The U.S. House of Representatives announced it has passed legislation directing the Secretary of Commerce to evaluate the cost, feasibility, and value of a proposed trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable linking the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The bipartisan bill, passed on Monday and sponsored by Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. VI) and co-sponsored by Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID), now heads to the Senate. It mandates that the Commerce Secretary produce an unclassified report within one year of passage.
Plaskett highlighted the strategic and economic potential of the initiative, noting that “this bill represents an opportunity to establish high-speed internet connectivity to Africa and the Caribbean from American soil,” enhancing national security and digital commerce interests.
The cable, according to the bill, would intersect in the U.S. Virgin Islands, positioning the territory as a key 21st-century digital hub. Plaskett emphasized the significance, stating the location’s strategic advantages have long served other powers and can now benefit local communities.
Currently, no direct fiber optic cable connects the U.S. and Africa, with existing links relying on European intermediaries. This project aims to shift that dynamic, serving as both a security asset and a global infrastructure milestone.
Reader Interactions