A bill to amend the National Marine Sanctuary Act to prohibit requiring an authorization for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, or recovery of undersea fiber optic cables in a national marine sanctuary if such activities have previously been authorized by a Federal or State agency.

This bill (S 5359) prevents the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from requiring additional permits for undersea fiber optic cable activities in national marine sanctuaries if those activities are already authorized by a federal or state agency. It directly affects companies installing, operating, or maintaining undersea fiber optic cables. The key provision eliminates redundant permitting by ensuring that existing federal or state licenses, leases, or permits for cable work satisfy sanctuary requirements, streamlining the process without creating new restrictions.