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Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesReader Hopes RTFC Will Take Over Innovative Telephone

Reader Hopes RTFC Will Take Over Innovative Telephone

Dear Source,
It is my sincerest hope that RTFC (Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative) takes over Innovative Telephone's services here in the Virgin Islands.
It took one year to get phone service out to my home in Coral Bay St. John and then for another year the service was mostly hit and miss. It has gone out again and I have had no service for the past two weeks, nor did many of my neighbors during the recent storms.
The telephone repairmen (who are absolutely wonderful when given the right tools and equipment) are tired of coming out to fix the phones because the equipment is old and does not properly interface with the new systems.
I also care for house in Chocolate Hole where the phone is out as I write because of the rain.
The service was bad before Vitelco became Innovative and now it's worse. Everything is documented and I would be happy to share this.
Hey, any of you Peter Bay residents reading this? I have heard horrendous stories about the service you aren't getting.
I offer my services to take any representatives from RTFC to lunch plus a guided tour of Cruz Bay – for on the streets you will find further commentary from many a disgruntled telephone customer.
Oh yes, on the average when one calls 912 for telephone repairs sometimes it is busy for hours. The average wait is 10-15 minutes once their machine answers.
Here in the Virgin Islands not only had this phone company received huge tax breaks, but the same corporation owns the Daily News newspaper, TV stations and provides Internet services (when the phones are working.)
Am I wrong, or is there a little too much media and utility concentration here?
We, as consumers, are entitled to decent, reliable services for the low interest loans Mr. Prosser received from RTFC for those very services! With a settlement agreement date set for Tuesday I urge everyone to write the Source and lets work together to crack this media monopoly.
Health & Peace,
Mary Blazine
St. John

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