Rep. Laurel Lee Introduces Bill to Protect American Broadband Consumers

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act. This bill will impose penalties for those who damage or steal broadband lines.

"American consumers use broadband for a wide range of uses and expect to have uninterrupted service. Broadband providers, in collaboration with government agencies, work tirelessly to defend against a constant barrage of external threats. However, when it comes to the intentional theft or damage of communications facilities, weak and ineffective laws often allow perpetrators to escape justice," said Rep. Laurel Lee. "To safeguard critical infrastructure and protect consumers, we need stronger, clearer laws and enhanced enforcement, ensuring that those who maliciously harm our networks face severe criminal penalties. That is why I introduced the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act to impose strict penalties on those who seek to damage or steal broadband lines."

"I am proud to introduce this bill to address the growing problem of broadband cable theft, which disrupts essential services for communities and businesses across the country. This legislation ensures stronger protections for vital infrastructure and enhances access to reliable internet for all Americans," said Rep. Veasy.

"We applaud Reps. Lee and Veasey for introducing the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act, which addresses the growing threat of vandalism to critical communications infrastructure. These networks are essential to public safety, national security, and daily life, yet increasing copper theft and sabotage are disrupting emergency services, damaging key sectors, and resulting in consumers losing service. By strengthening our federal laws to meet this growing threat, we can leverage stronger deterrents and harsher penalties to better protect the networks that keep Americans connected and safe," said NCTA - The Internet & Television Association.

Read the bill text here.

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