Video & Transcript : 'undersea fiber optic cables' :
Page 1 of 81
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, February 10, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And maybe undersea fiber optic cables are a big deal in his district.
- And maybe undersea fiber optic cables are a big deal in his district.
- And maybe undersea fiber optic cables are a big deal in his district.
- And maybe undersea fiber optic cables are a big deal in his district.
- And maybe undersea fiber optic cables are a big deal in his district.
Keywords:
joint session, Congress, communication, President, HCR74, national emergency, government authority, Executive Order, legislative action, rule, special rule, House resolution, floor procedure, procedural resolution, firearms, gun laws, less-than-lethal weapons, weapons technology, National Marine Sanctuaries Act, undersea fiber optic cables
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband Apr 16th, 2025
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Transcript Highlights:
- The chair lays out House Bill 4055 by Chair Metcalf, relating to accepting certain fiber optic cable
- You'll actually see it on your bill if you look at your cable.
- So that's $261,000, about $262,000 to lay fiber.
- I need to lay fiber optics or do something else to the roadbed.
- I contend that cable companies don't pay the 5%.
Committee:
House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Keywords:
telecommunications, local exchange companies, universal service fund, rate maintenance, business expansion, broadband access, internet service, multiunit residential properties, urban areas, affordability programs, fiber-optic cables, public land, construction permits, environmental impact, notification requirements, municipal projects, infrastructure, facility relocation, public right-of-way
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband May 2nd, 2025
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Transcript Highlights:
- cables.
- we've actually conducted previous rounds and open those up for all wire technologies, whether it's fiber-optic
- A cable franchise fee is an annual fee charged by local governments to a private cable television company
- on... ...on your cable television revenues.
- sign up for cable service.
Committee:
House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Keywords:
broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband May 2nd, 2025
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 924 relates to the entities that provide cable services.
- The first is this bill would prohibit us from collecting franchise fees related to cable service.
- The legislation would allow existing cable providers to reposition their cable services.
- If we just lose the cable franchise— Fee as a result of that bill.
- Todd Baxter representing the Texas Cable Association.
Committee:
House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Keywords:
broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/29/2026 - House Rural Economic Development
Rural Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- State Treasurer for distribution to the city of Apache Junction for the expansion of broadband and fiber
- optic networks.
Committees:
House Rural Economic Development , House House Rural Economic Development Committee of Reference
Keywords:
appropriation, housing, Apache Junction, affordable housing, rehabilitation, blight abatement, broadband, fiber optic, technology, connectivity, infrastructure, rural development, workforce hub, health services, transportation tax, county excise tax, regional transportation authority, public transportation authority fund, regional transportation fund, ADOT
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, September 2, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Over 99% of the world's data that crosses the oceans travels through the fiber optic cables that sit
- Ninety-nine percent of intercontinental data travels via undersea fiber optic cables on the ocean floor
- fiber optic cables on the ocean undersea fiber optic cables on the ocean floor.<04:52:36.638><c> It<
- Undersea cable every year.
- </c><04:56:09.200><c> cable</c> with critical undersea cable with critical undersea cable infrastructure
Keywords:
LaMonica McIver, censure, House of Representatives discipline, Homeland Security Committee, removal from committee, Newark, Delaney Hall, immigration detention facility, federal officers, assault on federal officer, resisting arrest, interfering with federal officers, ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, HSI, congressional ethics, House resolution, disciplinary resolution, 18 U.S.C. 111, immigration enforcement
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- So we believe anytime someone attacks fiber, copper, they really don't know the difference sometimes.
- , we don't buy fiber.
- , we don't buy fiber.
- If they're successful, we dry up demand, we take care of the copper wire theft, and we won't have fiber
- optic thefts because they won't be out there cutting the cable.
Committee:
Senate Law & Justice
Keywords:
tort claims, state liability, Washington law, government accountability, legal process, parole, criminal justice reform, felony, recidivism, rehabilitation, public safety, personality rights, right of publicity, publicity rights, name image likeness, NIL, deepfake, AI-generated content, digital impersonation, forged digital likeness
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Keywords:
military, abortion, reproductive health, leave policies, armed forces, healthcare access, fertility care, Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act, servicemembers, military leave, reproductive rights, assisted reproductive technology, in vitro fertilization, IVF, intrauterine insemination, egg retrieval, cryopreservation, travel reimbursement, lodging reimbursement, meal reimbursement
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Ways and Means Education
Transcript Highlights:
- It is going to be, um, commercial what we're using to put in fiber networks in the state through the
- It is going to be, um, commercial what we're using to put in fiber networks in the state through the
- > to</c><00:38:30.880><c> put</c><00:38:31.119><c> in</c><00:38:31.599><c> uh</c><00:38:31.839><c> fiber
- </c><00:38:32.480><c> networks</c> we're using to put in uh fiber networks we're using to put in uh fiber
Committee:
House Ways and Means Education
Keywords:
HB187, court fees, docket fee, sheriff's fund, sheriff's office, jail operations, law enforcement, county sheriff, court filing fees, Alabama Code 12-19-312, solicitor's fund, clerk's fund, forensic services trust fund, budget flexibility, public safety, municipal court, district court, circuit court, cosmetology, makeup application
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- So the largest grant recipient for Gumbo 2.0 is a company called Swift Fiber.
- in most subdivisions there is a utility servitude in the front yard or backyard, and that is where cable
- copper and brass theft, especially theft affecting utilities, telecommunications providers, pipelines, cable
- It's so serious that when I was in business, we would install fiber, and we would write on the spool,
Bills:
HB1163 , HB1168 , HR252 , HR253 , HCR103 , HCR108 , SB80 , SB131 , SB251 , SB254 , SB279 , SB384 , SB414 , SB468 , SB469 , SB496
Keywords:
fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction
WA
Bills:
SB5906 , SJM8014 , SB6087 , SB5520 , SB6017 , SB5890 , SB6239 , SB5886 , SB6190 , SGA9255 , SGA9256 , SGA9271 , SGA9272
Committee:
Senate Law & Justice
Keywords:
data protection, personal safety, public accommodation, Washington residents, privacy, crime investigation, violent death, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, state inquiry, public safety, children's items, donations, charitable donations, nonprofit, religious organization, public health agency, liability shield, gross negligence, intentional misconduct, car seats
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider the nominations of Elise Stefanik, of New York, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador, and the Representative of the United States of Americ Jan 30th, 2025 at 09:25 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Mattis, if I could, for you, I want to talk about undersea cables and the threats and sabotage happening
- cable was reported.
- Taiwan alleges that the Chinese vessel cut the fiber-optic cable by dragging its anchor. across the seabed
- cable disruptions.
- cable industry: who repairs, who maintains, who can lay this cable, and what is the structure of their
Committee:
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, June 23, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><02:32:59.680><c> optic</c><02:33:00.080><c> cable</c><02:33:00.800><c> connecting</c> submarine
- fiber optic cable connecting submarine fiber optic cable connecting the<02:33:01.439><c> contiguous</
- optic cable connecting the United States, the U.S.
- optic cable that’s been discussed today.
- Hundreds of undersea fiber optic cables connect North America to Europe, South America, and Asia.
Bills:
HB3422 , HB3394 , HB1998 , HB2808 , HR1190 , HB3381 , HB3301 , HB2225 , HB3352 , HB1713 , HR910 , HR1082 , HB1520 , HB1664 , HB1767 , HB2269 , HB1679 , HB2481 , HB1737 , HR260
Keywords:
small business, capital formation, securities exchange act, SEC, Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, underrepresented entrepreneurs, rural businesses, natural disasters, hurricanes, small business investors, capital raising, fundraising, crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital, state securities commissions, blue sky laws, business outreach
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the Arctic and Greenland's geostrategic importance to U.S. interests. Feb 12th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- They want to be able... to tap into and sabotage undersea cables and they want to move their stealth
- This includes new ports, fiber optic cable, radar and power plants.
- climate in Greenland would make data centers an obvious choice, although this would require a fast fiber
- And if you do the C cable, it seems to me like this is getting a stronger NATO relationship, getting
- know, I think we are looking at a set of challenges in the GIUK gap related to Russian activity, undersea
Keywords:
Greenland, acquisition, national security, Arctic, geopolitical, China, Russia, icebreakers, trade routes
Summary:
The meeting convened by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation focused on the potential acquisition of Greenland by the United States. This issue, first raised by President Trump in 2019, has gained renewed significance amidst shifting global dynamics and the strategic importance of Greenland in relation to transatlantic trade routes and national security. The members discussed the geopolitical implications of Greenland's position, especially given the increasing influence of China and Russia in the Arctic region. Notably, the urgency to address military presence and icebreaker capabilities in the Arctic was a major point of contention, with a call for a new fleet to counter foreign dominance in the area.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee Aug 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- optic undersea cable company that was laying cable in the state of Alaska and then was connecting that
- cable undersea in the North Slope to the European theater.
- optic network, which would obviously...
- North American defense assets into that fiber optic network, which would obviously not be a good thing
- So there is a government forum that looks at undersea cable vulnerabilities that basically was the same
Summary:
The committee met at Minot State to continue its study of artificial intelligence, with a focus on child safety, sexual exploitation, chatbot risks, and education policy. Members first approved the minutes and then received a Legislative Council overview of AI-related harms to children, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, extortion, and chatbot companion risks. The memo reviewed North Dakota and federal law, recent state enactments, First Amendment limits, and examples from other states, including Connecticut’s AI companion safeguards and federal efforts such as the Take It Down Act. Members discussed whether North Dakota’s existing 2025 laws on minors and harmful material are strong enough in light of recent court decisions, and Legislative Council indicated it would provide additional comparison material before the next meeting.
Superintendent Levi Bachmeier then presented on AI in education, arguing that schools need guardrails but should not ban AI outright. He said AI should be treated as a tool that can support instruction, teacher efficiency, and digital literacy, while warning against passive use, academic integrity problems, and overreliance on machines. He suggested embedding AI and digital literacy across subjects rather than creating a standalone class, and said schools should provide basic instruction when students receive one-to-one devices. Members asked about parent concerns, local control, higher education partnerships, and how to balance access with safety; Bachmeier emphasized a “threading the needle” approach and said the department would likely seek more guidance on digital literacy and cybersecurity.
Special Agent Hellseth of BCI followed with testimony on AI and child exploitation. He said AI is already being used in North Dakota to create explicit images from innocent photos, impersonate children and adults, and facilitate grooming, harassment, and extortion. He described several cases involving AI-generated sexual images and said victims often suffer lasting trauma even when the images are fake. Hellseth explained that investigators use AI tools themselves to process large volumes of data and identify synthetic images, but that the workload is growing and victim services need expansion. He urged stronger accountability for companies, more resources for law enforcement and victim support, and continued training and public education. Members asked about cyber tip volume, staffing, false accusations, and corporate reporting obligations; Hellseth said every tip is reviewed, the unit is small but expanding, and current federal reporting laws are not proactive enough. Representative Porter suggested combining the Legislative Council memo and Bachmeier’s recommendations into a comprehensive bill draft for the next meeting.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee Aug 13th, 2026 at 09:30 am
Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- optic undersea cable company that was laying cable in the state of Alaska and then was connecting that
- cable undersea in the North Slope to the European Theater.
- optic network, which would obviously...
- North American defense assets into that fiber optic network, which would obviously not be a good thing
- So there is a government forum that looks at undersea cable vulnerabilities that basically was the same
OR
Oregon 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee On Information Management and Technology 06/17/2026 8:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- But I meant it's like fiber optic connections. Yeah, that's fine. Connections.
- Oh, you mean data connections, like fiber optic data connections?
- Yeah, like apparently underwater sea cables that go from Hillsboro to Asia, apparently.
- exists under the PIDIC building in Portland, that has really strong interconnectivity, including undersea
- cables to Asia, which are the primary sort of connection source for not just Oregon, but the West Coast
Summary:
The committee held a series of informational briefings on information management and technology issues. It first heard from ACLU representatives on data privacy, who argued that Oregon should strengthen protections against private data brokers, government purchases of personal data, reverse warrants, automatic license plate readers, and local police surveillance. They urged data minimization, limits on data sales and retention, and broader transparency and accountability measures. Members asked about practical uses of license plate readers, state sales of data, and how Oregon’s approach compares with other states; the presenters said similar proposals have been adopted elsewhere, including data minimization in Maryland and a state version of the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act in Montana.
The committee then received a detailed update from the Department of Administrative Services and Enterprise Information Services on licensing system modernization for 14 boards and commissions with the most immediate need. DAS said it is seeking a shared procurement approach through an RFP that would create either one scalable system or two tiers of systems, depending on agency needs and security requirements, with contracts expected by September. Committee members emphasized the need for a more unified, user-friendly statewide login and service experience for businesses and residents, and raised concerns about small agencies “figuring it out on their own” without sufficient cybersecurity or technical expertise. EIS said it is overseeing the investment review, security and architecture review, and future implementation planning, and noted that multiple agency requests may still come back to the legislature in the next session.
The committee also discussed a revised cybersecurity incident notification concept. Staff explained that the earlier bill had raised stakeholder concerns, so the co-chairs directed further interim work with the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council and other local government and K-12 stakeholders. The goal is a narrower, voluntary “911-style” notification process that would let public bodies alert peers and potentially receive assistance after cyber incidents; a temporary voluntary process is being tested now, with a work group developing language for possible 2027 consideration.
Finally, the committee heard updates from the new state chief data officer on data governance, data sharing, geospatial work, and the state transparency website, followed by a briefing on data centers from NCSL and the Technology Association of Oregon. The data officer described efforts to expand data inventories, data governance plans, data literacy, and interagency sharing, along with statewide aerial imagery, geospatial standards, and the open data portal. The data center discussion focused on national and state trends, including rapid growth in data centers, rising electricity and water demand, and legislative responses such as new rate classes, reporting requirements, and cost-allocation rules to protect ratepayers. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Criminals vandalizing fiber optic cables also negatively affect communities.
- Because fiber optic and copper cables often run parallel to one another, criminals will cut fiber optic
- That's what we're talking about: the optic cable.
- Optics and fiber optics contain no copper.
- TNT is moving more towards fiber optic and away from copper.
Bills:
SB552 , SB1099 , SB1124 , SB1208 , SB1372 , SB1506 , SB1667 , SB1804 , SB1806 , SB1870 , SB1936 , SB1937 , SB2180 , SB2405 , SB2569 , SB2570 , SB1646
Committee:
Senate Criminal Justice
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- And I don't think it's the fiber optics.
- , bundles of fiber wire, bundles, what happens to the, you know, of cables, bundles of fiber wire, bundles
- What happens when someone drives up and offers material for sale and there might be some fiber optic
- Well, first of all, we wouldn't take fiber optic. It's glass. I mean, it doesn't do us any good.
- Well, first of all, we wouldn't take fiber optic. It's glass. I mean, it doesn't do us any good.
Committee:
House Utilities
Summary:
The Committee on Utilities first took up House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2762, 2816, and 2402, a solar-energy measure. The committee substitute combined the bills’ titles and focused on three main areas: a taxation framework for solar projects, setback requirements from occupied dwellings and property lines, and a decommissioning/bonding framework for project cleanup. Supporters said the bill would create baseline rules for a growing industry, protect neighboring landowners, and ensure land is restored after projects end. Members asked about Chapter 100 agreements, the setback distances, county rulemaking authority, and how reclamation and bonding would work. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a new substitute, and then voted the substitute do pass by 18 ayes and 2 noes.
The committee then heard House Bill 2248, which would change Missouri’s economic development electric rate structure and close a loophole that could allow data centers under 75 megawatts to receive reduced rates. The sponsor and utility witnesses said the bill would make incentives more predictable by replacing a variable formula with a fixed discount for qualifying new industrial projects, while still requiring customers to pay full cost to serve and meet load-factor and other requirements. Witnesses from Evergy, Ameren Missouri, the Missouri Chamber, and Ford discussed the value of incentives for manufacturing, the difference between new load and retention of existing large users, and whether the bill should also address retention discounts. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing.
Finally, the committee heard Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 903, which would expand critical infrastructure protections. The bill adds wireline and broadband facilities to the definition of critical infrastructure, increases penalties for damaging or tampering with such facilities, and creates an offense for unauthorized possession of certain stolen materials such as copper and related telecom materials. The sponsor and witnesses from AT&T, Verizon, cable, railroad, electric cooperative, recycling, municipal utility, and chamber groups said the measure responds to rising theft and vandalism, including copper theft and fiber cuts that disrupt 911 and other services. Members asked about scrap dealers, fiber versus copper, trespassing concerns, and whether harsher penalties would deter theft. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned after testimony.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- And I don’t think it’s the fiber optics.
- And I don’t think it’s the fiber optics.
- And I don’t think it’s the fiber optics.
- And I don't think it's the fiber optics.
- optic cable or something?
Committee:
House Utilities