Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to expand criminal protections against the damage or theft of telecommunications equipment to now include broadband and cable services. It seeks to deter unauthorized interference with these critical infrastructure components, ensuring their security and functionality.

Main Provisions

• Criminalization Expansion: The bill extends the definition of crimes related to the intentional damage or theft of equipment used in telecommunications to also cover equipment used in broadband and cable services.
• Equipment Covered: This includes all machinery, equipment, and fixtures involved in the processing, transmitting, and transportation of not only traditional telecommunications services but also broadband and cable services. Such equipment encompasses computers, transformers, amplifiers, routers, repeaters, multiplexers, as well as wire, cable, fiber, poles, and conduits.
• Inclusivity of Transmission Media: The amendment includes equipment used in the transportation of services via radio transmitters and receivers, satellite equipment, microwave equipment, and other comparable media.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This amendment alters the existing legal framework by adding broadband and cable services to the list of protected equipment against intentional damage or theft. Previously, the law primarily focused on telecommunications related to transmitting electricity, gas, and traditional telecommunication lines.

Relevant Terms

telecommunications equipment, broadband services, cable services, machinery, equipment, fixtures, transmitting, theft, damage, crime, infrastructure protection, telecommunications services.