Assessment of undersea cable repair contingencies

(a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Maritime Administrator, the Federal Communications Commission, and other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress an assessment on the ability and preparedness of the USNS Zeus and the Cable Security Fleet under chapter 532 of title 46, United States Code, to repair transoceanic submarine fiber optic cables that may be damaged or cut by adversaries. (b) Contents The assessment under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a description of preparedness to address a situation in which the cables of partner countries in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are damaged or severed at or around the same time; (2) a determination as to how long it would take for the Cable Security Fleet, in coordination with partner countries, to repair such cables; and (3) the options available to provide connectivity in an emergency or crisis caused by, or related to, the damaging or severing of such cables.