As DOCOMO PACIFIC and IT&E Guam have provided near-daily updates to their customers about post-Mawar reconnection, GTA Teleguam has opted instead to keep updates to a minimum, except in its application for federal funding support to the Federal Communications Commission.
According to a June 20, 2023 FCC filing by GTA’s attorneys in Washington, D.C., “As a result of the typhoon, GTA’s network in Guam has suffered unprecedented and catastrophic damage that has not yet been fully quantified, and thousands of U.S. military personnel and residents remain without service.”
The company is petitioning for emergency relief “to address and mitigate the catastrophic impact” of Typhoon Mawar.
Specifically, the company is asking for:
- Extended and enhanced Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”) support for subscribers eligible for individual housing assistance in connection with Super Typhoon Mawar;
- Extension of the revision deadlines for certain FCC Form 499-Q filings;
- Temporary extensions of universal service deadlines;
- Advanced payment of high cost funding to support the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of networks and facilities in impacted areas; and
- Temporary waiver of the limit on maximum allowable operating expenses for Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (“CAF-BLS”).
The company, in its June 20 filing, also is attributing cascading failures of merchant services to its data issues:
“Lack of power and electricity and compromised generators impaired communications to banks, resulting in delayed compensation for over 10,000 local government employees and inoperable Automated Teller Machines. Lack of power and communications has also impaired the ability of businesses to operate with debit and credit card payments, forcing many to operate on a cash-only transaction basis.” – Petition of TeleGuam Holdings, LLC for Waiver and Certain Other Relief, pg. 5
“The impact on communications in Guam has been catastrophic. As of June 14, 2023, 19.6% of cell sites remain out of service as a result of Super Typhoon Mawar and approximately 34% of cell sites remain on back-up power,” the June 20 filing states.
GTA, according to the June 30 filing, is so significantly handicapped by the destruction of Typhoon Mawar, the company requires federal support in order to restore services.
“In the aftermath of Super Typhoon Mawar, GTA has devoted all available resources to rapidly restore services and is coordinating with local authorities and government agencies as part of these efforts. However, even with its dedicated teams working diligently around the clock to refuel network sites running on generators and repair damages, GTA faces significant hurdles in its effort to restore services to pre-storm levels.” – pg. 6
Meanwhile, both IT&E and DOCOMO have reported significant strides and improvements, though pockets of service issues remain due to the instability of the power grid, and the need to repair more sites.
2 Comments
Unknown
06/27/2023 at 12:50 PM
GTA is crippled. No doubt. We’ve been without service since May 24th at 4pm. Despite opening a trouble ticket, they still auto deducted $200 from our account knowing damn well their services don’t work. I see Docomo and IT&E hitting their recovery efforts hard and GTA seems to be waiting for the FCC to bail them out. That doesn’t seem equitable given the other two telcos are busting their asses.
Alan San Nicolas
06/28/2023 at 9:21 AM
PAIRE 👍 GTA !!!! Matto ya mapos si mawar ya fiét-maolek-paire I setbisio. Muchumas, petsona sanhaya yu. Nota: ti todu petsona (taotao) siña I na satisfecho. Kontinua I setbisio miyu !!!