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Easier Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Installation in Protected Areas

New rules simplify the installation and maintenance of undersea fiber optic cables in national marine sanctuaries. If a cable already has approval from a federal or state agency, it won't need additional permits from the Secretary of Commerce. This aims to streamline internet infrastructure development, potentially leading to better access to high-speed internet for citizens.
Key points
Undersea fiber optic cables will not require additional permits in marine sanctuaries if already authorized by another agency.
The change aims to accelerate internet infrastructure development, potentially improving internet quality and accessibility.
Interagency cooperation requirements for environmental matters remain in place.
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VOTING RESULTS
2026-02-11
51%
For 218
Against 212
Abstain 0
Full voting results open_in_new
Status: Passed House
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Additional Information
Print number: 119_HR_261
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Process start date: 2025-01-09
Voting date: 2026-02-11
Voting no: 67
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure — full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source—always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 119_HR_261.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2025-01-09.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Undersea fiber optic cables will not require additional permits in marine sanctuaries if already authorized by another agency.
  • The change aims to accelerate internet infrastructure development, potentially improving internet quality and accessibility.
  • Interagency cooperation requirements for environmental matters remain in place.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Passed House.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Where is the official voting record?

The official roll call vote is recorded at: voting record

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-22.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know—that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Environment Informatization