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
Congress is asking a group in the government to study and tell them if it’s a good idea to build a super-long internet cable under the ocean that goes from America to a few other countries. They want to know if it’s safe, helpful, or possible to do, and they need to use safe and reliable helpers for this project.
Summary AI
H.R. 3385 directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report to Congress assessing the value, cost, and feasibility of creating a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable. This cable would connect the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The report aims to evaluate various aspects, including digital security, national security benefits, economic opportunities, and the existing infrastructure's capability to support such a project. The bill also emphasizes using trusted entities for deployment while ensuring that no mandatory data collection is imposed on any entity for preparing the report.
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AnalysisAI
Editorial Commentary on H. R. 3385
General Summary of the Bill
H.R. 3385 is a congressional act that instructs the Secretary of Commerce to evaluate the possibility of installing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable. This cable would connect the contiguous United States, the United States Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The bill emphasizes assessing the cable's value, cost, and feasibility, with a focus on enhancing national security. The proposed report should examine various factors, including the project's potential benefits for digital and national security, economic opportunities, and the overall readiness of the relevant telecommunications infrastructure.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several issues emerge from the bill that merit consideration:
Financial Uncertainty: The bill does not specify a budget or cost estimate for preparing the assessment report. This financial ambiguity may lead to unregulated spending and raises questions about the allocation of resources.
Lack of Oversight: There is no mechanism for ensuring that the Secretary of Commerce adheres to the bill's objectives and maintains quality standards in preparing the report. This absence of accountability could affect the reliability of the report's findings.
Ambiguous Definitions: The term "trusted entities," critical to determining engagement partners, is undefined except as the opposite of "not trusted." This vagueness may lead to subjective and potentially biased decision-making.
Transparency Concerns: The allowance for a classified annex in the report could limit transparency and reduce public knowledge of the project's progress and findings.
Comprehensiveness of the Report: By not mandating data collection, the bill risks producing an incomplete report, potentially impacting its accuracy and effectiveness in decision-making.
Undefined Benefits: The bill mentions potential geopolitical and economic advantages without clarifying how these benefits will be assessed, leading to uncertainty in evaluating the project's true value.
Impact on the Public and Specific Stakeholders
For the general public, the bill could signal increased connectivity and potential enhancements to digital infrastructure, which may lead to improved internet services and national security. However, without clear cost management and oversight, there is a risk of inefficient use of taxpayer money, which can be a point of concern.
Impact on Governments and Businesses
Government agencies involved directly or indirectly with national security and communication could benefit from enhanced infrastructure if the project's results align with intended objectives. Businesses, particularly those in telecommunications and data services, might find opportunities in new markets emerging from potential cable deployment. However, the lack of clarity on "trusted entities" may cause uncertainty for businesses regarding partnerships and compliance with standards.
Impact on International Relations
The proposal for a direct cable link to countries like Ghana and Nigeria may strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the United States and these nations. It offers a chance to reinforce collaboration on technological and security matters. Nonetheless, the ambiguities regarding geopolitical benefits necessitate cautious navigation to ensure mutual advantages are realized.
Overall, while H.R. 3385 proposes potentially forward-looking infrastructure improvements, addressing its ambiguities and ensuring rigorous oversight will be crucial for maximizing public benefit and safeguarding against unintended negative consequences.
Issues
The bill mandates the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and report, but it does not specify the estimated cost or budget for completing this report, which could lead to uncontrolled spending. This financial ambiguity might be significant to the public. [Section 1]
There is no clear accountability or oversight mechanism in the bill to ensure the report produced by the Secretary adheres to its objectives and maintains quality standards. This could be ethically concerning. [Section 1]
The definition of 'trusted entities' remains ambiguous, as it is only defined in terms of not being 'not trusted.' This lack of specificity could pose legal and political issues, as it may lead to subjective decision-making without clear guidelines. [Section 1(e)(3)]
The allowance for a classified annex in the report could potentially limit transparency and public accountability, which may be politically significant. [Section 1(d)]
The absence of mandatory data collection requirements might limit the comprehensiveness of the report, potentially resulting in incomplete assessments that could affect the accuracy and reliability of the conclusions. This could have financial and political implications. [Section 1(c)]
The potential geopolitical and economic advantages mentioned in the bill are not clearly defined, leading to ambiguity in how these benefits will be assessed. This lack of specificity could create political and economic uncertainties. [Section 1(b)(5)]
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.