Engaging foreign partners to strengthen subsea fiber-optic cable security

(a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) as international subsea fiber-optic cable networks expand, there are increasing challenges to the proper maintenance, repair, and protection of international subsea fiber-optic cables that have the potential to undermine United States and foreign partner national security interests; (2) the United States is uniquely positioned to provide technical, material, and other forms of support to international partners to enhance the resilience of international subsea fiber-optic cables; and (3) the United States Government should enhance its diplomatic efforts to work with foreign governments to improve efforts to quickly and effectively maintain, repair, and protect international subsea fiber-optic cables. (b) Commitment of personnel and resources The Secretary of State shall devote sufficient personnel and resources towards engaging with foreign countries to improve security and reduce barriers to the maintenance and repair of subsea fiber-optic cables. (c) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the next 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that outlines efforts by the United States Government in the prior calendar year to work with international allies and partners to strengthen the security of and reduce barriers to the maintenance, repair, and protection of international subsea fiber-optic cable networks, including— (1) a list of current foreign policies or laws that create barriers to United States-led efforts to maintain, repair, and protect international subsea fiber-optic cable networks; and (2) progress made in the previous calendar year as a result of United States engagement with allies and partners.

(a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) as international subsea fiber-optic cable networks expand, there are increasing challenges to the proper maintenance, repair, and protection of international subsea fiber-optic cables that have the potential to undermine United States and foreign partner national security interests; (2) the United States is uniquely positioned to provide technical, material, and other forms of support to international partners to enhance the resilience of international subsea fiber-optic cables; and (3) the United States Government should enhance its diplomatic efforts to work with foreign governments to improve efforts to quickly and effectively maintain, repair, and protect international subsea fiber-optic cables. (b) Commitment of personnel and resources The Secretary of State shall devote sufficient personnel and resources towards engaging with foreign countries to improve security and reduce barriers to the maintenance and repair of subsea fiber-optic cables. (c) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the next 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that outlines efforts by the United States Government in the prior calendar year to work with international allies and partners to strengthen the security of and reduce barriers to the maintenance, repair, and protection of international subsea fiber-optic cable networks, including— (1) a list of current foreign policies or laws that create barriers to United States-led efforts to maintain, repair, and protect international subsea fiber-optic cable networks; and (2) progress made in the previous calendar year as a result of United States engagement with allies and partners.