Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland

March 5^th, 2024                                                   340-201-6453

Press Release

PLASKETT APPLAUDS HOUSE PASSAGE OF DIASPORALINK LEGISLATION FOR U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TRANS-ATLANTIC SUBMARINE FIBER OPTIC CABLE

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett shared the following statement on the passage of H.R. 3385, the DiasporaLink Act, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives: 

“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3385, the DiasporaLink Act. I am tremendously pleased that this timely legislation received full passage on the House floor.  The DiasporaLink Act directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit to Congress a report on the cost and feasibility of developing a trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the United States, and the Virgin Islands to Africa. The study will also review the importance of such a cable in the Virgin Islands for American interests in the region. This a significant step to establish a high-speed internet connection to Africa and throughout the Caribbean from American soil, which will enhance America’s national security data and communication interests in the regions. Additionally, this bill would stimulate job opportunities and encourage interconnectedness between the U.S. and the continent of Africa, further establishing the United Stated Virgin Islands as a global telecommunications hub.

“Presently, there is no direct fiber optic link between the U.S. and the continent of Africa. Africa is increasingly an area that presents dynamic economic opportunity for our country as well as national security challenges that must be addressed.  U.S. reliance on other foreign and commercial entities to connect to Africa is a compromising position for the United States.  The Trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable network’s strategic location makes DiasporaLink a “Digital Safe Harbor” under the U.S. flag.  This service, if achieved, will provide African and Caribbean submarine operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) a clear channel to U.S. financial and business centers. The DiasporaLink Act, if enacted will provide a strong medium via a feasibility study, which could clear the path for establishing this Digital Safe Harbor in our territory.

“Furthermore, having the hub in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a significant 21^stcentury paradigm shift; it allows our islands’ advantages, many of which have been used for the benefit of other world powers (i.e. the VI’s geostrategic location), to be utilized for the benefit of our people.  DiasporaLink in the USVI will facilitate our islands as a hub for commerce in the global digital economy and will stimulate high tech job opportunities for Virgin Islanders and attract digital users to the territory.”  

 While Virgin Islanders have long recognized the importance of GlobalCrossing, which some time ago used St. Croix as a point to bury its undersea cable between South and North America, that is a private cable which has been sold several times and is now owned by Lumen.  What is not well known is that all cables (undersea or above ground) have a fixed lifespan; the GlobalCrossing cables connected in St Croix are near or past their end of life.  Having such a link developed and maintained by the federal government creates a tremendous level of certainty for companies coming to the Virgin Islands to take advantage of such a linkage. 

“I would like to thank Stephan Adams, Chief Executive of viNGN, and his team for their tireless efforts in conceptualizing the idea for DiaporaLink and working with my office to support the technical information.  

“I would also like to thank Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) for working with me to make this bill bipartisan and House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member, Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) for his leadership on this important committee in Congress.” 

This legislation will now be sent to the Senate floor for a vote.  If passed in the Senate, it will be sent to the President to be signed into law.

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