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EXCLUSIVE: ‘If unfairly treated we have to fight’ – CCT stakeholder Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool

- said company will continue to oppose the notion that they should give up a significant portion of a frequency that the TRC itself had allocated to them
CCT Director Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool. Photo: File
Key stakeholder in local telecommunications company CCT Global Communication Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool said that the company will continue to fight the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) for what he called the unfair demand to give up a portion of a frequency that the company sees as germane to the capacity of its network. Photo: Provided
Key stakeholder in local telecommunications company CCT Global Communication Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool said that the company will continue to fight the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) for what he called the unfair demand to give up a portion of a frequency that the company sees as germane to the capacity of its network. Photo: Provided
“CCT is grateful that the court has given us leave to apply for judicial review and we look forward to presenting our case regarding why our registration application for the 2015 Spectrum Award Process should be considered,” the press release quoted CCT CEO, Mr. Romney Averad Penn, as saying. Photo: VINO
“CCT is grateful that the court has given us leave to apply for judicial review and we look forward to presenting our case regarding why our registration application for the 2015 Spectrum Award Process should be considered,” the press release quoted CCT CEO, Mr. Romney Averad Penn, as saying. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Key stakeholder in local telecommunications company CCT Global Communications Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool said the company will continue to fight the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) for what he called the unfair demand to give up a portion of a frequency that the company sees as critical to the capacity of its network.

He was speaking to this news site in the wake of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court granting Caribbean Cellular Telephone (CCT) leave to apply for judicial review and issuing a stay of the 2015 Spectrum Award Process pending the outcome of the judicial review.

Virgin Islands News Online had first reported on October 1, 2015 that CCT was taking the TRC to court although parties in the matter were all tight lipped as to the details of the litigation at the time. The first court hearing was on October 2, 2015 before the Honourable Madam Justice Nicola Byer.

TRC biased against CCT

Speaking as a director of CCT, Dr Vanterpool said that they have always contended how the award process has been biased against CCT to the point where CCT’s registration for spectrum was initially accepted and then rejected without even a review.

“The process also wanted us to give up a major part of the 850 spectrum that we needed for our network to function. Our network is functioning well in the spectrum that has been allocated to us but the TRC wanted us to give that up to facilitate the spectrum award process,” he said.

“Surprisingly that spectrum that they are asking us to give up so that we can participate in the spectrum award process, is not even part of the spectrum award process,” he argued.

“So why are they asking us to basically destabilise our network when they do not even need that spectrum to award to anybody? [This is what] we have been fighting for the last two years,” he said.

This is the beginning of our fight

He said now that a judge has granted CCT leave to ask for a judicial review, they are hoping that in the process of time that CCT can be treated fairly in the award process. “We want to see the LTE spectrum awarded so that the country could move forward. But if we are going to be unfairly treated then we have to fight…and this is the beginning of our fight,” he said.

Dr Vanterpool said that based on the evidence that they have, CCT is of the belief that the TRC is trying to take away the 850 spectrum from it to give to another telecommunications company. “We have fought to keep it because we think our network needs it. We think that it is unfair for the TRC to take spectrum that they allocated to us to give to give to another competitor when that competitor has spectrum elsewhere that they can use,” said Dr Vanterpool.

No technical argument from TRC to support demand

According to Dr Vanterpool, there was no technical argument that they could present as to why it was necessary to take a significant part of the 850 spectrum from CCT.

He explained that while LTE can be done in many different frequencies, some frequencies are more desirable than others “because we are in an area where most of our roaming dollars come out of the US market and the US market uses mainly 700 and 850 spectrum.” He said that taking this from CCT to put in the hands of its competitor is to put that competitor in a much more advantageous position.

In a press release yesterday October 7, 2015, CCT said that it did not want an adversarial relationship with the TRC.

“CCT is grateful that the court has given us leave to apply for judicial review and we look forward to presenting our case regarding why our registration application for the 2015 Spectrum Award Process should be considered,” the press release quoted CCT CEO, Mr Romney Averad Penn, as saying.

“CCT maintains that it does not have or want an adverse relationship with the Commission. However, CCT has a tremendous responsibility to their loyal customers, dedicated employees, and local shareholders. Like any business, CCT has to make every effort to protect their investment. CCT remains committed to providing the most advanced telecommunications network available in the BVI,” the release said.

Efforts by this news site to get a direct comment from CEO Penn proved futile.

33 Responses to “EXCLUSIVE: ‘If unfairly treated we have to fight’ – CCT stakeholder Dr Heskith A. Vanterpool”

  • qc (08/10/2015, 08:35) Like (17) Dislike (9) Reply
    yea yea boss fight for your rights dem always want to see locals at the bottom of the food chain
    • Ground Zero (09/10/2015, 09:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Really you all treated us like we were step children 20 yearsago think we forgotten food for the mind
  • wize up (08/10/2015, 09:16) Like (7) Dislike (20) Reply
    yea, the big man that is seeking to become our premier; single handedly disenfranchised CCT and Occean Conversation both of these establishments are owned by local investors: can you sit back and picture this "want-to-be premier" in office: as a simple minister big-man wiped out local businesses in favor of foreign enterprise: WOW, as a premier for this territory long term business owners will hear the news: there is no way big business should be introduced to our small market knowing such a business will kill off the locally owned Establishment: in the global business worid it is understood that "unfair competition" is unacceptable....yea, yea!!!!! cheaper rates but at what cost to the citzens of our territory ( right now the same CCT is offering the people of BVI the best plans....LIME running their clients and what you paying Digicel for you do not get..check your speeds)
    • @ wize up (08/10/2015, 09:31) Like (15) Dislike (11) Reply
      stop talking hogwash tis the NDP who kill Ocean Coversion and now tis the NDP killing CCT go do your research bossie from having it in for Frazer
      • wize up (08/10/2015, 10:48) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ wize up: it is my understanding that everyone is entitled to their own opinion: just question, who is this Frazer ?? I personally don't know what U hogwashing about because i have no clue about this Frazer: what I do know; Digicel came to this territory at the invertation of the Virgin Islands Political Party and Bi water also came to our territory at the invertation of VIP and to the best of my knowledge these transactions were done by the Minister responsiable for works during that VIP administration; both of these transactions did serious harm to local businesses; in closing; reducing the payments being made to a given establishment is far better than actually putting that said establishment completely out of business: any responsibility thinking person will rater take the 50 cent if the whole dollar was not available: just saying( we all have our own opinion )
  • NDP must go! (08/10/2015, 09:23) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    so its clear now the NDP throw CCT under the bus just like they did to Ocean Conversion and the investment club in 2007 when Ronnie got the study to lower the cost of water...see when they finish destroy CCT and OC they will blame poor Fraser and the VIP..
  • Read (08/10/2015, 09:32) Like (1) Dislike (8) Reply
    LIME and Digicel where are you now?
  • facts man (08/10/2015, 09:52) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    Fire guy and get a new chairman also
  • chad (08/10/2015, 10:04) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
    This person is a real money hound.
  • wha happen? (08/10/2015, 10:12) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ronnie cant get the playing field tilted?
  • Level (08/10/2015, 10:34) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    The point is that to re-allocate the spectrum for 4G LTE the spectrum needs to be available! TRC's JOB is to allocate, re-allocate any portion of the spectrum. The spectrum is not owned by CCT, Lime or Digicel - TRC acts for the Territory in allocating it and the LTE re-allocation is a major initiative for the good of the Territory. CCT is being completely stupid in not cooperating (as, apparently, the other service providers have done) - silly decisions only serve to undermine their own position. And now CCT gets a court injunction putting LTE re-allocation on hold! Short-sighted and stupid. Lime and Digicel must be sitting in their back offices laughing and rubbing their hands together.
  • .......... (08/10/2015, 10:52) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    At least cct had the balls to take them to court
  • what (08/10/2015, 11:24) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
    the NDP civil wars continues
  • commonsense ain't common (08/10/2015, 11:31) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    who does it benefit to see CCT and TRC fighting? while the expat companies LIME and Digicel laugh all the way to the bank
  • Tubby Time (08/10/2015, 11:50) Like (74) Dislike (0) Reply
    One rule for CCT and another for everyone else. I am fed up listening to the same story
    We will now not get LTE for years because of personal greed and foolishness
    This company and their owners do not speak for the country, they speak for themselves
  • jokers them (08/10/2015, 11:58) Like (111) Dislike (1) Reply
    CCT again do not play by the rules like everyone else and bully the TRC just because they are local
    Time for CCT to stop playing the victim
    They are not victims they just want everything their way
    The public are the real losers here
  • jj (08/10/2015, 13:42) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Enough of the cct propaganda

    The truth needs to be spoken

    Why do they charge me for one minute when I talk for 10 seconds. That is from last century

    Wake up to the nonsense. Stop overcharging your customers instead of talking about lte
    • @jj (08/10/2015, 15:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      CCT have unlimited calling for prepaid and postpaid. If your problem is TRUTH visit the store and sort yourself out and stop spreading propaganda.
    • Lack of Education is a Frig (09/10/2015, 08:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @jj Jump on CCT for what the world was doing ten years ago and your Big AT&T still does today even charge you for incoming calls still today. But here is what, buy a flat screen TV and throw away the Tube Unit. Many companies including CCT have a thing call freedom plan where you make a hell of a lot of calls out and pay a flat rate once a month. You call Auntie Sue Sue who is away and you talk and put Sandra the wife to talk and put Mignon the daughter to talk and put Tomorphues your son to talk and put Bruk Daddy next door to talk and all you pay is a flat rate at the end of the month. if the Government want to give you 10.00 for a chunk of your land and give your neighbor 30.00 and when you get upset and go to court and the others who get 30.00 jump on you saying you wrong for fighting the Government because you stopping their deal and tell you last year you had bigger potatoes from your yard so you make enough, What you will say @JJ? Well CCT fighting for its rights and will continue to do so.
  • ... (08/10/2015, 13:57) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    all the carries are the same
    • jj (08/10/2015, 15:07) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ ... you are wrong

      I also have a digicel phone and pay per second not per minute

      When I talk for 10 seconds I pay for 10 seconds on CCT I would pay for 60 seconds. That is robbery

  • Observer (08/10/2015, 14:26) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who owns CCT? Remember what the minister echoed in the house about a level playing ground. They are showing us now that the government will fight the people every step of the way with their investments. Those fellows are trying to mole everything for themselves.
    • @ Observer (08/10/2015, 19:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      but the NDP was force to take the NDP to court so I am not understanding the critics
    • wize up (08/10/2015, 21:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Observer: I second that motion and I am also saying if any money judgement is given against TRC that payment will be handed over to CCT urgently..
      • @wize up (09/10/2015, 09:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        So why was CCT fined 50 grand then and Digicel doing exactly the same thing and not fined. You guys sit behind computers and talk all kind of nonsense and done even know the facts. When you speak you need to speak facts. This place is becoming more and more of a propaganda train and you wonder why politicians can pull wool over our eyes.
        • facts (09/10/2015, 10:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Of course Digicel was NOT doing what CCT was fined for. CCT was using the 700MHz spectrum without being authorised. Read the press release on the TRC site! CCT did not dispute what they did was wrong. If Digicel is wrongly using the spectrum - tell TRC quick! Suggest you have a look at the facts and take to heart your second and third sentences of your posting. Best advice you've given.
          • @facts (09/10/2015, 16:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

            As i said when you dont know the facts u sit and talk all kind of nonsense. Your reading comprehension is very bad as well. Digicel is allegedly using spectrum that they are not allocated as well and the TRC was allegedly given evidence of it and they pushed it under the rug. Since you want it broken down to you.

  • OKAYYY (08/10/2015, 15:29) Like (2) Dislike (15) Reply
    LET THERE BE LTE
  • TrueTolian (08/10/2015, 22:19) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
    Fight for your right, they too unfair. They like to take advantage of good business, something fishy here, they feel CCT is moving too fast, I wouldn't be surprise if they getting kick backs. Yes Doc, go after them backside, they think local people aint got guts but they wrong with this one. Another thing, Digicel and LIME can learn a few things from CCT, they have the best employees who are always friendly and eager to help. If you go to LIME or Digicel you meet a set of unprofessionals just there for the paycheck, I dare anyone to go into all 3 places and see what I am talking about but they want to victimize CCT, Well Sah, We really don't like our own
  • Hmmmm (09/10/2015, 08:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    CCT the blog chatter about your history 10 years ago and when you used to charge for incoming calls like what everyone in the world was doing seems to be part of people up bringing. Most of what is being chattering is because of the Investment Club and how they treated people. A lot of people invested money in what they thought was CCT and got little or next to nothing back so they think its CCT who gotten this money and CCT is to blame and not the investment club. CCT is CCT, the investment Club is the investment club. CCT is operating here in the BVI and as in the past have stayed away from many many judicial review to keep others happy. What the TRC did wrong as a standards body was to set a standard for CCT and another for the other players in this process. My two year old can see that is wrong. So a stay was obvious. What the TRC has to do now is stop holding back progress and issue the spectrum so the consumers can benefit from the player they chose and tackle CCT on what ever other issues. Dont use one to help another.
  • jake (11/10/2015, 21:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The love of money is the root of all evil....ask the insurance companies..


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