Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Senate Communications Committee has tabled — for now —legislation sponsored by Sen. Fai’ivae Iuli Godinet that seeks to establish by law, the American Samoa Telecommunications Corporation Authority (ASTCA), which continues to operate under an executive order issued in 1998 during the Tauese Administration.

Fai’ivae informed the committee during a hearing last week that the proposal doesn’t change much of current ASTCA operations, but only sets it by law, and allows the Fono to confirm board members appointed by the governor.

Because ASTCA was established by executive order, which has been amended over the years, Fai’ivae — a former ASTCA board chairman who served on the board for some two-decades — said that when a new administration takes over the helm of government, changes are made.

Fai’ivae along with Rep. Andra Samoa were on the ASTCA board during the previous administration, but were later removed and replaced with new members because they were lawmakers and the Executive Branch at the time wanted to avoid any conflict with having Fono members on the board.

During the committee hearing, Fai’ivae pointed out that under the new Administration, Sen. Utu Sila Poasa is a member of the ASTCA board and also the vice chair.

“The bill establishes ASTCA under law” similar to other ASG authorities such as the American Samoa Power Authority and the LBJ Medical Center, whose boards of directors — appointed by the governor — are subject to Fono confirmation, he reiterated to his colleagues.

At the outset of the hearing, ASTCA acting chief executive officer, Chuck Leota requested the committee to allow the ASTCA officials and its board of directors, time to review the measure — which he only received two-days before the hearing —  and provide their input.  And his request for more time to review the measure is also very important because he is still acting director while the board continues its search for a permanent CEO.

Utu said the bill is a “big step” for ASTCA and requested additional time for the board to review the proposal and provide comments and possible recommendation that may further improve the proposed law.

Fai’ivae responded that this is not the first time such a bill has come before the Fono and he believes it’s time to move forward with the new legislation. (In the past 15-years there were at least four bills put forward to establish ACTA by law, but all failed in the end, according to Samoa News story archives.)

In the end, the committee agreed with the requests from Utu and Leota, but want ASTCA to provide their input as soon as possible so the Senate can move forward on this bill, which calls for a seven-member board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Fono for terms of 4-years.

Among the duties of the board — whose members are paid $6,000 a year while $7,000 for the chair — is to hire an executive director or CEO, who reports directly to the board.

The bill also spells out the duties and responsibilities of the board as well as  the executive director or CEO, whose salary is established by the board.

According to the bill’s preamble, ASTCA services have broadly expanded from telecommunication to fiber optic cable infrastructure — including the Hawaiki cable — that has rapidly increased internet connectivity, as well as the O3B  satellite network.

And the potential for continued growth and innovation at ASTCA is immeasurable and it is vital for American Samoa to be up to par with technological advances as they greatly impact local ability to integrate with the world economy and participate in opportunities that require technological foundations.

According to the preamble, ASTCA is ready to be empowered to carry out its own charter to mutually benefit the community and the government.

“It will foster financial stability, promote operational efficiency and encourage overall growth as one of the most relied upon services in the territory,” it says. “This transition would be in the best interest of the future of American Samoa.”