Federal Law Cracks Down on Broadband Sabotage: Damaging Internet Lines Is Now a Federal Crime

The “Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025” is straightforward: it makes it a federal crime to destroy facilities used to provide broadband internet access. Think of it as upgrading the legal protection for the wires and towers that keep your Netflix streaming and your Zoom calls connected. This change modernizes federal law (specifically Section 1362 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code) to explicitly include broadband infrastructure among protected means of communication.

The Internet’s New Security Detail

Before this Act, federal law protecting communication infrastructure was a little dusty, mostly focused on military or civil defense equipment. This bill cleans that up, removing the old restriction that limited protection only to facilities "used or intended to be used for the military or civil defense functions of the United States." Now, whether it's a fiber optic cable running down your street or a remote tower managed by a private ISP, damaging it could land you in federal trouble. The protection applies universally, covering services operated or controlled by anyone, not just the government. For the average person, this is a good thing: it means the government is taking the reliability of your internet connection seriously, aiming to deter the kind of intentional vandalism or sabotage that can knock out service for entire neighborhoods or businesses.

Defining the Digital Lifeline

To make sure there’s no confusion about what’s being protected, the bill includes a specific definition for “broadband internet access service.” Essentially, it covers the retail service you buy—the one that lets you send and receive data to pretty much any internet location, whether that’s over wires or radio. Importantly, it specifically excludes old-school dial-up internet access. This clarity is crucial for enforcement, making sure that federal penalties are applied exactly where they matter: protecting the high-speed infrastructure that powers the modern economy. The bill also gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the authority to include other services that function the same way, ensuring the law stays current as technology changes.

Real-World Impact: Keeping the Lights On

If you run a small business that relies entirely on cloud services, or if you’re a remote employee whose livelihood depends on a stable connection, this legislation provides a necessary layer of security. Imagine a scenario where a disgruntled former employee or a vandal intentionally cuts a major fiber line, taking out service for thousands of people. Under the current, older law, the legal response might be limited to state-level property damage charges. This Act elevates that crime to a federal offense. This increased deterrence and the threat of federal prosecution should help safeguard the physical infrastructure that underpins everything from online banking to emergency services. By explicitly protecting the physical assets of broadband providers, the bill aims to improve the overall resilience and reliability of the internet access we all depend on every single day.