American Samoa Government Department of Commerce releases the AS Territorial Broadband Strategy 2021 – 2026
Utulei, American Samoa. October 5, 2021. The American Samoa Department of Commerce (ASDOC) along with its Broadband Coordination, Opportunities, Redevelopment and Deployment Office (BCORD) today released the American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy (ASTBS), a resource to help the territory create digital inclusion plans to reduce the digital divide and prioritize digital equity for its residents.
“As the necessity of the internet has increased, we need to make sure that our territory and our people are not left behind, and critically, that we invest in technologies that will allow us to protect and preserve our Samoan culture,” said ASDOC Assistant Director Michael McDonald. “Closing this digital divide and achieving digital equity is critical for our residents and our territory to thrive. As we work toward our objectives, our goal is that the ASTBS serves as a valuable resource to help our government and anchor institutions to strategically prioritize digital equity and help level the playing field for our residents. Digital equity is achieved when individuals have digital literacy skills, access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet service, and a device to access and fully use the internet. These are the tools necessary for the ability to fully participate in our society, democracy, and economy.”
Formally titled, “2021–2026 Territorial Broadband Strategy – Building American Samoa’s e-Resilience,” the plan has been used as part of program design and development, intra-department communications with the ASG, and as the justifying foundation for over $40 million in federal grant applications so far, with many more opportunities expected in the very near future.
In 2020, ASDOC partnered with the University of Hawaii Telecommunications and Social Informatics (UH TASI) Research Program and SH3 Resource Development, LLC to launch the ASTBS effort with H. Gingerlei Porter as project lead. During this partnership over 40 stakeholders were consulted, with hundreds of hours of interviews over 49 weeks, and thousands of hours of effort assembling data, researched information, and consensus opinions of territorial experts. The resulting plan identifies 9 key priorities and dozens of strategies for improving the day-to-day lives of all territorial residents through broadband-connected technology.
“We are excited for the official launch of the American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy,” ASDOC Director Petti Matila said. “So much work has gone into making sure that it represents a consensus of our ambitions for using broadband in the future. It will lay the foundation for our efforts to achieve economic improvement through digital equity for years to come.”
The territorial broadband strategy was created through the support of the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), which helps promote planning for innovation and economic growth across America’s states and territories.
The strategy document is available for download HERE.
Planning for American Samoa’s eResilience
On behalf of the American Samoa Department of Commerce, please join us virtually for the official release of the 2021–2026 American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy – Building American Samoa’s e-Resilience (ASTBS).
The ASTBS Working Group has been engaged in a process to develop key strategies that will guide, assist and expand our use of broadband over the next five years. The completion of the plan is a milestone in our pursuit of opportunities through broadband for American Samoa.
WHEN: SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 9:00am – 10:00am AST/ 10:00am – 11:00pm Hawaii Time.
REGISTER TODAY: https://uhtasi.zoom.us/j/81640922381 (Connection details will be emailed after you register)
Ma le ava tele,
Petti T. Matila
Director of Commerce
Op-ed on Creating a Digital Economy Part 1
December 10, 2020, Pago Pago, Am. Samoa
The Dept. of Commerce and the AS Territorial Broadband Strategy Work Group recently hosted a 3rd Talanoaga Fa’atekolonosi, or Tala-Tek, with this 3rd forum focused on Creating a Digital Economy. The first 2 forums were on Cyber Security and Telehealth, both very important topics especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the coronavirus hit early in 2020, communities across the globe went into lockdown in an attempt to ‘flatten the curve’ and stop the spread of the virus. Here at home, in American Samoa, all school campuses were closed, government offices pulled back to shorter work weeks, and businesses had to shorten their hours all in an effort to prepare for the arrival of the virus. When this occurred, here and abroad, internet usage spiked as communities transitioned to work-from-home arrangements (remote working), schools pivoted to distance learning, and families stayed indoors (what do you do when you are stuck at home? Right, internet!) As reported by the World Health Organization in April of this year, there has been a fivefold increase in cyber-attacks since the arrival of COVID-19. Higher internet usage = higher cyber security risks. Telehealth immediately jumped from a sluggish, back burner “project” to the newest game in town, with communities everywhere leveraging broadband to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare to their citizens. These two areas, cyber security and telehealth, register with most people as pretty straight forward and easy-to-grasp telecom priority areas especially in light of COVID-19. But as we prepared for the 3rd Tala-Tek on Digital Economy, we began to realize just how abstract the subject matter can be, especially when it comes to application of tasks and strategies to help American Samoa build said Digital Economy…
TalaTek: Creating a Digital Economy
October 18, 2020, Pago Pago, Am. Samoa
Hear from experts Sudhir Ispahani and Mike Baukes on entrepreneurial ecosystems required to support a digital economy and key strategies, workforce development opportunities to make that happen.
WHEN: OCTOBER 22, 202010:30am – 12:00noon American Samoa Time / 11:30am – 1:00pm Hawaii Time. REGISTER TODAY: https://uhtasi.zoom.us/j/96880431852 (Connection details will be emailed after you register)
Sudhir Ispahani is the Founder and CEO of Alpha Global Partners. He is a highly sought-after strategist, investor, advisor and board member for companies focused on the next wave of disruptive technology innovation, Sudhir invests a significant amount of his time mentoring, advising and serving as a life coach to global leaders. He gives back by developing young executives who are revolutionizing communication technology…read more.
Mike Baukes is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of UpGuard, a global cybersecurity company headquartered in Hobart, Australia. Mike is Samoan and currently lives in Tazmania. Prior to founding UpGuard in 2012, Mike worked in senior technology and M&A roles for financial institutions such as ANZ, Lloyds Banking Group, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, leading teams in technology and strategy…read more.
Telehealth: Transforming Healthcare in American Samoa
Telehealth has become the fastest growing segment of delivery of healthcare due to COVID-19 and as patients and providers have recognized its far-reaching ability to provide the solutions necessary to significantly bend the cost curve while materially improving quality of life.
TBS Working Group Hosts First TALA-TEK
The first TALA-TEK on Cybersecurity and Data Protection in American Samoa featured speakers were Ms. Grace Tulafono-Asi, IT Manager, Department of Treasury; Mr. Randall Fitisone, Emergency Communications Coordinator, Department of Homeland Security; and Mr. Charles “Chuck” Lerch, CEO HiTech Hui in Honolulu, HI.
Working Group (WG)
The ASTBS Working Group and SubGroups, inclusive of members from the public and private sectors and civil society was established to identify and develop key strategies to:
- Leverage broadband across all industries and sectors
- Educate and inform the public about new resources and opportunities
- Close Digital Divide
The WG meets weekly via Zoom and is tasked with developing the ASTBS plan as well coordinating and implementing tangible activities using broadband.
We want to see the change now and so, we must take advantage of immediate opportunities and pick at those low hanging fruits.
H. Gingerlei Porter, Project Lead
SH3 Resource Development
December 2, 2020, Pago Pago, Am. Samoa
The American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy Working Group, a project of the ASDOC, is conducting a Household Survey on internet use in American Samoa. We value your feedback!
- Household Survey (English)
O loo faatautaia e le Vaega Galulue a le Fuafuaga o Upegalautele mo Amerika Samoa, o se porokalama a le Matagaluega o Fefaatauai’ga, lenei suesuega i le atiinae o le Upegalautele i Amerika Samoa.
- Suesuega Lautele (Samoan)
Here’s a look back at our first 6 episodes for KokoBytes:
- Episode #1: Mr. Sal Augafa, Chief Technology Officer, American Samoa Telecommunications Authority: Topic: What’s next for ASTCA?
- Episode #2: Mr. Sonny Leomiti, Vice President, Finance and Administration, American Samoa Community College Topic: COVID-19 and ASCC
- Episode #3: Mr and Mrs. Robin and Vico Nomaaea, Co-Founder Zephyr Partners Topic: Opportunities to expand contact/call centers in American Samoa
- Episode #4: Mr. Sonny Stevenson, App Developer/Software Engineer Topic: A Young Samoans story of a career in Applications Development
- Episode #5: Mr. Remi Galasso, CEO and Founder of Hawaiki Topics: Hawaiki and American Samoa- The vision behind Hawaiki
- Episdoe #6: Mr. Chris Magalei, Field Engineer/System Support Engineer at StratusWorx Topic: Education and Programming
A place where flush out a few details and further discuss ideas on how to grow American Samoa’s broadband economy. Some of the topics include cybersecurity, telehealth, economic development, next generation technologies, and many more!
KokoBytes, a Platform to Talanoa
KokoBytes is a platform to share ideas about innovations and creativity in American Samoa. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness of “broadband economy” and to tell our stories, our way through conversations about potential developments and opportunities for American Samoa with access to tremendous bandwidth via Hawa’iki.
Tala-Tek Series
Talanoaga Fa’aTekonolosi (TALA-TEK) is a monthly webinar series of pertinent topics on the use of broadband and technology applications in American Samoa. TALA-TEK feature speakers and experts at the local and community, national and global levels. Topics include but are not limited to: cybersecurity, telehealth, distance education, eCommerce, trades and technologies and many more.
“American Samoa Launches Territorial Broadband Strategy”
Utulei, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Territorial Broadband Strategy (ASTBS) initiative was successfully launched virtually, via Zoom, last Thursday morning. Over 80 people joined the Zoom conference launch while several more watched via a simultaneous Facebook live stream. This event was a first of its kind for American Samoa.
“It was great to see so many people come together virtually, to listen and learn from a list of great speakers who touched on everything from innovation, cyber security, entrepreneurship, health care, and more. Modern broadband provides so much potential, and this process that we are undertaking, to establish a strategy to effectively leverage ASTCA’s new connection to the Hawaiki submarine cable, will help the people of American Samoa see a quicker return on our investment.” said Department of Commerce (DOC) Director Keniseli Lafaele. “The virtual launch of this initiative was the perfect demonstration of our territory’s capabilities now that Hawaiki is online. Over a hundred people participated between the Zoom conference and the live stream on our Facebook page. Incredible!”
The ASTBS will assist the Territory of American Samoa in its efforts to determine how best to proceed in leveraging the investments made into the Territory’s significantly improved telecommunications infrastructure. Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga’s and Lt. Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga’s administration has successfully installed the most modern telecommunications infrastructure in the region, creating a foundation for the potential growth of an Information & Communication Technology (ICT) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries.
The primary objectives of the initiative are to: 1) Develop a strategy that will effectively leverage broadband across all industries & sectors; 2) Heighten both local international awareness and understanding of the Territory’s broadband capabilities; and 3) Address the digital divide that still exists in American Samoa despite the improved telecommunications infrastructure.
The ASTBS is being funded by a grant awarded to DOC from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA). SH3 Resource Development (SH3) was awarded a contract to assist DOC in coordinating the development of the ASTBS.
“We are living in very exciting times with endless possibilities for American Samoa, not only as users of content and applications, but as creators of content through the use of broadband. SH3 Resource Development in partnership with the University of Hawaii looks forward to working with DOC and to witness and document the growth of broadband usage in American Samoa through this process.” said Gingerlei Porter, Project Lead.
For more information regarding the ASTBS, visit https://www.facebook.com/amsamoatbs or contact DOC Territorial Planner Michael McDonald at the Department of Commerce at 633- 5155.