Department of Commerce Secretary Michael Ada said the NTIA is going through the applications sent by three service providers — IT&E, Docomo and Northern Marianas College.
The applicants made presentations before a panel of judges at American Memorial Park’s Visitors Center on Oct. 7.
“What was done on Oct. 7 was to assist the CNMI rank the projects based on guidelines developed by the panel members,” Ada said.
A comment period that followed the presentations ended on Oct. 12.
Ada said the NTIA solicited comments and rankings of project applications for each jurisdiction.
“What this was supposed to do is avoid potential duplication of efforts and ensure that the state/territory felt comfortable that the applicant was meeting the needs of the community impacted,” Ada said.
The CNMI put together a panel which consisted of a member of the Legislature, the executive branch, the judiciary, and the private sector to listen to the presentations and rank the applications, he added.
Ada said the panel provided the results to the Commerce Department which then transmitted the information to the NTIA.
The panel members were Wayne Archibald of the judiciary, Rep. Francisco Dela Cruz, Edith Deleon Guerrero from the executive branch, and Michael Brazel from the private sector.
Ada said the criteria for the grant applications centered on technical concepts, community impact, and employment.
“All presentations were well put together and the Commerce Department is advocating for full funding for all three applicants as we believe this will yield the biggest impact for our community,” he said.
Ada did not release the rankings of the three applicants.
