Oregon to Charge Undersea Cable Operators New Fees, Directing Millions to State Schools
Oregon lawmakers are implementing a new fee structure for undersea cables using the state's sea floor within three miles of its coastline, replacing a decades-old $5,000 one-time application fee. The new pricing, still under discussion, includes $3 per linear foot of cable plus $7 per section of bore pipe. The Oregon Department of State Lands estimates this will generate millions per cable over a 20-year lease, with Amazon's Bifrost cable projected to cost $1,450,380. Revenue will be funneled into the state's Common School Fund. The revised rates are considered competitive compared to California's $5 per foot annual charge. Oregon aims to remain attractive for tech investment, hosting about 140 data centers and 16 undersea cables. Already-approved cables may be largely exempt, though some contracts like Amazon's included a clause allowing new fees with a $300,000 buyout option.
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