S. 3249: Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025, aims to improve the security, coordination, and maintenance of international subsea fiber-optic cables, which are vital for global internet connectivity. The Act includes several key provisions:

International Coordination and Engagement

The bill emphasizes the importance of subsea fiber-optic cables and urges the U.S. government to enhance its participation in international organizations, particularly the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC). This increased engagement is intended to promote U.S. interests in protecting these cables and ensuring the resilient and secure operation of the global internet.

• Findings: The bill references previous incidents and international efforts to safeguard subsea cables, highlighting the need for collaborative protection.
• Sense of Congress: It recognizes subsea cables as essential to global infrastructure and calls for U.S. leadership in initiatives to secure them.
• Sanctions: The bill authorizes the President to impose sanctions on foreign individuals or entities responsible for damaging subsea cables that threaten U.S. national security.
• Reporting: It mandates reports on the activities of the People's Republic of China and Russia regarding subsea cable security to understand potential risks better.

Department of State's Role

The legislation requires the Department of State to bolster its expertise on subsea fiber-optic cables by assigning individuals to focus on related international issues. These personnel will engage in safeguarding and enhancing collaborative efforts with allies.

• Expertise Expansion: At least two full-time staff will be dedicated to subsea cable matters in the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy.
• Diplomatic Engagement: Ongoing strategies will be developed to promote information-sharing and cooperation with international partners.

Coordination of Cable Construction and Repair

The bill establishes a framework for improved coordination among U.S. federal agencies regarding subsea cable issues.

• Interagency Committee: A new committee will be formed to enhance the protection and resilience of subsea fiber-optic networks, streamline permitting processes, and coordinate responses to incidents affecting cable security.
• Information Sharing: The bill mandates the development of procedures to facilitate real-time information exchange between government and non-government entities regarding potential threats to subsea cables.
• Analysis of Damages: Strategies will be created to analyze and address subsea cable damages, particularly those caused by malicious actions.

Reporting Requirements

The Act imposes various reporting requirements on the Secretary of State and other relevant officials to ensure Congress is kept informed of progress and developments related to subsea cable security.

Implementation Timeline

• Within a year of enactment, the interagency committee must be established.
• Several reports and assessments are to be submitted to Congress at specified intervals to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the measures laid out in the Act.

Relevant Companies

• AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.): As a major user of subsea cables for its global cloud services, Amazon may be affected by any changes in regulations related to cable security and maintenance.
• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): Google relies on subsea cables for its internet services, and potential sanctions on foreign actors harming these infrastructures could shape its operational environment.
• T (AT&T Inc.): As a telecommunications provider, AT&T could see impacts on its infrastructure provisioning and maintenance efforts in light of enhanced security measures mandated by this bill.