Virgin Islands Urges FCC Action on Post-Hurricane Infrastructure Support
U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan urged the FCC to act quickly on the Connect USVI Fund, slated to make available $204 million for carriers in the hurricane-hit territory (see 1806120015). The fund would build on USF support to bring…
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to the islands “the advanced networks that those living on the mainland take for granted,” the Democrat said in a June 12 letter posted Thursday in docket 18-143. Commit the full proposed amount for the full 10-year term, Bryan said: “In no event should the current level of support, over $16 million per year, be reduced or the Territory risks a substantial decline in its progress.” Funding should support minimum speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, which is the FCC standard, he said. Support an entity that can do that within two years, Bryan said: “The hardship USVI residents have endured in the eighteen months since the hurricanes struck must not be compounded by avoidable delays” in deployment.