Submarine Cable Act of 1888 is a United States federal statute defining penalties for intentional and unintentional disturbances of submarine communications cable in international waters. The Act of Congress acknowledge the Convention for the Protection of Submarine Telegraph Cable of 1884 necessitating the international cooperation for the safeguard of the international communication cables placed on the ocean floor.
The legislation was passed by the 50th United States Congressional session and confirmed as a federal law by the 24th President of the United States Grover Cleveland on February 29, 1888.
Provisions of the Act The 1888 Act was penned as thirteen sections establishing rulings for the protection of oceanic basin telegraph cables.
47 U.S.C. § 1 ~ Punishment for injuries intentionally done 47 U.S.C. § 2 ~ Penalty for culpable negligence 47 U.S.C. § 3 ~ Saving life 47 U.S.C. § 4 ~ Observance of cable ships & signals 47 U.S.C. § 5 ~ Fishing vessels 47 U.S.C. § 6 ~ Officers authorized 47 U.S.C. § 7 ~ Penalties for refusing to show papers 47 U.S.C. § 8 ~ Suits for damages 47 U.S.C. § 9 ~ Liability of master 47 U.S.C. § 10 ~ Definition of terms 47 U.S.C. § 11 ~ Summary trials 47 U.S.C. § 12 ~ Application 47 U.S.C. § 13 ~ Jurisdiction
Concession of Transatlantic Communications The 18th President of the United States Ulysses Grant was the first public official advising the post-civil war states of the proposed wired communications between the coasts of America and France.
December 6, 1869: First Annual Message to the Senate and House of Representatives
December 7, 1875: Seventh Annual Message to the Senate and House of Representatives
Wartime Discretion On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress passed a joint resolution declaring American entry into World War I. On April 28, 1917, the 28th President of the United States Woodrow Wilson issued Executive Order 2604 discontinuing the transmission of international communications.
Act of 1921 The Submarine Cable Act of 1921 appended Title 47 Telegraphy implementing licensing requirements for the coastal landing and operations of submarine cables along the United States coastal zones.
See also Cape Cod National Seashore HMS Agamemnon (1852)CS Faraday (1874) Rye Beach, New HampshireEnderby's Wharf SS Great EasternFrench Cable Hut Transatlantic telegraph cableFrench Cable Station USS Niagara (1855)Hazel Hill, Nova Scotia Valentia Island Pioneers of Intercontinental Communications and Submersible Telegraph Cable Charles Tilston Bright Josiah Latimer ClarkCharles Wheatstone Samuel CanningCyrus West Field Samuel MorseÉmile Baudot Siemens BrothersFrederic Newton Gisborne Wildman WhitehouseJohn Watkins Brett William Fothergill Cooke 19th Century Submersible Telegraph Cable Ventures ♦ Atlantic Telegraph Company ♦ Hooper's Telegraph Works♦ British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company ♦ India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Company♦ Compagnie française du télégraphe de Paris à New-York ♦ New York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company♦ French Atlantic Cable Company ♦ Submarine Telegraph Company
References
Pictorial of Transatlantic Communications Telegraph
Historical Video Archives
Reading Bibliography
External links