IB 
Union Calendar No. 191 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3385 
[Report No. 118–239] 
To direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information to submit to Congress a report containing an assessment 
of the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a trans-Atlantic submarine 
fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United 
States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 16, 2023 
Ms. PLASKETT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
OCTOBER 2, 2023 
Additional sponsor: Mr. FULCHER 
OCTOBER 2, 2023 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 16, 2023] 
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A BILL 
To direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Commu-
nications and Information to submit to Congress a report 
containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasi-
bility of developing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic 
cable connecting the contiguous United States, the 
United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and 
for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 Com-
mittee 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-Atlan-
tic 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; 
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(9) any other related matters the Secretary deter-
mines are appropriate. 
(c) NO MANDATORY DATA COLLECTION.—The Sec-
retary may not require any entity to provide data for pur-
poses 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 classi-
fied annex. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) NOT
TRUSTED.—The term ‘‘not trusted’’ 
means, with respect to an entity, that the entity is de-
termined 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 Assist-
ant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information. 
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(3) TRUSTED.—The term ‘‘trusted’’ means, with 
respect to an entity, that the Secretary has not deter-
mined that the entity is not trusted. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to direct the 
Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress a report 
containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasi-
bility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable con-
necting the contiguous United States, the United States 
Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 191 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 3385 
[Report No. 118–239] 
A BILL 
To direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
Communications and Information to submit to 
Congress a report containing an assessment of 
the value, cost, and feasibility of developing a 
trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable con-
necting the contiguous United States, the United 
States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and 
for other purposes. 
OCTOBER 2, 2023 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed 
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