S-2873 : Still Just a Bill

S. 2873, also known as the "Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025," proposes to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. The primary purpose of this bill is to:

• Prohibit the Secretary of Commerce (through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) from requiring additional authorization for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary.
• This prohibition applies if such activities have already received a license, lease, or permit from another Federal or State agency.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that the Secretary may still direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to engage in interagency cooperation for any Federal agency actions involving these undersea fiber optic cable activities within a national marine sanctuary.