Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett recently announced the successful progression of the legislation, H.R. 3385, otherwise known as the DiasporaLink Act, through the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
Expressing her satisfaction, Plaskett stated, “I am tremendously pleased that my legislation progressed through the House Energy & Commerce Committee, passing with unanimous bipartisan support. ”
The bill aims to initiate a feasibility study focusing on the establishment of a Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable, connecting the US east coast, via the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), to Nigeria and Ghana. This would further position the USVI as a significant global telecommunications hub.
Plaskett offered her gratitude to the Virgin Islands Next Generation Network (viNGN) and CEO Stephan Adams for their visionary work.
She believes that a multitude of factors, including economic, defense, communication, and national security interests, underscored in the feasibility study, could prompt the federal government to allocate funds for the construction of this fiber optic cable.
Addressing the gap: The need for a direct US-Africa fiber optic link
Plaskett shared that currently, the US lacks a direct fiber optic link to Africa, a continent burgeoning with economic opportunities and presenting national security challenges.
Plaskett emphasized, “U.S. reliance on other foreign and commercial entities to connect to Africa is a compromising position for the United States.”
Therefore, the strategic location of the Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable network under the DiasporaLink Act would make it a “Digital Safe Harbor” under the U.S. flag, providing a clear channel for African and Caribbean submarine operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to access U.S. financial and business centers.
The benefits of DiasporaLink
Moreover, Plaskett indicated that situating the hub in the USVI constitutes a significant 21st-century paradigm shift, turning the islands’ geographical advantages into a benefit for the locals.
The DiasporaLink, she argued, will transform the USVI into a global digital commerce hub, generating high-tech job opportunities for Virgin Islanders and attracting digital users to the territory.
Plaskett also expressed gratitude towards her colleagues on the Energy & Commerce Committee, including Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Republican Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Congressman Russ Fulcher for their bipartisan support of the legislation.
Having now passed through the Committee, the DiasporaLink Act is headed for a full vote on the House floor. If it gains approval there, it will advance to the Senate, and if passed, the President’s desk for signature into law.
