February 27, 2025
Ms. Plaskett (for herself and Mr. Fulcher) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
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.
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.