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.

HR 1737 requires the Secretary of Commerce to assess a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The bill mandates a report within one year evaluating the cable's security, economic value, cost, feasibility, and related infrastructure needs, including current telecom security between the U.S. mainland and U.S. Virgin Islands. The assessment must cover digital security, cable lifespans, potential military communications infrastructure in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and engagement with trusted entities. The report will be submitted to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee without requiring entities to provide data. This is a procedural bill focused on federal assessment, not project implementation.