STACEY PLASKETI 
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 
331 CANNON House OFFICE BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515 
(202) 225-1790 
F Ax: (202) 225-5517 
PLASKETI.HOUSE.GOV 
The Honorable Ajit Pai 
Chairman 
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMODITY E XCHANGES, 
ENERGY, ANO CREDIT 
SuscoMM1nee ON GENERAL FARM Cm.1Moo1r1es 
AND R ISK MANAGEMENT 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON L IVESTOCK AND F OREIGN AGRICULTURE 
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT 
AND GOVERNMENT REFORM 
Qlougress of t4e ~niteo ~fades RANKING MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERIOR , E NERGY, AND E NVIRONMENT 
'lt' f 'll? .j.~t• f1p SUBCOMMITTEE ON H EALTH CARE, BENEFITS, F.aus.e .a ~~.epr.es.enw tu.es dCeived AND ADMINISTRATIVE R ULES 
~crs4ingt.au, ~QI .20515 & lnsPec TEERING AND POLICY COMMITTEE 
JAN ? fed REGIONAL WHIP 
January 8, 2018 '2 2019 FeeM. 
'fli!r00/JJ 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th St., S.W. 
Washington, DC 20536 
Dear Chairman: 
On behalf of my constituents, I commend the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for 
its quick response to aid the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and its residents following Hurricanes 
Irma and Maria. I write to urge the FCC to do more as the recovery from these two 
unprecedented hurricanes faces a long road ahead. A major part of the rebuilding process is our 
telecommunications sector. 
Viya, the largest telecommunications provider in the USVI, is working to restore its network 
facilities and services to provide residents with vital communications services. There is a 
priority on restoring wireless networks, because they can be brought online more quickly and 
meet the pressing need for essential communications services. However, these efforts continue 
to be hampered by the lack of electricity, failing generators caused by over sustained use and 
insufficient fuel, lack of access to remote areas to repair and restore networks, and theft of fuel 
and generators. Under normal circumstances, the Virgin Islands presents a challenging 
economic and geographic environment in which to operate a telecommunications business. 
Those challenges are substantially greater presently and for the foreseeable future. 
The wireline network was virtually destroyed. Vi ya must rebuild the landline communications 
infrastructure almost from scratch. The storms devastated the local economy leaving many 
residents out of work and businesses unable to reopen. The financial distress that USVI citizens 
are facing should not deprive them of access to critical communications services. Therefore, I 
respectfully ask that Viya's requests that the FCC provide financial support to defray customer's 
telecommunications costs and support the rebuilding of the wireless and wireline networks 
should be granted as expeditiously as possible. Doing so will provide certainty to Vi ya about the 
support available as it implements and accelerates its restoral efforts. 
Sr. CR01x D1srR1cr OFFICE 
60 KING STREET 
F REDERIKSTED, VI 00840 
(340) 778-5900 
F AX: (340) 778-5111 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER 
<§D· · 
Sr. THOMAS DISTRICT OFFICE 
9100 P ORT OF SALE MALL, SUITE 22 
Sr. T HOMAS, VI 00802 
(340) 774-4408 
FAx : (340) 774-8033 
61
Vi ya and other carriers will require federal assistance in the rebuilding process if 
telecommunications structures are to withstand future hurricanes. Underground hardened 
networks may be more expensive to build, particularly in insular areas such as the USVI, but 
resiliency now will prevent continual costly reconstructions in the future. 
I am concerned that without a onetime infusion of support for wireless and wireline networks, 
resilient rebuilding will not be possible. In the current environment, the Territory's 
telecommunications carriers are unable to bill customers as services remain intermittent. 
Furthermore, many businesses have not resumed operations, including several in the critical 
tourism industry, which employs approximately one-third of the USVI. Large hotels have 
indicated they will take months if not years to resume normal operations and have dismissed 
their employees in the interim. Without jobs or income, residents are unable to pay their bills, 
impinging cash flow into the market that would have gone to rebuilding networks. 
The American citizens of the USVI need the FCC's continued support. Rebuilding wireless and 
wired networks to restore essential facilities, including construction of storm-hardened networks 
where feasible, will be less expensive in the long-run, if USVI facilities are rebuilt in a more 
resilient manner. For this reason, I ask for your prompt approval of Viya's petitions for customer 
cost relief and wireless and wireline rebuilding support. 
If you have questions regarding this request, I can be reached at (202) 225-1790. Alternatively, a 
member of your staff can reach Angeline M. Jabbar in my office at (202) 226-7978 or at 
Angeline.Jabbar@mail.house.gov. 
Cc: Commissioner Mignon Clyburn 
Commissioner Michael O'Rielly 
Commissioner Brendan Carr 
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel 
Sincerely,