits for these cables if they are located in national marine sanctuaries. This only applies if the cable already has a permit from another state or federal agency.
- The goal is to make it faster and cheaper to install, fix, or maintain these cables. Currently, companies often have to get permission from many different offices, which can delay repairs when the internet goes down.
- While it cuts down on paperwork, the bill still requires government agencies to work together to protect the environment. It ensures that the rules for protected ocean areas do not stop important technology projects that have already been vetted.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 218 - 212 (Roll no. 67).
The House of Representatives voted to approve this bill. It now goes to the Senate.
Vote Results
2 votesOn Motion to Recommit
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(7)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.