H.R. 1737 — 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.

This section directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, to submit to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, not later than one year after enactment, an unclassified report (with a possible classified annex) assessing 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 U.S. national security. The report must include assessments of (1) associated digital security, national security, and economic opportunities; (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; (5) potential engagement with trusted entities and associated geopolitical and economic advantages; (6) potential connectivity opportunities to maximize U.S. economic investments; (7) the value, cost, and feasibility of a data center and high-security cloud services facility with independent power generation in the United States Virgin Islands for U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and national security communications; (8) the state of submarine fiber optic cables connected to U.S. telecommunications infrastructure; and (9) other related matters. The Secretary may not require any entity to provide data for the report and defines "not trusted" and "trusted" entities with reference to risk determinations under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601(c)).