,i  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cdgi  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #ai1 #bjbe,mr4   
,yakym introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,en]gy &      
,comm]ce1 & 9 addition to ! ,committees 
on ,transportation & ,infra/ructure1    
,natural ,res\rces1 & ,=eign ,affairs1 =
 a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! 
,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*
 provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( !
 committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
improve ! lic5s+ & security ( subm>9e & 
cross-bord] t]re/rial telecommunications
 cables1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title2 table ( cont5ts  7a7 ,%ort title 
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,safegu>d+    
,ess5tial ,cables ?r\gh ,und]sea ,risk  
,elim9ation ,am]ican ,telecommunications
 ,act or ! ,,secure ,am]ican            
,telecommunications ,act4  7b7 ,table ( 
cont5ts ,! table ( cont5ts = ?is ,act is
 z foll[s3  ,sec4 #a4 ,%ort title2 table
 ( cont5ts4 ,sec4 #b4 ,subm>9e cable    
lic5s+4 ,sec4 #c4 ,cross-bord] t]re/rial

 telecommunications cable lic5s+4 ,sec4 
#d4 ,p]mit process & exemption f c]ta9  
requirem5ts4 ,sec4 #e4 ,repair reports4 
,sec4 #f4 ,protection zone /udy4 ,sec4  
#g4 ,incid5ts report4 ,sec4 #h4         
,int]national security agreem5t4 ,sec4  
#i4 ,p5alties = injury to subm>9e       
cables4 ,sec4 #aj4 ,int]national ,cable 
,protection ,committee memb]%ip4 ,sec4  
#aa4 ,def9itions4  #b4 ,subm>9e cable   
lic5s+ ,! ,act ( ,may #bg1 #aiba 7,*apt]
 #ab2 #db ,/at4 #h2 #dg ,u4,s4,c4 #cd et
 seq471 is am5d$--  7#a7 9 ! fir/       
section-- 7,a7 by /rik+ ,presid5t ( !   
,unit$ ,/ates & ins]t+ ,f$]al           
,communications ,commission2 &  7,b7 by 
/rik+ ,t any su* cable n[ laid )9 !     
,unit$ ,/ates )\t a lic5se grant$ by !  
,presid5t may cont9ue to op]ate )\t su* 
lic5se = a p]iod ( n9ety days f ! date  
?is ,act takes effect3 ,& provid$       
fur!r12  7#b7 9 section #b--  7,a7 by   
/rik+ ,presid5t may )hold or revoke su* 
lic5se :5 he %all be & ins]t+ ,f$]al    
,communications ,commission may )hold & 

! ,f$]al ,communications ,commission or 
! ,presid5t may revoke su* lic5se :52 & 
7,b7 by /rik+ or may & ins]t+ & !       
,commission may2  7#c7 9 section #c1 by 
/rik+ ,presid5t & ins]t+ ,f$]al         
,communications ,commission2 &  7#d7 by 
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #g4  7a7 ,no   
lic5se may be issu$ "u ?is ,act = a     
subm>9e cable directly connect+ ! ,unit$
 ,/ates )-- 7#a7 an area controll$ 7z   
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate7 by a    
=eign adv]s>y ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 or     
7#b7 a facility t conta9s any           
communications equipm5t1 or uses any    
s]vice1 t is on ! li/ publi%$ by !      
,f$]al ,communications ,commission "u   
section #b7;a7 ( ! ,secure & ,tru/$     
,communications ,networks ,act ( #bjai  
7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #afja7;a774  7b7 ,9 ?is  
section1 ! t]m =eign adv]s>y ( ! ,unit$ 
,/ates means a =eign gov]nm5t or =eign  
non-gov]nm5t p]son specifi$ 9 section   
#gia4d7;a7 ( title #ae1 ,code ( ,f$]al  
,regulations 7or any successor          
regulation74  #h4  7a7 ,a lic5se = a    

subm>9e cable "u ?is ,act %all be issu$ 
to an individual or entity subject to ! 
foll[+ conditions3 7#a7 ,9 ! ev5t ( an  
incid5t t creates or is ! consequ5ce ( a
 cyb]security risk 7z def9$ 9 section   
#aa ( ! ,safegu>d+ ,ess5tial ,cables    
?r\gh ,und]sea ,risk ,elim9ation        
,am]ican ,telecommunications ,act7      
involv+ su* subm>9e cable1 su*          
individual or entity %all submit to !   
,f$]al ,communications ,commission & !  
,cyb]security & ,infra/ructure ,security
 ,ag5cy a report on ! nature ( su*      
incid5t n lat] ?an #bd h\rs aft] ! date 
on :i* su* individual or entity le>ns ( 
su* incid5t4  7#b7 ,su* individual or   
entity %all foll[ ! m9imum physical     
security & cyb]security /&>ds e/abli%$  
"u subsection 7b74  7b7 ,n lat] ?an #ahj
 days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is    
section1 ! ,f$]al ,communications       
,commission %all promulgate regulations 
e/abli%+ m9imum /&>ds = ! physical      
security & cyb]security ( subm>9e cables
 & ! l&+ /ations ( su* cables1 includ+ a

 /&>d = ! m9imum di/ance betwe5 subm>9e 
cables on ! seab$4  7c7 ,n less         
frequ5tly ?an e #b ye>s1 ! ,f$]al       
,communications ,commission %all review 
! regulations promulgat$ "u subsection  
7b7 & update su* regulations if         
necess>y4  7d7 ,^u receipt ( a report "u
 subsection 7a77#a71 ! ,f$]al           
,communications ,commission %all provide
 notice ( su* report to relevant        
entities1 includ+ cable op]ators & data 
c5t]s1 z ! ,f$]al ,communications       
,commission det]m9es appropriate4  7e7  
,9 promulgat+ & review+ ! regulations   
promulgat$ "u subsections 7b7 & 7c71 !  
,f$]al ,communications ,commission %all 
consult )-- 7#a7 ! ,attorney ,g5]al2    
7#b7 ! ,director ( ,national            
,intellig5ce2  7#c7 ! ,secret>y (       
,def5se2  7#d7 ! ,secret>y ( ,homel&    
,security2 &  7#e7 any o!r ,f$]al entity
 t ! ,commission det]m9es appropriate4  
#i4  7a7 ,! ,f$]al ,communications      
,commission %all make a f9al det]m9ation
 ) respect to ! issuance ( a lic5se "u  

?is ,act n lat] ?an ! date t is #edj    
days aft] ! date on :i* an application =
 su* lic5se1 fil$ 9 accordance ) all    
applicable regulations1 is receiv$ by ! 
,f$]al ,communications ,commission4  7b7
 ,if ! ,f$]al ,communications           
,commission does n make a f9al          
det]m9ation ) respect to ! issuance ( a 
lic5se "u ?is ,act )9 ! p]iod requir$ by
 subsection 7a71 su* lic5se %all be     
deem$ grant$ on ! day aft] ! la/ day (  
su* p]iod4  4  #c4 ,cross-bord]         
t]re/rial telecommunications cable      
lic5s+  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,no p]son may      
con/ruct1 connect1 op]ate1 or ma9ta9 9 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates a t]re/rial              
telecommunications cable directly       
connect+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates ) a =eign      
c\ntry unless a writt5 lic5se to        
con/ruct1 connect1 op]ate1 or ma9ta9 su*
 cable has be5 issu$ by ! ,commission4  
7b7 ,requirem5ts ,a t]re/rial           
telecommunications cable = :i* a lic5se 
is requir$ "u subsection 7a7 %all be    
subject to ! same requirem5ts "u ! ,act 

( ,may #bg1 #aiba1 z am5d$ by ?is ,act1 
z a subm>9e cable = :i* a subm>9e cable 
lic5se is requir$1 to ! maximum ext5t   
practicable 7z det]m9$ by !             
,commission74  7c7 ,relation%ip to c]ta9
 o!r requirem5ts ,executive ,ord] #achfg
 7#hd ,f$4 ,reg4 #aedia2 relat+ to      
issuance ( p]mits ) respect to          
facilities & l& transportation cross+s  
at ! int]national b\nd>ies ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates7 does n apply ) respect to a     
t]re/rial telecommunications cable = :i*
 a lic5se is requir$ "u subsection 7a74 
7d7 ,application process ,n lat] ?an    
#ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act1 ! ,commission %all promulgate    
regulations to e/abli% a s+le           
application =--  7#a7 a lic5se "u       
subsection 7a72 &  7#b7 any o!r ,f$]al  
au?orization requir$ ) respect to a     
t]re/rial telecommunications cable = :i*
 a lic5se is requir$ "u subsection 7a74 
7e7 ,applicability ,subsections 7a71    
7b71 & 7c7 %all apply ) respect to a    
t]re/rial telecommunications cable t is 

con/ruct$ aft] ! date on :i* !          
,commission promulgates regulations "u  
subsection 7d74  #d4 ,p]mit process &   
exemption f c]ta9 requirem5ts  7a7      
,p]mit process  7#a7 ,g5]al p]mit ,n    
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( !    
,army 7act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( ,eng9e]s7   
%all issue a g5]al p]mit on a nationwide
 basis "u section #djd7;e7 ( ! ,f$]al   
,wat] ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc     
,u4,s4,c4 #acdd7;e77 = ! con/ruction1   
repair1 & ma9t5ance ( subm>9e cables &  
l&+ /ations ( su* cables4  7#b7         
,requirem5t ,! g5]al p]mit describ$ 9   
p>agraph 7#a7 %all incorporate ! /&>d = 
! m9imum di/ance betwe5 subm>9e cables  
on ! seab$ promulgat$ "u section #h7;b7 
( ! ,act ( ,may #bg1 #aiba1 z am5d$ by  
?is ,act4  7b7 ,f$]al au?orization      
prohibition ,not)/&+ any o!r provision (
 law1 no ,f$]al au?orization 7o!r ?an a 
subm>9e cable lic5se1 a c]tificate      
requir$ by section #bad ( !             
,communications ,act ( #aicd 7#dg       

,u4,s4,c4 #bad71 or ! g5]al p]mit       
describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a77 may be   
requir$ ) respect to ! con/ruction1     
repair1 or ma9t5ance ( a subm>9e cable  
or a l&+ /ation ( su* a cable1 includ+ )
 respect to a subm>9e cable or a l&+    
/ation ( su* a cable t runs or is       
propos$ to run ?r\gh a national m>9e    
sanctu>y designat$ "u ! ,national ,m>9e 
,sanctu>ies ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adca et
 seq474  7c7 ,,nepa categorical         
exclusion ,! ,commission may n remove ! 
con/ruction ( new subm>9e cable sy/ems f
 actions t are categorically exclud$ f  
environm5tal process+ "u section #a4acjf
 ( title #dg1 ,code ( ,f$]al            
,regulations4  7d7 ,preemption ( ,/ate &
 local au?ority ,no ,/ate or local      
gov]nm5t or in/rum5tality !re( may      
regulate ! placem5t1 con/ruction1       
modification1 or repair ( a subm>9e     
cable ) respect to :i* ! ,commission has
 issu$ a subm>9e cable lic5se1 or a l&+ 
/ation ( su* a cable1 on ! basis ( !    
environm5tal effects ( su* cable or l&+ 

/ation4  #e4 ,repair reports  7a7 ,9    
g5]al ,) respect to any individual or   
entity t repairs damage to a subm>9e    
cable1 a l&+ /ation ( su* a cable1 or a 
t]re/rial telecommunications cable1 su* 
individual or entity %all1 n lat] ?an #g
 days aft] ! date on :i* su* repair is  
comm5c$1 submit to ! ,commission ?r\gh !
 ,network ,outage ,report+ ,sy/em ( !   
,commission a report on ! nature ( su*  
damage 7:i* %all include in=mation kn[n 
) respect to ! cause ( su* damage74  7b7
 ,in=mation %>+ ,n lat] ?an #g days aft]
 ! date on :i* a report requir$ by      
subsection 7a7 is receiv$ by !          
,commission1 ! ,commission %all transmit
 su* report--  7#a7 to ! ,cyb]security &
 ,infra/ructure ,security ,ag5cy2 &     
7#b7 9 ! case ( a report relat+ to a    
subm>9e cable or a l&+ /ation ( su* a   
cable1 to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,navy & !     
,national ,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic        
,adm9i/ration4  7c7 ,=mat ,! report     
requir$ by subsection 7a7 may be        
submitt$ 9 classifi$ =m4  #f4           

,protection zone /udy  7a7 ,/udy ,!     
,commission1 ! ,secret>y ( ! ,army 7act+
 ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( ,eng9e]s71 & !         
,adm9i/rator ( ! ,national ,oceanic &   
,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration %all jo9tly   
conduct a /udy on ! b5efits1 co/s1 &    
feasibility ( ! e/abli%m5t by ! ,unit$  
,/ates ( subm>9e cable protection zones4
  7b7 ,consultation ,9 conduct+ ! /udy  
"u subsection 7a71 ! ,commission1 !     
,secret>y ( ! ,army 7act+ ?r\gh ! ,*ief 
( ,eng9e]s71 & ! ,adm9i/rator ( !       
,national ,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic        
,adm9i/ration %all consult ) ! ,secret>y
 ( ,/ate on in=mation ) respect to      
subm>9e cable protection zones e/abli%$ 
by c\ntries o!r ?an ! ,unit$ ,/ates4    
7c7 ,matt]s = analysis ,! /udy conduct$ 
"u subsection 7a7 %all include an       
analysis (--  7#a7 ! subm>9e environm5t 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7 ! comm]cial    
environm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#c7 !   
regulatory environm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2
 &  7#d7 b5efits1 co/s1 & ob/acles      
associat$ ) ! e/abli%m5t by ! ,unit$    

,/ates ( subm>9e cable protection zones4
  7d7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #edj days aft]
 ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !      
,commission1 ! ,secret>y ( ! ,army 7act+
 ?r\gh ! ,*ief ( ,eng9e]s71 & !         
,adm9i/rator ( ! ,national ,oceanic &   
,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration %all submit to
 ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce ( !  
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,committee  
on ,comm]ce1 ,sci5ce1 & ,transportation 
( ! ,s5ate a report conta9+ ! results ( 
! /udy conduct$ "u subsection 7a74  #g4 
,incid5ts report  7a7 ,report ,n lat]   
?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act1 & annually !reaft]1 !         
,commission %all submit to ! ,p]man5t   
,select ,committee on ,intellig5ce ( !  
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,select     
,committee on ,intellig5ce ( ! ,s5ate a 
report describ+ any incid5t t creates or
 is ! consequ5ce ( a cyb]security risk t
 0 caus$ by a =eign c\ntry or a non-/ate
 actor dur+ ! prec$+ ye> & t t>get$--   
7#a7 a subm>9e cable ) respect to :i* ! 
,commission has issu$ a subm>9e cable   

lic5se2  7#b7 a subm>9e cable ( an ally 
7z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate7 ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates2 or  7#c7 a l&+ /ation ( a
 cable describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#b74
  7b7 ,=m ,! report requir$ by          
subsection 7a7 %all be submitt$ 9       
unclassifi$ =m1 b may conta9 a classifi$
 annex4  #h4 ,int]national security     
agreem5t ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !   
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,/ate %all seek to ent] into
 an agreem5t ) ! cov]$ c\ntries to      
e/abli% a common set ( m9imum security  
/&>ds ) respect to subm>9e cables1 ! l&+
 /ations ( su* cables1 & lic5ses to l& &
 op]ate su* cables4  #i4 ,p5alties =    
injury to subm>9e cables ,! ,act (      
,febru>y #bi1 #ahhh 7,*apt] #ag2 #be    
,/at4 #da2 #dg ,u4,s4,c4 #ba et seq471  
is am5d$--  7#a7 9 ! fir/ section1 by   
/rik+ %all be guilty ( a misdemeanor1 &1
 on conviction !re(1 %all be liable to  
imprisonm5t = a t]m n exce$+ two ye>s1  
or to a f9e n exce$+ five ?\s& doll>s1  
or to bo? f9e & imprisonm5t1 at !       

discretion ( ! c\rt & ins]t+ %all be    
imprison$ = n m ?an #be ye>s or f9$ "u  
title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 or bo?2 
&  7#b7 9 section #b1 by /rik+ %all be  
guilty ( a misdemeanor1 &1 on conviction
 !re(1 %all be liable to imprisonm5t = a
 t]m n exce$+ ?ree mon?s1 or to a f9e n 
exce$+ five hundr$ doll>s1 or to bo? f9e
 & imprisonm5t1 at ! discretion ( ! c\rt
 & ins]t+ %all be imprison$ = n m ?an #a
 ye> or f9$ "u title #ah1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code1 or bo?4  #aj4 ,int]national      
,cable ,protection ,committee memb]%ip  
,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date ( !    
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,commission %all 
take su* actions z are necess>y to      
become a memb] ( ! ,int]national ,cable 
,protection ,committee4  #aa4           
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  7#a7          
,commission ,! t]m ,commission means !  
,f$]al ,communications ,commission4     
7#b7 ,cov]$ c\ntries ,! t]m cov]$       
c\ntries means ! foll[+3  7,a7          
,au/ralia4  7,b7 ,canada4  7,c7 ,new    
,zeal&4  7,d7 ,! ,unit$ ,k+dom4  7#c7   

,cyb]security risk ,! t]m cyb]security  
risk-- 7,a7 means a ?reat to or         
vuln]ability ( in=mation or an in=mation
 sy/em1 includ+ ?r\gh--  7i7 unau?oriz$ 
access to su* in=mation or in=mation    
sy/em2  7ii7 unau?oriz$ use ( su*       
in=mation or in=mation sy/em2  7iii7    
unau?oriz$ disclosure ( su* in=mation or
 in=mation ) respect to su* in=mation   
sy/em2  7iv7 unau?oriz$ degradation (   
su* in=mation or in=mation sy/em2  7v7  
unau?oriz$ disruption ( su* in=mation or
 in=mation sy/em2  7vi7 unau?oriz$      
modification ( su* in=mation or         
in=mation sy/em2  7vii7 unau?oriz$      
de/ruction ( su* in=mation or in=mation 
sy/em2 &  7viii7 an act ( t]rorism2 &   
7,b7 does n include any action t solely 
involves a violation ( a consum] t]m (  
s]vice or a consum] lic5s+ agreem5t4    
7#d7 ,f$]al au?orization ,! t]m ,f$]al  
au?orization--  7,a7 means any          
au?orization requir$ "u ,f$]al law )    
respect to a subm>9e cable or a         
t]re/rial telecommunications cable1     

includ+ any au?orization ) respect to ! 
con/ruction1 repair1 or ma9t5ance ( su* 
a cable or a l&+ /ation ( su* a cable2 &
  7,b7 includes any lic5ses1 p]mits1    
special use au?orizations1              
c]tifications1 op9ions1 or o!r approvals
 z may be requir$ "u ,f$]al law )       
respect to su* a cable or a l&+ /ation (
 su* a cable4  7#e7 ,/ate ,! t]m ,/ate  
has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section #c ( 
! ,communications ,act ( #aicd 7#dg     
,u4,s4,c4 #aec74  7#f7 ,subm>9e cable   
lic5se ,! t]m subm>9e cable lic5se means
 a lic5se to l& or op]ate a subm>9e     
cable requir$ by ! fir/ section ( ! ,act
 ( ,may #bg1 #aiba 7,*apt] #ab2 #db     
,/at4 #h2 #dg ,u4,s4,c4 #cd74  7#g7     
,subm>9e cable protection zone ,! t]m   
subm>9e cable protection zone means a   
m>itime geographic zone 9 :i* m>9e      
activity may be re/rict$ to protect a   
subm>9e cable f accid5tal or int5tional 
damage4  7#h7 ,t]re/rial                
telecommunications cable ,! t]m         
t]re/rial telecommunications cable means

 any t]re/rial cable us$ = a            
telecommunications purpose1 includ+ any 
infra/ructure associat$ ) su* cable4