47 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2011 Edition
Title 47 - TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
CHAPTER 2 - SUBMARINE CABLES
Sec. 22 - Negligent injury to submarine cables; punishment
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

§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.

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