Puerto Rican Officials Ask FCC For Broadband Help

Governor Luis Fortuno (R-PR), Puerto Rico's congressional representative and the president of its telecommunications regulatory board have asked the Federal Communications Commission to reverse a decision they say will leave the territory without sufficient access to broadband for too long.

While Governor Fortuno said he understood the FCC had said it preferred dealing with the issue as part of general overall Universal Service Fund reform, he said that would be a multi-year process and that Puerto Rico has already waited too long to get comparable service to the US. He asked that the FCC reconsider the request of the Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC) for a separate fund and its promise to use it for broadband. He also wants the FCC to create a Puerto Rico broadband pilot program and consider designating staff to deal specifically with Puerto Rico broadband issues.