The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.593, subdivision 1, to expand the scope of the crime of damage or theft related to telecommunications equipment. Specifically, it adds provisions to include broadband services and cable services alongside existing telecommunications services. This change aims to enhance the protection of infrastructure related to these essential services by making it a crime to intentionally damage or remove equipment associated with them. Under the revised statute, individuals who cause damage to or unlawfully take telecommunications equipment, including machinery and fixtures used in the transmission and processing of these services, will be subject to criminal penalties. The bill emphasizes the importance of safeguarding not only traditional telecommunications but also the growing sectors of broadband and cable services, reflecting the evolving landscape of communication technology.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 609.593