---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 22"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "22"
heading: "Negligent injury to submarine cables; punishment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/22"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — Submarine Cables"
---

# §22. Negligent injury to submarine cables; punishment


Any person who by culpable negligence shall break or injure a submarine cable in such manner as to interrupt or embarrass, in whole or in part, telegraphic communication, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding $500, or to both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.


## Source credit

(Feb. 29, 1888, ch. 17, § 2, 25 Stat. 41.)