KPress Vol. 17 Iss. 12
Jaynes, Bill (2017-05-22). KPress Vol. 17 Iss. 12 (PDF) (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Kaselehlie Press.
- Has attachment: File:SUT7763Y.pdf
Abstract: KPress Vol. 17 Iss. 12: NEWS: College of Micronesia–FSM held its 65th Commencement Exercises, with related coverage of a congressional committee hearing testimony on a bill to transfer FSM Telecommunications Corporation (FSMTC) assets, a profile of a young Pohnpeian advocate pushing for passage of a family safety bill, and reporting that the U.S. Department of the Interior froze FSM infrastructure funds; community news from Pohnpei reports the conclusion of a two-day fishing tournament organized by the Pohnpei Fishing Club, noting participation by both large, powerful boats and smaller vessels; in Kolonia, Pohnpei, residents escorted by a full contingent of Kolonia Town police officers paraded from the Pohnpei State Government building to the Kolonia Town Government building to mark the 52nd anniversary of Kolonia’s Charter Day, accompanied by ceremonial remarks in Pohnpeian; Palikir, Pohnpei—Chairman Senator Victor Gouland of Chuuk convened a public hearing of the Committee on Transportation and Communication to receive testimony on proposed legislation to transfer FSMTC assets, with witnesses including representatives from the Department of Transportation, Communications, and Infrastructure and its secretary; reporting notes that OAE Board Chairman John Sohl resigned on May 16, 2017 in opposition to the proposed bill and out of concern that the World Bank sought to create an untouchable monopoly after encouraging Congress in 2014 to liberalize the telecommunications market; background context explains that a 2014 law liberalized telecommunications in the FSM to allow competition, while the bill under discussion would transfer ownership of several FSMTC assets, including the HANTRU-1 fiber-optic spur to Pohnpei, to FSMT Cable Corporation; a representative speaking on behalf of FSMT Cable Corp argued that a genuinely competitive telecommunications industry would require strict separation of wholesale and retail operations, asserting that asset transfer would help guarantee to the World Bank that proposed infrastructure lines would be used and that proper landing facilities would be established in the states, thereby enabling the FSM to receive what would be the largest single World Bank grant in its history; OPINION / EDITORIAL: a letter from the U.S. Department of the Interior explains that the freeze on infrastructure funds occurred because the FSM Government had not established a management system meeting standards set out in the FSM Infrastructure Development Plan 2016–2025; additional diplomatic material reproduces President Donald Trump’s reply to the remarks of newly appointed FSM Ambassador Akillino Harris Susaia upon presentation of his letter of credence, formally acknowledging his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federated States of Micronesia and the recall of his predecessor, Ambassador Asterio Takesy.
