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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Committee
Latest Action · November 14, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to study the feasibility of building a submarine fiber optic cable across the Atlantic Ocean that would connect the continental United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The Secretary must submit a detailed report to Congress within one year examining the cable's value, costs, security benefits, and economic opportunities, with particular focus on national security, digital infrastructure in the Virgin Islands, and potential partnerships with trusted entities. The report must also assess the option of building a secure data center and cloud facility in the Virgin Islands to support U.S. military and national security communications. The legislation applies to the Commerce Department and relevant federal agencies responsible for telecommunications and national security policy. No specific funding is allocated in the bill, and companies and entities cannot be required to provide data for the study.
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