This bill strengthens federal penalties for damaging critical telecommunications infrastructure by expanding the law to specifically criminalize the destruction, theft, or damage of copper, fiber optic, and coaxial cables used for telecommunications and information services. The legislation applies to anyone who willfully or maliciously injures, destroys, or steals these cables, or attempts to do so, if the cables are used in or affect interstate or foreign commerce. Violators can be fined and imprisoned for up to ten years. The bill exempts customer-owned equipment on residential or business properties from these provisions, so homeowners and renters are not affected when working with their own equipment. The legislation was introduced in September 2026 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but does not specify any funding or implementation timeline.