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Federal court sets date for Bluesky to respond to Alega lawsuit

Bluesky wires in the trees in Alega
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In an order issued on Tuesday this week, US Chief Judge J. Michael Seabright at the federal court in Honolulu, set a briefing schedule with respect to a motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), sought by Alega residents in their complaint against AST Telecom dba Bluesky Communications as well as senior company executives.

According to the order, defendants shall file opposition by Mar. 5th and plaintiffs may file an optional reply by Mar. 12th. It also says that the court will determine whether to set a hearing — either by telephone or video conference — after reviewing the briefing.

In a $20 million lawsuit filed earlier this month, the plaintiffs — Steven Jay Pincus Hueter, Rosalia Tisa Faamuli, Michael S. Kirk, and Faamuli Pete Faamuli — allege that the defendants violated US Federal Communication Commission Rules and Regulations by improperly hanging and attaching its telecommunication cables on trees and land belonging to the plaintiffs in Alega village and on the official private Alega Marine and Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve. (See Samoa News online edition Feb. 23rd for details of the lawsuit.)

Last week the defendants asked the court for a Temporary Restraining Order, And For A Preliminary Injunction to stop the defendants from violation of FCC laws, rules, and regulations on the Private Alega Marine Protected Area.