Bill Summary
This bill aims to direct the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report to Congress within one year which assesses the value, cost, and feasibility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The purpose of this cable is to enhance national security and the report will also consider digital security, economic opportunities, and the potential for collaboration with trusted entities in its deployment. The report will also assess the current state of telecommunication infrastructure and the potential for a data center and high-security cloud services facility in the US Virgin Islands for communication of the US Africa Command, US Special Operations Command, and national security purposes. The report will be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. The Secretary may not require any entity to provide data for the report and the bill defines the terms "trusted" and "not trusted" in relation to entities.
Possible Impacts
1. The report could potentially recommend the establishment of a data center and high-security cloud services facility in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which could create job opportunities for local residents and boost the economy of the region.
2. If the report reveals that the current security of telecommunications between the contiguous United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands is inadequate, it could lead to increased investments in improving telecommunication infrastructure and ensuring secure communication channels for citizens.
3. The report could also assess the potential for engagement with trusted entities in the deployment of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable, which could have geopolitical and economic advantages for both the U.S. and the countries involved. This could potentially lead to increased trade and cooperation between the U.S. and Ghana and Nigeria.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1737 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1737
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a report
containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of a
trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous
United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2025
Ms. Plaskett (for herself and Mr. Fulcher) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a report
containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of a
trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous
United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ASSESSMENT OF TRANS-ATLANTIC SUBMARINE FIBER OPTIC CABLE.
(a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other
Federal departments and agencies as necessary, shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of
a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous
United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, to
enhance the national security of the United States.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include
an assessment of--
(1) the digital security, national security, and economic
opportunities associated with a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber
optic cable described in subsection (a);
(2) the lifespan of submarine fiber optic cables currently
connecting the United States Virgin Islands to the contiguous
United States;
(3) the current security of telecommunications between the
contiguous United States and the United States Virgin Islands;
(4) the readiness of telecommunications infrastructure in
the United States Virgin Islands to support a trans-Atlantic
submarine fiber optic cable described in subsection (a);
(5) the potential for engagement with trusted entities in
the deployment of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable
described in subsection (a), and the associated geopolitical
and economic advantages;
(6) the potential connectivity opportunities to maximize
investments in the United States economy through the use of a
trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable described in
subsection (a);
(7) the value, cost, and feasibility of establishing a data
center and high-security cloud services facility, with
independent power generation, in the United States Virgin
Islands for communications of the United States Africa Command,
communications of the United States Special Operations Command,
and national security communications;
(8) the state of submarine fiber optic cables connected to
United States telecommunications infrastructure; and
(9) any other related matters the Secretary determines are
appropriate.
(c) No Mandatory Data Collection.--The Secretary may not require
any entity to provide data for purposes of preparing the report
required by subsection (a).
(d) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted
in unclassified form without any designation relating to dissemination
control, but may include a classified annex.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Not trusted.--The term ``not trusted'' means, with
respect to an entity, that the entity is determined by the
Secretary to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security
of the United States, or the security and safety of United
States persons, based solely on one or more determination
described under paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 2(c) of
the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47
U.S.C. 1601(c)).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Communications and Information.
(3) Trusted.--The term ``trusted'' means, with respect to
an entity, that the Secretary has not determined that the
entity is not trusted.
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