HR1737FEDERALin_committee

House bill directs Commerce Secretary to study feasibility of trans-Atlantic fiber optic cable to Africa

Original 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.

June 24, 2025

telecommunications infrastructure international trade technology policy

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Last action

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

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The report will determine the potential for a new digital infrastructure link between the United States and West Africa, which could impact future international data connectivity and trade relations.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Secretary of Commerce

The Secretary is required to conduct the study and submit the report to Congress.

Telecommunications industry

Companies involved in submarine cable infrastructure may be impacted by the findings of the feasibility study.

What changed

Current stage: in_committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report to Congress assessing the cost, value, and feasibility of building a new connecting the U.S. mainland, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Why It Matters

The report will determine the potential for a new digital infrastructure link between the United States and West Africa, which could impact future international data connectivity and trade relations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill authorize the construction of the cable?

No. This bill only requires the Secretary of Commerce to study the feasibility, cost, and value of the project and report those findings to Congress.

Who is responsible for the report?

The Secretary of Commerce is directed to prepare and submit the report.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Connected Entities

locationNigeria“Proposed endpoint for the fiber optic cable.”Map →

organizationSecretary of Commerce“The federal official responsible for conducting the feasibility study.”Map →

organizationCongress“The legislative body receiving the report.”Map →

locationUnited States Virgin Islands“Proposed endpoint for the fiber optic cable.”Map →

locationUnited States“Proposed endpoint for the fiber optic cable.”Map →

locationGhana“Proposed endpoint for the fiber optic cable.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation“Senate committee currently reviewing the bill.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance35
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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