Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 amends the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. It stops the Secretary from requiring new authorizations for undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries if they already have a permit, lease, or license from a Federal or State agency. This applies to the installation, presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of these cables. It also allows the Secretary to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to cooperate with other agencies.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Reduces bureaucratic costs and delays for companies operating undersea telecommunications infrastructure.
- Scored +3
Does this get reliable internet to more people?
Facilitating the installation and repair of undersea cables supports the stability and expansion of global internet connectivity.
- Scored +2
Is this likely to grow the economy?
Reducing regulatory hurdles for critical internet infrastructure can support economic efficiency.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this put more rules on large technology companies?
The bill reduces regulatory requirements for entities installing and operating fiber optic cables.
- Scored -2
Does this give the federal government more power?
Reduces the power of the Secretary of Commerce to require specific authorizations for certain activities.
- Scored -2
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Removing the requirement for separate sanctuary-specific authorizations may slightly reduce environmental oversight levels.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reduced Bureaucracy: Under Section 2 (SEC. 310A(a)), the Secretary cannot require additional authorizations if a Federal or State agency has already issued a license, lease, or permit. This removes redundant requirements for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables.
-
Interagency Coordination: Under Section 2 (SEC. 310A(b)), the Secretary can direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in interagency cooperation regarding these cable activities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts for individuals or groups of people are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Reduces bureaucratic costs and delays for companies operating undersea telecommunications infrastructure.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Reducing regulatory hurdles for critical internet infrastructure can support economic efficiency.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — Facilitates easier movement and installation of critical commercial communication infrastructure. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — Recognizes state-issued permits as sufficient for cable operations in national marine sanctuaries. Does this give the federal government more power? — Reduces the power of the Secretary of Commerce to require specific authorizations for certain activities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this better protect the country from computer attacks? — Streamlining cable maintenance and repair can enhance the resilience of critical communications infrastructure.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Improves interagency cooperation in the management of marine sanctuary activities. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Removing the requirement for separate sanctuary-specific authorizations may slightly reduce environmental oversight levels.
- Education And Technology
- Does this get reliable internet to more people? — Facilitating the installation and repair of undersea cables supports the stability and expansion of global internet connectivity. Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill reduces regulatory requirements for entities installing and operating fiber optic cables.
- 10/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri