HR 2784 United States House · 119th Congress

Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025

This bill amends federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1362) to explicitly include broadband internet access service infrastructure under protections against destruction. It directly affects entities that operate or damage broadband facilities, such as internet service providers, infrastructure owners, and individuals who might intentionally destroy such infrastructure. Key changes expand the definition of protected "means of communication" to specifically cover broadband facilities and broaden liability to include "any other person or entity" beyond government-controlled systems. The amendment removes the prior exemption for infrastructure used in "military or civil defense functions," ensuring all broadband infrastructure receives equal legal protection. This strengthens existing penalties for damaging broadband networks but does not create new regulatory requirements for service providers.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 9, 2025 Last action Apr 9, 2025