New cable provider has big plans for American Samoa by Fili Sagapolutele Samoa News Corespondent The territory's new cable provider Pacific Island Cable plans to expand its service with more channels, replacing the old tape delayed system with a "current state of the art technology" and provide a "true broadband high-speed Internet service" after adding some electronic equipment. Pacific Island Cable officially took control of all the operating assets of American Samoa Cablevision last week Monday, said its President Sid Lundwall, who is on island for the transition. "There is a legal distinction between buying a company and buying the assets of a company," he explained. "Because of the circumstances surrounding American Samoa Cablevision, the new owners choose to only acquire the assets that they had a claim to in their loan documents." ASC terminated all employees before the purchase of its assets but Lundwall said most of the employees did apply for employment with PIC. Lundwall said that as of yesterday PIC has already hired 24 employees. The new owner Island Equity, LLC dba Pacific Island Cable is owned by David B. Westburg and James A. Penney who were involved with the senior debt lender to American Samoa Cablevision. Westburg is Chief Executive Officer and Penney is Vice President. "We have nothing to do with American Samoa Cablevision," said Lundwall, who hopes the community will give them a little time to get up and running. PIC plans to first stabilize the current system and have secured new testing equipment for the field and head-end personnel towards that end. They also plan to expand their services to villages not currently served. They also recognize they need to bury their lines that currently are carried by ASPA poles along the roadside. Lundwall appeared earlier this week in a House committee hearing to address this issue and also met with Department of Public Works officials to talk about how to resolve this issue. Two high power earth stations were air freighted here in the past week which PIC expects will aid in bringing down more channels and improve current reception. The technology to replace the tape-delayed system currently used has not been decided on yet but Lundwall is confident it will be better than the present system. Plans to provide a broadband internet service must await upgrading of the existing plant and adding more electronic equipment. Lundwall said PIC plans on being "the true broadband high-speed internet service" here on island. New services in the planning stages include more sports and movies. "One thing in interviewing local people is their hunger for more sports and more movie services," he added. Lundwall said the company's Director of Marketing Joey Cummings has some great ideas for local sports and possibly news coverage. Cummings will continue as general manager of KHJ. "We hope to be able to cover the local football and rugby games played at the stadium," he said. "We've even thought about doing some training with the high schools in video production and sports announcing. We have many ideas and plan on introducing them if they make sense and serve our customers' appetite." "We know a lot of the problems from the past company will be laid at our feet, but we plan on using those obstacles, as stepping-stones to show the community a new upbeat fun company to work for that will be providing an excellent entertainment service," Lundwall added. Reach the reporter at fili@samoanews.com.  © Osini Faleatasi Inc. dba Samoa News reserves all rights.