Environmentalists are concerned about a proposal by the state of Florida to streamline a lengthy approval process for laying undersea fiber-optic cables by creating four authorized submarine telecommunications corridors off Broward and Palm Beach counties. Under the proposal, cables laid within the corridors would be subject to a one-month approval process, rather than the yearlong process for other undersea cables. Critics say the proposal could damage coral reefs, because companies would drill holes through one line of reefs and snake cable through gaps in two additional reefs. Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and his cabinet will vote on the proposal at the end of the month.
