Bill orders feasibility study on undersea cable to Virgin Islands, West Africa
Passed one chamberH.R. 1737Latest action
Sponsor: Stacey E. Plaskett · Delegate · VI
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: 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.
119th Congress
Topics: AI & technology
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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The bill requires a one-year feasibility report, not construction, on a new undersea cable and Virgin Islands data center.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to study whether a new undersea fiber optic cable linking the continental U.S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria makes sense, with a report due within one year. It does not authorize building the cable, and it also requires examining a related idea for a secure data center and cloud facility in the Virgin Islands to support U.S. military communications.
Who does it affect?
It mainly affects government agencies conducting the study; telecommunications companies, Virgin Islands residents and infrastructure planners, and U.S. national security operations in West Africa could be affected later if a cable or facility is built.
Why does it matter?
The findings could shape future decisions on internet infrastructure, security, and U.S. relations with Ghana and Nigeria, though there are no immediate effects on the public.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedFeb 27, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Jun 24, 2025
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.