Gov establishes broadband deployment office and steering committee

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga has moved to establish the territorial broadband coordination, opportunities, redevelopment and deployment office and broadband steering committee.

This is outlined in an executive order issued yesterday. “Access to broadband is essential to the prosperity and quality of life of everyone living in American Samoa. Broadband is vital to commerce, the economic vitality of communities, and American Samoa's global competitiveness whereas President Joe Biden announced the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program which enable States and Territories to expand high- speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in furtherance of the Administration's “Internet for All” initiative.”

This broadband is vital to the delivery of education, health care, transportation services, public safety, emergency response, and other critical services. Also to creating an inclusive infrastructure that addresses the needs of people with disabilities, the elderly, minors and the community as a whole.

“Technological innovation is transforming the nature of jobs, businesses, education, health care, economic development, and consumer services.” According to the executive order broadband enables the use of connected agriculture technology, which the USDA's Economic Research Service indicates can increase agricultural output.

“Rural communities rely on access to affordable broadband network services to grow rural economies, connect students and teachers to online resources, and enable closer connections among businesses, families, and other American Samoan communities.

“Access to affordable, high quality broadband levels the economic playing field, facilitates social mobility, and stimulates job creation; and the Territory of American Samoa has completed the development of the American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy which seeks to promote access to advanced broadband network services, to stimulate its digital economy, to increase consumer options, to promote digital literacy, to increase broadband equity, and to support constructive access and affordability for everyone across all islands of American Samoa, in order to maximize economic growth and quality of life.”

The governor ordered the creation of the Broadband Coordination, Opportunities, Redevelopment and Deployment Office (BCORD Office).

The office shall be led by the Territorial Broadband Coordinator, who shall be hired by and report to the Director of Commerce or his/her designee.

“Develop and employ personnel resources with industry knowledge of broadband, telecommunications and information technology policy; apply for, manage, and coordinate the use of broadband funding available to the American Samoa Government in coordination with the Broadband Steering Committee (BSC).”

Furthermore the office will evaluate, and report annually to the Director of Commerce on, the extent, quality, and affordability of broadband offerings in American Samoa.

“Develop strategies to facilitate buildout and implementation of broadband infrastructure necessary to achieve functionally universal broadband access for American Samoa homes and businesses.

“Develop and advocate for policies that make high quality broadband service more accessible, affordable, and reliable in underserved and vulnerable communities.

“Take such steps as are necessary, in coordination with the ASG Technology Office (ASGTO) where technology, information security, cyber security, software, hardware and infrastructure is involved, to implement those strategies, including, but not limited to promoting the access, use, and safety of modern broadband networks and technologies for all American Samoans in order to effectively compete in the digital economy and improve their quality of life.

“Working to accelerate territory wide deployment of high capacity/quality broadband infrastructure capable of meeting current business and community needs, and scalable to meet future demands and maintaining the safety and security of territory wide broadband networks and technologies.”

According to the order the office is in charge of advocating for the adoption of streamlined public policies that remove barriers to and support broadband infrastructure deployment at the Territory and local level to close the continuing digital divide.

In developing broadband investment and deployment strategies for unserved and underserved areas and promoting private sector, public sector, and cooperative broadband solutions as appropriate to each district in American Samoa.

Governor Lemanu says that all American Samoa Government executive branch agencies, authorities, and departments are strongly encouraged to coordinate with, the Territorial Broadband Coordination, Opportunities, Redevelopment and Deployment Office (BCORD Office).

“And shall lend support to such work to the greatest extent possible without compromising existing responsibilities of those agencies, authorities, and departments.”

The Broadband Steering Committee (BSC) is created within the Executive Branch of the American Samoa Government and will be appointed by governor or his designee when necessary, and comprised of diverse membership of public and private sector individuals with either an understanding of broadband industry or who are impacted by the reliable delivery of efficient broadband services.

The committee comprises the following members, Chief Executive Officers of American Samoa Telecommunications Authority; American Samoa Power Authority; LBJ Tropical Medical Center; Department of Health; Department of Commerce; Department of Education; Department of Homeland Security;  President of American Samoa Community College; Chief Information Officer; ARPA Office; Department of Human and Social Services;  Chief Information Officer of the Governor's Office, Technology Office; four members at-large who are appointed by the Governor for a term of one year and may include representatives of private businesses, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, or consumers and Director of the Chamber of Commerce.