GTA takes case against IT&E to mayors

by Nick Delgado

Guam - They met with senators weeks ago, and today the GTA TeleGuam's association for Fair And Competitive Telecommunications (FACT) met with village mayors. The group contends the Phase II, $89 million Broadband Stimulus Grant sought by IT&E is unnecessary, as the company already has the broadband infrastructure in place.

FACT president and GTA Carrier Services Group Manager Vickie Taitano contends that IT&E does not need the funds as the company already has the broadband infrastructure in place.

"$89 million is a lot of money, and that's why we're here today because we are really concerned," said Taitano.  "It may look nice now, they're saying, 'We're going to give free service to the government; we're going to hook up public anchor institutions', they say things like the fire, the police, the Public Health's, 'We're going to hook all these places up and give you a connection', but how long are you going to be able to utilize that without seeing the rates start to skyrocket?"

Mayor's Council President Melissa Savares says will be sending a letter to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, sharing the concerns that the funds should be fairly distributed amongst the island's telecommunication companies.  The Legislature recently passed a resolution to this same effect.

Governor Felix Camacho, on the other hand, criticized the Legislature for doing so.