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Verizon dispute to end if…
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Posted on Dec 14 2004
Gov. Juan N. Babauta will ease his opposition to the sale of Verizon from Micronesian Telecommunications Corp. if prospective purchaser Pacific Telecom Inc. comes up with a written commitment to significantly lower cable rates and promote investments that benefit the community.
The governor’s lawyer, assistant attorney general James Livingstone, said in an interview that such a written commitment might end the dispute on the issue of whether or not to divest Verizon of part-ownership of the cable facility.
The remaining issues in the pending application for sale approval by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Commission include Verizon’s monopoly of the cable ownership and PTI’s financial capability to respond to worst-, baseline- and best-case scenarios in the coming years.
Livingstone said that, if PTI agrees to significantly lower cable rates, the divestiture dispute would come to an end. “That’s what the governor wants,” Livingstone said.
Lower cable rates would allow its users to pass on the savings to consumers, he explained.
Livingstone also lauded the statement issued by PTI vice chair Jovino Lorenzo, who disclosed PTI’s plan to expand Verizon’s broadband capacities, enhance e-health, which allows live medical consultation from off-island doctors online, and e-learning. Target beneficiaries of these plans are schools, libraries, hospital and health centers, he said.
Lorenzo also said the sale would also pave the way for additional investments in the CNMI, such as call centers.
Lorenzo also disclosed that it would include local members to its board within three years after the possible approval of the sale by the CTC.
