Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-102
§21 Submarine Cables; Willful Injury To; Punishment
Title 47 › CHAPTER 2 — SUBMARINE CABLES › § 21
Summary
Deliberately damaging, trying to damage, or helping someone else damage an undersea telegraph cable so it interrupts communications is a crime. A person convicted can get up to two years in jail, a fine up to $5,000, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 47, §21
Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any person who shall willfully and wrongfully break or injure, or attempt to break or injure, or who shall in any manner procure, counsel, aid, abet, or be accessory to such breaking or injury, or attempt to break or injure, a submarine cable in such manner as to interrupt or embarrass, in whole or in part, telegraphic communication, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Act Feb. 29, 1888, ch. 17, 25 Stat. 41, which enacted sections 21 to 33 of this title, is popularly known as the “Submarine Cable Act”. International ConventionThe protection of submarine cables was made the subject of an international convention between the United States and Germany, Argentine Confederation, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Spain, United States of Columbia, France, Great Britain, Guatemala, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Salvador, Servia, Sweden and Norway, Uruguay, and the British Colonies. It was concluded Mar. 14, 1884, ratified Jan. 26, 1885, ratifications exchanged Apr. 16, 1885, proclaimed
May 22, 1885, and entered into force for the United States
May 1, 1888. Its provisions were set forth in 24 Stat. 989 to 1000.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
47 U.S.C. § 21
Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102