LONG distance calling rates from the CNMI to the U.S. have been substantially reduced following the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the subsequent issuance of administrative orders by the Federal Communications Commission.
However, Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero, American-Reform-Saipan, observes that long distance calling rates within the islands of the commonwealth have remained substantially higher than the rates charged for long distance calls to the U.S.
To address this discrepancy, Guerrero has pre-filed S.B. 13-76 which seeks to amend the Commonwealth Telecommunications Act to ensure reduced rates for inter-island calls within the CNMI.
He said calling rates for inter-island calls should be reduced following FCC’s requirement of integrating interstate inter-exchange telecommunication service provider’s long distance rates to and from domestic, non-contiguous points.
Under the measure, the Commonwealth Telecommunications Commission would be mandated to “establish fair and reasonable rates, charges or rents for calling within the CNMI that should not exceed the rate for long distance calls to the U.S.”
Verizon currently charges 15 cents per minute for customer direct-dial between Saipan, Rota and Tinian.
