Committee hears bill to clarify law covers broadband and cable infrastructure damage

Senate File 2904, presented April 2, would amend Minnesota’s statute covering damage to telecommunications equipment to specify that broadband and cable services fall within the law’s protections.

Senator Nick Rasmussen told the committee the change is a clarification to address increasing incidents in which thieves cut copper wire or fiber and disrupt 9-1-1, Internet, and cable service. “The bill before the committee would simply clarify that included in those telecommunications services and infrastructure is broadband services and cable services,” Rasmussen said.

Melissa Wolf, executive director of the Minnesota Cable Communications Association, testified she supported the change to Minnesota Statute 609.593 and described recent local incidents in which copper theft disrupted emergency services and private communications. “A thief can easily mistake fiber shielded inside conduit for copper and just start cutting,” Wolf said, adding that the update would give law enforcement and prosecutors clearer language to enforce the prohibition.

Committee members asked whether existing statutory language already covers broadband and cable through references to “other transporting media.” Senator Jim Crohn asked whether any court had interpreted the statute so narrowly that prosecution would be precluded; Rasmussen said he was not aware of a specific case but the amendment is intended to remove legal ambiguity.

Senate File 2904 was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus.

Speakers quoted in this article are limited to those who testified before the committee on this bill.