S. 5617 — Combating Critical Infrastructure Vandalism Act of 2026

This section expands the federal prohibition on damaging communication lines to make it unlawful to willfully or maliciously injure, destroy, or steal copper, fiber, or coaxial cable used to provide telecommunications services or information services (as defined in 47 U.S.C. 153) in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce. It exempts customer premises equipment from the new prohibition and sets the penalty at a fine, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.