Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025

This bill proposes to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to streamline the regulatory process for undersea fiber optic cables. Its primary purpose is to prohibit the Secretary of Commerce from requiring additional authorization for activities related to undersea fiber optic cables within national marine sanctuaries. This prohibition applies specifically when a Federal or State agency has already issued a license, lease, or permit for the installation, continued presence, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of these cables. The legislation aims to eliminate redundant permitting processes for critical infrastructure projects that have already received approval from other governmental bodies. It also includes a provision allowing the Secretary to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to engage in interagency cooperation concerning these cable activities.