VINGN

I know the Local Isps are trying their best but why not make sit down and corrects issues to that its a faster transition for local isp to use the network.

VINGN being an isp for residents is just too much of a task for them to handle. There will be so much maintenance to keep up with.

I got a chuckle out of VING's apparent reluctance to expand while arguing what a benefit the network is/will be just to local government entities. Is there really ANY government website which functions properly? Most of those I go to are either simply non-functioning or so out of date that even the paucity of information contained therein is a waste of time.

What about ATT&Ts network? She talks like the VI is the only entity in the world with a fiber network.

The government has a history of not maintaining anything, so who would want them to be the only ISP on the island? Doesn't BBVI use VINGN?

Too many unanswered questions.

Isn't VINGN a middle mile? Unless somebody gives us fiber from our homes to the middle mile, our speeds can't improve by much. Nobody has mentioned that.

VINGN was just another federal money grab.

Isn't VINGN a middle mile? Unless somebody gives us fiber from our homes to the middle mile, our speeds can't improve by much. Nobody has mentioned that.

VINGN was just another federal money grab.

Even cellular 4g can get 300 to over 600 Mb/sec.
Coaxial cable can get gigaits/sec.

You don't need fiber from your home to your isp to attain much much faster speeds than we have here. On the mainland i had cable(coaxial) internet and was getting 160Mb/sec.

So, if the ISPs here connected to VINGN we would get faster internet?

You can get Gig speeds on copper over short distances so it could mean more nodes would need to be added to the Innovative network for instance. BBVI does not go through VINGN. BBVI are connected to the sub-sea cable station. The issue really isn't fiber on the island as far as residential customers. Local ISP's need to beef up their own networks to provide the higher speeds which can be gained over copper cables.

I thought Innovative and Choice upgraded in 2014. It seems no matter what anybody does we still have last century service.

I like how we got one long island-wide interconnected pothole out of the deal.

I like how we got one long island-wide interconnected pothole out of the deal.

Me too! LOL!

CD

I like how we got one long island-wide interconnected pothole out of the deal.

Me too! LOL!

CD

Man! They SCREWED UP the road to Questa Verde, and that was less than a year after Public Works had graded and repaved the whole road, and done correctly, too.

It took MULTIPLE calls to VINGN and then ultimately to Public Works, to get VIGNG to "fix" the damage they did. When they repaved it after they trenched, they had left multiple holes which subsequently enlarged with every rain.

I was like a dog with a bone, calling VINGN repeatedly over the span of 6 months. They finally came and fixed the damage they caused, but they still left a few holes.

Indeed, they did leave an island wide pothole. They suck!!!!!!!

VINGN needs to explain to the public more what under their FEDERALLY MANDIATED CHARTER they can and cannot do. VINGN CANNOT sell directly to business or residential customers period. VINGN is a carrier for ISPs in a nutshell. They are prohibited from selling directly to end users by the feds because it would be unfair competition.

BBVI does not go through VINGN. BBVI are connected to the sub-sea cable station. The issue really isn't fiber on the island as far as residential customers. Local ISP's need to beef up their own networks to provide the higher speeds which can be gained over copper cables.

BBVI does offer service that uses VINGN but for businesses only at this point. Choice, Smartnet, and Surge all have commercial service that uses VINGN as well.

Copper for the islands as a transmission medium is not the answer in a way. First storm that hits and there are going to be problems.

Thank you, sttanon. According to the CEO of VINGN, only the VINGN board, and the VI legislature is preventing them from doing "what's best for the island's economy and the people". Her explanation is that because they are no longer receiving grant funds, they need local legislation to create a different entity that can offer direct services.

Shall we take odds on how much longer they survive? With the government and a few small ISPs as their only customers, and we all know the government won't pay, they can't exist much longer, imo.

Has anybody contacted Google Fiber?????

I red the article link from OP.
Interestingly the CEO of VINGN is talking about STX becoming second Silicon Valley. Where this delusions of grandiosity are coming from? Fast network does not make Silicon Valley. Where will the highly educated, motivated, creative work force come from? Perhaps I am missing some locally cultivated Steve Jobs types hiding under the palm tree?

I red the article link from OP.
Interestingly the CEO of VINGN is talking about STX becoming second Silicon Valley. Where this delusions of grandiosity are coming from? Fast network does not make Silicon Valley. Where will the highly educated, motivated, creative work force come from? Perhaps I am missing some locally cultivated Steve Jobs types hiding under the palm tree?

I'm a web developer/designer but I was away for 11 years and recently came back. For some reason, they all seem to think silicon valley is made up of people who mess with networks. This sadly shows how disconnected they are from the industry they want to be a part of. On the side note though I do think tech is an open market in the Caribbean.

I agree. It is an open market and there is a need for services but one needs venture capital, enterpreneuors, qualified tech types, non corrupt gov and infrastructure.

So far I don't see any of it. 3/4 of population has no usable skills or work habits. It will take 20 years of education and 100 years of work culture change. We are not Bermuda.

Below is a link to information about the federal NTIA grants that undergirded VINGN. This may explain some questions about how/why it operates the way it does.

http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/u.s.-virgin-islands

Thanks, Gator's Mom, but I don't think that site details what VINGN can do now that the grants have expired, which is the basis for CEO's argument that they are no longer bounded by the restrictions imposed to qualify for the grants.

I would love to see what they can and cannot do in writing from a reputable source(s).

I have worked with NTIA grants. Requirements and reporting extend past the end of the $$ period - usually for ten years. The grantee continues to be responsible for using the equipment as specified in the grant.

This, of course, doesn't mean the purpose can't be expanded but the original intent should remain intact as well.

They aren't using all of the equipment now as intended by the grant, and that's what prompted the hearing. If local monies aren't available after the grant expires, there is no local funding to operate the PCCs. I doubt the federal government is going to repossess the equipment.

The federal government can demand its money back. This would all be stipulated in the original award letter signed between NTIA and the VI government.

And where can we see the original letter?????

http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/files/grantees/fact_sheet_-_vi_public_finance.pdf

It looks like the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority and WAPA were the key players.

I would think a VI public records request might get this for you.

Alternatively, I can PM you the email address for the NTIA program official who oversaw the project if you're serious about pursuing more info. He might be helpful.

So the plan is to built a national call center. That is where that job creation project is all about. Does that make any sense? Call centers provide a lot of low paying jobs with high turnover of staff. They require language and pronunciation skills even for low complexity operation. Wachovia bank had a call center in North Carolina. It was at times very frustrating to communicate in deep southern drawl. After the merger with Wells Fargo the NC call center was quickly abandoned.

Now the Feds dropped $60M for the project that can be essentially used by the local gov only. Have any of you tried to communicate by email with mid level gov workers? It just doesn't work. The emails go unanswered. If I score occasional answer, it takes weeks or months and original message is not appended. In my experience email communication has been essentially useless on local level. Actually, FedEx documents sit on the desks for months not being opened. Essentially, everything here needs to be hand delivered to the recipient followed by daily phonecall to get any action.