Governor creates broadband office to coordinate territory's communications goals

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Territorial Broadband Coordinator, Opportunities, Redevelopment and Deployment (BCORD) Office has been created within the American Samoa Department of Commerce, according to Executive Order 007 — 2023, in accordance with the powers and authority granted to the Governor of American Samoa by the Revised Constitution of American Samoa.

It is to be led by the Territorial Broadband Coordinator, “who shall be hired by, and report to the Director of Commerce or his/ her designee.”

The Executive Order lays out the duties and responsibilities of the office, including coordinating with “the ASG Technology Office (ASTO) where technology, information security, cyber security, software, hardware and infrastructure is involved, to implement those strategies.”

The office will also serve to advise “the Governor, territorial department leadership, and the American Samoa Legislature on actions necessary to pursue territorial goals related to broadband.”

The Broadcast Steering Committee (BSC) is also created within the Executive Branch of the American Samoa Government. It’s members will be “appointed by the Governor or his designee, and comprised of [sic] 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 BSC is to be co-chaired by the Chief of Staff and Director of Commerce, with 5 government directors and 5 heads of authorities, which are identified in the executive order, as well as “four members at-large who are appointed by the Governor for a term of one year and may include representative of private businesses, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, or consumers.”

The BSC is to “provide strategic and technical guidance to the BCORD Office, through the review of annual reports, grant applications, strategic and tactical plans. Other duties are listed including “coordinate activities that will help local ISPs work together for the benefit of the Territory.”