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.

Bill: 118-hr-3385
Sponsor: full_name: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
Introduced: 2023-05-16
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Government studies and investigations

Virgin Islands
Latest action: action_date: 2024-03-06
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>DiasporaLink Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to report on the feasibility of developing a submarine fiber optic cable to connect the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. In particular, the report must assess the cost, value, and security implications of the cable.</p>

action_date: 2023-10-02
action_desc: Reported to House
text: <p>This bill requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to submit a report to Congress that assesses the feasibility, value, cost, and security implications&nbsp;of a submarine fiber optic cable to connect the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.</p>

tv_txt: IIB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3385 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 6, 2024 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 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.

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 March 5, 2024. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3385 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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.

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 March 5, 2024. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk.

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 191 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3385 [Report No. 118–239] 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 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 connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and for other purposes.

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.

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 feasibility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. .

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

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3385 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 16, 2023 Ms. Plaskett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 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 connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the DiasporaLink Act . 2. Assessment of the development of trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable (a) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant 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 developing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. (b) Elements The report required by subsection (a) shall include— (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 current reliability and security of telecommunications infrastructure in the United States Virgin Islands; (5) the potential for engagement with trusted entities in the development by the United States of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable described in subsection (a), and the associated geopolitical and economic advantages; (6) the potential digital sovereignty opportunities 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 military and national security communications; and (8) any other related matters the Assistant Secretary determines are appropriate. (c) 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. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Assistant Secretary The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. (2) Not trusted The term not trusted means, with respect to an entity, that the entity is determined by the Assistant 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) ). (3) Trusted The term trusted means, with respect to an entity, that the Assistant Secretary has not determined that the entity is not trusted.