THE EDITOR, Sir:THIS LETTER is in response to Min. Phillip Paulwell's claims published in The Gleaner on Thursday July 28, 2005 on page A2. The minister's 'youthful exuberance' has apparently been getting the better of him lately as neither, he, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) nor his adviser Minette Palmer can seem to agree on what's best for the Jamaican consumer.
According to the Regulator Vol. 2, No. 4, 'Four years ago the OUR embarked on an extensive consultation programme in an effort to gather information about the requirements for universal service/access in telecommunications on the Island. During this time, the OUR published two consultation documents.
This was one of the objectives:
"Ensure that every household across the Island has access to single line voice telephony services irrespective of location.'
Then in April 2005, Minette Palmer, in her presentation at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union conference stated "The substitution of cellphone service for lower cost fixed line service, i.e., landline (is) not necessarily an efficient application of resources. Consumers (are) forced to embrace higher cost service to meet their unmet demand for communication services based on the chosen path to liberalisation."
On July 28, six weeks after implementing the very controversial universal service fee (USF), Minister Phillip Paulwell, when making reference to the 217,000 landlines not installed by Cable & Wireless Jamaica Limited stated, "Those things are behind us". It makes me wonder if the OUR's recommendation was done to appease the argument for the implementation of the USF and now that it has been concluded then this and other matters are also behind you.
RIDICULOUS CHARGES
Minister, I am a very concerned consumer and those things are not behind me. I would love to stop paying ridiculous (exorbitant) charges to place a call from my landline (when I have no credit left) to a cellular phone but I do not have that option now as you seem to be quite supportive of C&WJ's failure to accomplish what was decreed in the Telecommunications Act of 2000.
It seems that the only plan that this administration will honour is Highway 2000 because in the 21st century road networks are the future. I wish for once that the enthusiasm for Highway 2000 would spill over to other portfolios and ignite the flame for all.
CLARIFY POINTS
Minister, please take some time out of your very busy schedule to clarify points highlighted in the release to The Gleaner. Why have people stopped paying landline bills or are refusing landlines? Could it be because of the charges associated with placing cellphone calls from a landline, or is it that people can no longer or could never afford these charges? To be honest with you, if I could call everyone I knew that had a cellphone on their landline from my landline then I would refuse the illogical substitution you are proposing.
Jamaicans over the years had no choice when it came to telecommunications because it took so long to get a landline and with deregulation cellular technology infiltrated every fibre of the island Therefore, the high frequency of contradictions among Jamaican telecom policymakers has fostered increased business failure, popularity of the 'call me back' syndrome and the erosion of landlines.
How many Jamaicans are internet-savvy, and do they really want to limit surfing the internet to mobile phones, wouldn't they rather do so in the privacy of their homes? How many know how to surf the internet on a cellular phone and can afford to purchase such instruments? (In light of the "please call me" epidemic most persons don't even have credit to call these days).
The technology you speak so highly of is ancient history in other corners of the world such as Japan, yet you make it seem as though this will take Jamaica to the next level. I am therefore calling on a policymaker (OUR, FTC, an adviser, the minister, and the opposition spokesperson) to respond and may the 'real policy please stand up'.
I am, etc.,
R.M.
uwidite99@excite.com
