Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025
Summary
HB2784, titled the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act of 2025, would amend federal criminal law in 18 U.S.C. § 1362 to expressly cover the destruction of broadband internet access service. The bill expands the statute’s definition of protected “means of communication” to include facilities used to provide broadband service and adds a specific definition of broadband internet access service, modeled on the FCC’s understanding of mass-market retail internet access. It also removes language that limited the statute to communications used for military or civil defense functions and broadens the provision to apply to property or systems operated or controlled by the United States or by any other person or entity.
In practical terms, the bill would make it a federal offense to destroy or damage broadband infrastructure or service in the same general criminal framework that already protects certain communications systems. It would likely strengthen federal protection for internet networks, including wired and wireless broadband facilities, and could affect private providers, infrastructure operators, and anyone who intentionally damages broadband-related communications systems. The bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and has no recorded votes or committee transcript in the provided materials.
Impact
The bill would amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code, specifically section 1362, by expanding the scope of protected communications infrastructure to include broadband internet access service and by broadening the statute beyond systems tied only to military or civil defense functions. This would create clearer federal criminal coverage for destruction of broadband facilities and could support prosecution of vandalism, sabotage, or theft affecting internet infrastructure. It would affect broadband providers, network operators, and potentially other entities that own or control communications facilities.
Sentiment
Based on the available record, the bill appears to have a protective, public-safety-oriented purpose with no documented opposition in committee discussion or votes. The introduction by bipartisan sponsors suggests a generally constructive or supportive posture toward safeguarding broadband infrastructure. Because there are no transcripts or recorded votes provided, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as neutral-to-supportive, with no formal evidence of controversy in the materials supplied.
Contention
The main policy issue is the breadth of the federal criminal prohibition. Supporters are likely to favor explicit protection for broadband infrastructure because of its importance to modern communications and economic activity. Potential concerns could come from those wary of expanding federal criminal law or from parties interested in how broadly “broadband internet access service” and “facilities” are defined, especially where private networks or nontraditional providers are involved. No specific objections are documented in the provided committee materials.