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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.
Summary
This act requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report to Congress within one year assessing 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 report must evaluate digital security, national security, and economic opportunities associated with such a cable, as well as the readiness of US Virgin Islands telecommunications infrastructure and the potential to engage trusted entities in deployment. The report must also assess the feasibility of establishing a data center and high-security cloud services facility in the US Virgin Islands for military and national security communications.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
- Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1] (R-ID)
Actions (13)
- Jun 24, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Jun 23, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. · house
- Jun 23, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847) · house
- Jun 23, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2847)
- Jun 23, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1737. · house
- Jun 23, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2847-2848) · house
- Jun 23, 2025 Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. · house
- Jun 12, 2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 121. · house
- Jun 12, 2025 Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-155. · house
- Mar 4, 2025 Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote. · house
- Mar 4, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Feb 27, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. · house
- Feb 27, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).
Text versions (4)
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Full text
AN ACT
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.
Passed the House of Representatives June 23, 2025.
Attest:
Clerk. 119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1737
AN ACT
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.
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