H.R. 1737 · Passed House · Science, Technology, Communications

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.

Sponsor: Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI)

What it does

• Requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to report to Congress on a submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.
• Requires the report to assess the cable's feasibility, value, cost, and security implications.
• Requires an assessment of a possible data center and high-security cloud services facility in the U.S. Virgin Islands for certain national security communications.

Official summary

This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to submit a report to Congress that assesses the feasibility, value, cost, and security implications of a submarine fiber optic cable to connect the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The report must include, among other topics, an assessment of the potential establishment of a data center and high-security cloud services facility in the U.S. Virgin Islands for certain national security communications.

Latest action

Jun 24, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation