Gov’t subsidy on telecom needs of socially-challenged persons sought

The Women’s Affairs Office is asking the Legislature to craft concrete measures that would provide government subsidy on telecommunication needs of financially-disadvantaged persons in the CNMI.

In a letter to Rep. Rosiky Camacho, the Governor’s Special Assistant for Women’s Affairs Ana Teregeyo said a big chunk of the CNMI community do not have the capability to pay extra charges for special telecommunication services.

While acknowledging that telecommunications use is more of a privilege than a right, Ms. Teregeyo said recent application of a service charge for 411 use give additional financial burden to the financially-challenged sector of the community.

“Most of the local consumers are economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities, or too fragile. Some of these people rely on the use of telephone to contact emergency services such as the hospital, senior citizen centers and their children for assistance,” she said.

Ms. Teregeyo pointed out that these people do not have the financial capabilities to pay for extra charges other than what they are paying on a monthly basis for regular telephone services.

“Perhaps, what the Legislature needs to consider is to subsidize part of the telecommunication services that those special individuals are unable to pay for services rendered,” she added.

Ms. Teregeyo also expressed support on the passage of House Bill 12-306 which seeks to require telecommunication providers in the Commonwealth to provide delinquent consumers a three-month access to emergency lines before final disconnection.

“The inability to reach for help during an emergency is enough to support any piece of legislation that addresses such issue. The restoration of telecommunication services to those special people should be a community concern, including providers of such services,” she said.

Two telecommunications providers in the Northern Marianas — Verizon Pacifica and IT&E — have previously aired opposition to the passage of the proposed measure.

Both Verizon and IT&E cited as reason the apparent favor that may be extended by HB 12-306 to delinquent subscribers which is unfair to customers who pay their bills on time.

The 90-day requirement attached in the proposed measure is entirely too long to give away services since there are no other business entities within the Commonwealth that are subject to these conditions, said a Verizon official.

The official pointed out that the bill should require the CNMI government to provide subsidies to Verizon and Northern Marianas residents in order to offset the costs to install emergency services if the proposed measure’s intent is to ensure consistent access to 911. (ARF)