Congress criminalizes broadband sabotage, treating internet as critical infrastructure.
H.R. 2784 — Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025 · Filed by Laurel Lee (R-FL) · 26 cosponsors · Introduced Apr 9, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill amends federal criminal law to make it illegal to destroy or damage broadband internet infrastructure. It expands an existing statute that criminalizes destruction of communications facilities to explicitly include broadband networks and adds a definition of broadband service that covers mass-market retail internet access by wire or radio, as well as any service the FCC determines is functionally equivalent.
Why we flagged it
The bill straightforwardly extends criminal penalties for destruction of communications infrastructure to explicitly cover broadband networks, treating internet access as critical infrastructure worthy of the same legal protection as telephone lines and power grids.
What the text implies
- Broadband providers may face increased liability exposure if their infrastructure is damaged by third parties, potentially shifting security costs to carriers.
- The FCC's authority to determine 'functional equivalents' of broadband service creates regulatory flexibility but also potential for scope creep in what counts as protected infrastructure.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
broadband service providers; telecommunications infrastructure companies