§ 21. — Submarine cables; willful injury to; punishment.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 47USC21]
TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
CHAPTER 2--SUBMARINE CABLES
Sec. 21. Submarine cables; willful injury to; punishment
Any person who shall willfully and wrongfully break or injure, or
attempt to break or injure, or who shall in any manner procure, counsel,
aid, abet, or be accessory to such breaking or injury, or attempt to
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 two years, or to a fine not
exceeding $5,000, or to both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of
the court.
(Feb. 29, 1888, ch. 17, Sec. 1, 25 Stat. 41.)
Short Title
Act Feb. 29, 1888, ch. 17, 25 Stat. 41, which enacted sections 21 to
33 of this title, is popularly known as the ``Submarine Cable Act''.
International Convention
The protection of submarine cables was made the subject of an
international convention between the United States and Germany,
Argentine Confederation, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Spain, United States of Columbia, France,
Great Britain, Guatemala, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Netherlands, Persia,
Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Salvador, Servia, Sweden and Norway,
Uruguay, and the British Colonies. It was concluded Mar. 14, 1884,
ratified Jan. 26, 1885, ratifications exchanged Apr. 16, 1885,
proclaimed May 22, 1885, and entered into force for the United States
May 1, 1888. Its provisions were set forth in 24 Stat. 989 to 1000.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 23 of this title.
