IT&E technicians and service crews are working closely with government agencies and their contractors in an effort to prevent future service interruptions to our valued customers in these project areas.
While IT&E supports its community partners, there are additional infrastructure projects that occur without its knowledge. Despite the company’s best efforts, these contractors or agencies do not call in for assistance until they have actually cut the cables and IT&E is appraised of the situation only when a customer is out of service.
IT&E understands the importance of telecommunications and would like to remind all contractors, homeowners, and building owners of the importance of contacting IT&E prior to any type of digging.
According to IT&E plant technical service manager Velma Palacios, the CNMI has experienced a large number of unnecessary cable cuts along the lines that connect our customers to the world. Often times these cable cuts result in costly damage or service interruptions to the community.
When a cut to the cable occurs, offenders are charged under P.L. 9-4, or the Commonwealth Utility Damage Prevention Act of 1994.
Palacios said repairs are costly and more importantly deprive both residential and business customers of their services.
“IT&E cables are not the only underground utilities (water, power, and sewer), and those services might also be jeopardized if they are unintentionally cut,” said Palacios.
Unlike other telecommunication companies, IT&E does not charge a fee for cable location that occurs during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information, contact IT&E Customer Care at 682-4ITE (4483) or see cable locate information in the 2011 CNMI Phone Book, which is available free of charge at IT&E Customer Service on Middle Road.
