Internet shutdown delayed WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) The shutdown of Internet services on the Navajo Nation has been temporarily averted, a tribal official has confirmed. SES Americom, a company that provides bandwidth for the services, had threatened to shutter it by noon Tuesday if the company was not paid for services rendered. However, the company informed Navajo officials late Monday that it decided not to shut down services until Aug. 1. It is good news, said
Deswood Tome, a spokesman for the Navajo Nations Washington
office. It gives us some more room to work with USAC (the
Universal Service Administration Company) to get their ruling on
this and to get some time so that public safety services arent
shut down. The problem is that Utah-based OnSat Network Communications Inc., which purchases the bandwidth from SES, has been unable to pay SES because the federal government has been withholding about $2.1 million inreimbursement funds. A majority of the tribes 110 chapter houses lost Internet service in April after the decision by the USAC to withhold the funds over concerns about a tribal audit of OnSat. USAC administers the funds through the E-rate program under the FCC. The public safety network is not part of the E-rate program and is paid for separately. However, should SES terminate the satellite transmission, it would affect communications for the entire network. USAC had asked the Navajo Nation to respond to the audit, which found that OnSat had over billed for service and that the tribe didnt comply with procurement rules or a competitive bidding process in selecting OnSat. A USAC spokeswoman had said the agency would review the response and could either release full funding, partial funding or deny the funding. Tome said the tribe has complied with USACs requests and is awaiting a response. Tribal officials worked hard over the weekend to avoid a shutdown and they received notice from the FCC that the commission also was working to prevent the loss of Internet service, Tome said. New Mexicos two U.S. senators
have called on federal officials to intervene as have former Arizona
Democratic state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who is running for Congress,
and former Navajo President Peterson Zah. Kirkpatrick said Monday evening
that she was pleased SES decided to hold off, but she noted that
the Navajo problem speaks to a broader issue in Indian communities. |
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