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 Summary: H.R. 1737

Session: 119th Congress | Jurisdiction: United States

Overview

H.R. 1737 is a legislative measure that directs the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to conduct and submit a formal assessment to Congress regarding the feasibility of establishing a new trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable. The proposed cable would connect the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.

The primary intent of the bill is to enhance U.S. national security by creating secure, direct telecommunications links to the African continent, thereby reducing reliance on infrastructure provided by "untrusted" foreign entities.

Key Provisions

The bill mandates the Secretary of Commerce (acting through the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information) to produce a comprehensive report within one year of the Act's enactment.

1. Core Assessment Areas

The report must evaluate the value, cost, and feasibility of the cable, specifically focusing on:
* Security & Economics: The digital and national security implications and the potential economic opportunities generated by the connection.
* Infrastructure Readiness: The current state and lifespan of existing cables connecting the U.S. Virgin Islands to the mainland, and whether the Virgin Islands' infrastructure can support a trans-Atlantic extension.
* Strategic Facilities: The feasibility of building a high-security cloud services facility and data center in the U.S. Virgin Islands, featuring independent power generation, to support:
* United States Africa Command (AFRICOM)
* United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
* General national security communications.

2. Strategic Implementation

• Trusted Partnerships: The report must assess the potential for collaborating with "trusted entities" (those not determined to pose a risk to U.S. national security) to maximize geopolitical and economic advantages.
• Transparency: The final report must be submitted in an unclassified form for general dissemination, though it may include a classified annex for sensitive information.

Who is Affected?

• U.S. Government Agencies: The Department of Commerce is tasked with the study; the Department of Defense (via AFRICOM and SOCOM) would be the primary end-users of the proposed secure facilities.
• U.S. Virgin Islands: The territory would serve as a critical hub for the cable and potentially host new high-tech data infrastructure.
• International Partners: Ghana and Nigeria are the designated connection points on the African continent.
• Private Sector: Telecommunications and cable infrastructure companies may be consulted, though the bill explicitly states that the Secretary cannot require any entity to provide data for the report.

Procedural Status & Timeline

• Introduced: February 27, 2025.
• House Action: Passed the House of Representatives on June 23, 2025, via a voice vote.
• Senate Action: Received in the Senate on June 24, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• Deadline: If enacted, the final report is due to Congress within one year of the date the bill becomes law.