Overview
Title
An Act 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.
ELI5 AI
This bill asks a person in charge, called the Secretary of Commerce, to make a report for Congress about if it's a good idea to put a big internet cable under the ocean that connects the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The report will look at how helpful this cable might be and if it can really happen, and they have one year to share what they find out.
Summary AI
H.R. 3385 directs the Secretary of Commerce to prepare a report for Congress evaluating a plan to lay a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable that would link the U.S. mainland, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. This report is intended to explore the cable's potential benefits for national and digital security, economic opportunities, and assess the condition and readiness of existing telecommunications infrastructure. The Secretary must consult other federal agencies for this assessment and submit the findings within one year. The report will be publicly available in an unclassified format, although it may have a classified section.
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AnalysisAI
The proposed legislation, H. R. 3385, tasks the Secretary of Commerce with assessing the feasibility, value, and costs associated with establishing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable. This cable would connect the contiguous United States with the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. Such an undertaking aims to bolster national security and enhance digital and economic opportunities.
General Summary of the Bill
The bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to deliver a comprehensive report to Congress within a year of the bill's enactment. This report will evaluate various aspects of constructing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable, exploring potential benefits in digital security, economic growth, and geopolitical engagement. Additionally, the report will consider the current and future telecommunications infrastructure in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Summary of Significant Issues
There are several notable issues associated with this bill. Primarily, the absence of a defined budget could lead to uncontrolled spending during the report's preparation. Moreover, the lack of clear definitions for "trusted entities" poses risks of ambiguity in decision-making. The bill does not explicitly establish oversight mechanisms, potentially compromising the report's thoroughness and adherence to objectives. The allowance for a classified annex might impact the public's ability to scrutinize and participate in discussions regarding security and diplomatic consequences. Lastly, the bill does not mandate data collection, which could result in incomplete or inaccurate reporting.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, this effort to examine the feasibility of a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable signifies potential improvements in connectivity, security, and economic opportunities. Enhanced telecommunications infrastructure might stimulate economic activities, benefiting businesses and consumers alike by increasing data exchange efficiency across continents.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders such as telecommunications companies, technology firms, and government entities involved in national security, this bill represents both opportunities and challenges. Companies might gain new business prospects through infrastructural contributions, while security agencies might view the enhanced communication capacities as crucial for strategic operations.
However, the uncertainty surrounding "trusted entities" and the absence of an oversight framework could affect the stakeholders’ decision-making processes, raising concerns over risks versus benefits. In the U.S. Virgin Islands, this initiative could lead to infrastructural investments and job creation, but without mandatory data collection, stakeholders might question the report's reliability.
Overall, while the bill promises significant advantages if carried forward with diligence, the outlined issues need attention to foster transparency, accountability, and effective execution. Addressing these concerns could be pivotal in fostering confidence among various stakeholders and advancing international telecommunications and security objectives.
Issues
The section mandates the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and report on a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable but does not specify the estimated cost or budget for completing this report (Section 1(a)). This lack of specified budget could lead to uncontrolled spending.
The definition of 'trusted entities' for engagement in the cable deployment is vague (Section 1(b)(5)). This ambiguity may result in subjective decision-making and a lack of clear guidelines on which entities can participate, potentially impacting national security and economic outcomes.
There is no clear accountability or oversight mechanism in Section 1 to ensure the quality and adherence to objectives of the report. This could lead to a lack of accountability in the implementation stages, affecting the reliability and utility of the report.
While the text allows for a classified annex in the report (Section 1(d)), it could limit transparency and public accountability regarding the findings and recommendations, raising concerns about the openness of government actions in this area.
The absence of mandatory data collection (Section 1(c)) might limit the comprehensiveness of the report, potentially leading to incomplete assessments and undermining the reliability of the conclusions drawn.
Criteria for assessing potential geopolitical and economic advantages are not defined (Section 1(b)(5)), which could lead to ambiguity and a non-transparent evaluation process, potentially affecting international relations and economic policy decisions.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Assessment of trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines the requirement for the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report assessing the feasibility and benefits of building a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the U.S. and several regions, focusing on aspects like digital security and economic opportunities. Additionally, it defines terms related to trust in entities and specifies that data collection for this report is not mandatory.