BGOV Bill Summary: H.R. 1189, Foreign Adversary Undersea Cables

The State Department would have to develop a strategy to prevent foreign adversaries, including China, from acquiring technologies to construct and operate undersea telecommunication cables under H.R. 1189.

The bill also would direct the Commerce Department to evaluate whether to impose export controls on equipment capable of supporting undersea cables.

The undersea telecommunication cable network carries about 95% of global internet traffic and 99% of transoceanic digital communications, including trillions in international financial transactions daily, according to estimates in a Congressional Research Service report.

The Justice Department has raised concerns about the cables connecting the US to China, ...