Undersea Cable Protection Act

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.

1. This bill prevents the Secretary of Commerce from blocking undersea fiber optic cables in marine sanctuaries. 2. It allows these cables to be installed and maintained without needing additional permits if already authorized. 3. The bill removes certain restrictions on activities related to undersea cables in national marine sanctuaries. 4. It ensures that existing federal or state permits are sufficient for these activities.