V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett has reintroduced the DiasporaLink Act, a measure aimed at assessing the feasibility, cost, and value of constructing a Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States, via the U.S. Virgin Islands, to Nigeria and Ghana. Proponents say the legislation, co-sponsored by Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-ID-1), seeks to bolster America’s national security, digital commerce, and international connectivity.
The proposed fiber optic cable network, with a hub in the U.S. Virgin Islands, would create a “Digital Safe Harbor” under the U.S. flag, according the release. This project is expected to provide African and Caribbean internet service providers (ISPs) with direct access to U.S. financial and business centers, boosting global commerce and technology development.
Additionally, undersea fiber optic cables are critical infrastructure, as approximately 98% of international internet and telephone traffic is carried through an estimated 400 undersea cables. Many of these are owned and operated by U.S. companies, reinforcing the nation’s dominance in internet communications while safeguarding data from potential sabotage or surveillance.
Plaskett noted that establishing the DiasporaLink fiber optic hub in the U.S. Virgin Islands would create new economic opportunities. The initiative could stimulate high-tech job growth, attract digital enterprises, and position the territory as a leader in the global digital economy.
The DiasporaLink Act previously passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee with unanimous support, and later gained approval in the House of Representatives before being sent to the Senate during the 118th Congress. With its reintroduction, Plaskett and her colleagues are hopeful that the bill will receive full congressional passage.
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Publish date : 2025-03-01 22:51:00
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