S. 2873: Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 aims to modify the existing National Marine Sanctuaries Act. It proposes to remove the requirement for obtaining a new authorization for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries if these activities have already been authorized by a federal or state agency.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• No New Authorizations Required: If a federal or state agency has already issued a license, lease, or permit for undersea fiber optic cables, the Secretary of the relevant authority cannot require further authorizations for these cables' ongoing presence and related activities in marine sanctuaries.
• Interagency Cooperation: The bill allows the Secretary to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to engage in cooperation with other federal agencies for actions involving the management of undersea fiber optic cables.

Purpose of the Bill

The intent of this legislation is to streamline the regulatory process for undersea fiber optic cable projects in national marine sanctuaries, potentially reducing delays and bureaucratic hurdles. This could help facilitate improved internet and communication infrastructure by making it easier to maintain and operate existing undersea cables.

Impact on National Marine Sanctuaries

Under this bill, activities related to undersea cables that have previously received the necessary approvals would be exempt from additional regulatory requirements. This could help maintain the operational integrity of undersea communications networks while still adhering to existing approvals.

Relevant Companies

• AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.): The company could be impacted as it relies on robust internet infrastructure, including undersea cables, for its cloud computing services.
• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): As a major player in data transmission and internet services, Alphabet may benefit from streamlined processes related to undersea cable installations.
• FB (Meta Platforms, Inc.): Meta has investments in undersea cables to enhance connectivity for its services and could benefit from the provisions of the bill.