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The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 would change how the federal government regulates undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries. Currently, the Department of Commerce can require permits and authorizations for cable installation, maintenance, repair, and other related activities in these protected ocean areas. This bill would prevent Commerce from enforcing those permit requirements if a state or federal agency has already issued a license, lease, or permit for the same activity.
The bill covers a range of cable-related activities including installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, and recovery of undersea fiber optic cables within national marine sanctuaries. By streamlining the permitting process, the legislation aims to reduce regulatory overlap and potentially speed up cable projects that are already authorized by other agencies.
The bill would also authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which operates under Commerce, to coordinate with other federal agencies when cable activities might harm marine sanctuary resources. This coordination provision attempts to balance the goal of reducing permit requirements with environmental protection.
The bill passed the House and is currently in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. If enacted, it would affect how undersea cable projects—which carry internet and telecommunications data—are approved and managed in sensitive marine environments.
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Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 12, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Feb 12, 2026
Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 18, 2025
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.
Considered as privileged matter. (consideration: CR H2107-2115; text: CR H2107-2108)
Feb 10, 2026
Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 1383) to establish the Veterans Advisory Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2189) to modernize Federal firearms laws to account for advancements in technology and less-than-lethal weapons, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 261) to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3617) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to secure the supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, and for other purposes; and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules.
The House Committee on Rules reported an original measure, H. Rept. 119-493, by Mr. Roy.
Feb 11, 2026