New fiber optic cable, legislative updates, madam president and more
Google to run fiber optic cable, connecting Indonesia and Guam GU Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Google, is proposing to land the APRICOT submarine fiber optic cable system in Guam, according to documents posted by Guam’s Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
The APRICOT cable system would connect Guam with Indonesia, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore. Documents say the company has an agreement with Tata Communications to use one of six conduits that were previously installed offshore. The marine bulkhead, beach manhole, and connecting conduits were previously installed to receive submarine fiber optic cables that currently house the ECHO, Hantru-1, and PPC-1 cables. “The proposed APRICOT cable will increase the connectivity and telecommunication capacity of Guam and the western Pacific region,” according to the documents. “Briefly, a single fiber optic cable will be laid on the seafloor through Guam waters to the pre-existing Tata Communications marine bulkhead in shallow nearshore waters at Agat, Guam, then pulled through a pre-existing conduit from the bulkhead to the already-installed beach manhole located above the ordinary high-water mark.” The agency announced that the public commenting period for the submitted Consistency Certification process will be held from April 20 to May 15. According to BSP, written comments may be submitted to the Guam Coastal Management Program Office at Adelup or emailed to julian.janssen@bsp.guam.gov. This won’t be the first Google cable to connect Guam to Asia.
Submarinecables.com reported on April 15, 2021 that Edge Cable Holdings USA LLC, a subsidiary of Facebook, and GU Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Google, jointly applied to the FCC for a license to land and operate the Echo Cable System on Guam. Echo is described as a private fiber-optic submarine cable system connecting the United States, Singapore, and Indonesia.
According to the application document, the Echo Cable System’s main trunk connects Eureka, California with Singapore. It will have 12 fiber pairs, each having a design capacity of 12 Tb/s using current technology. Additionally, there will be two branches connecting Guam to the main branch. A third branch, from Indonesia, will connect Tanjung to the main branch.
Facebook and Google will share 50% each of voting and participation interests of wet infrastructure and common infrastructure in the Main Trunk and branches of the Echo Cable System.
Legislative updates:
In the 37th Guam Legislature:
The Committee on Health, Land, Justice, and Culture will convene a public hearing on April 25 at 9:00 a.m. “for the presentation of plans from the governor regarding the proposed lease of federal lands for the medical campus, [ and] to address the attorneygGeneral’s recommendations regarding the non-compliance of the lease with federal and local laws,” All hearings are broadcast on GTA TV Channel 21, Docomo Channel 117 and livestreamed on the Guam Legislature YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GuamLegislatureMedia.
Bill No. 100-37, introduced by Sen. Telo T. Taitague extends commercials leases on Government of Guam property from five to 10 years.
Bill No. 8-37, introduced by Sen. Jesse A. Lujan, aims to ensure online accessibility and timely posting of Government of Guam Invitations for Bids and Requests for Proposals on a dedicated government website.
Bill No. 75-37, introduced by Sen. Joe S. San Agustin, to provide public assistance for private businesses recovering from the economic effects of COVID-19 through a program established by the Guam Economic Development Authority
She, her, hers – UOG announces shortlist for 12th president
EnriquezOne thing’s for certain – the next president of the University of Guam will be female.
UOG announced the shortlist of three female applicants on April 20, two days after the Journal said a shortlist would be forthcoming.
The paper also said it had heard applicants included those from Guam, and two of those made the shortlist.
UOG received 31 local, national, and international applicants, a release said.
The final three are Anita Borja Enriquez, Mary Ann Young Okada, and LeGene Quesenberry.
OkadaEnriquez is the senior vice president and provost at the University of Guam. She has a history as an entrepreneur, former corporate planning and development manager and management consultant. Enriquez holds a doctorate in business administration from Alliant International University, a master’s of business administration from UOG and a bachelor’s in management from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Enriquez was a finalist in 2018 for the previous presidential search.
Okada is the president of Guam Community College. She formerly served as vice president of financial affairs, controller and accounting supervisor at GCC. She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix, and a master’s in public administration and a bachelor’s in business administration from UOG.
Quesenberry served as interim president of the American University in Nigeria from 2017 to 2019. Prior to that she was acting president and vice president of academic affairs for the Royal University for Women in Bahrain and dean of the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics & Strategic Research. She holds a juris doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Wash., and a bachelor’s from Washington State University.Quesenberry
Quesenberry was a finalist for the presidential search for the College of Micronesia-FSM in 2020.
The college received 35 applicants, including three from the Micronesia region, it said.
Current UOG president Thomas W. Krise is due to retire in August.
Legislative updates:
In the 37th Guam Legislature:
The Committee on Health, Land, Justice, and Culture will convene a public hearing on April 25 at 9:00 a.m. “for the presentation of plans from the governor regarding the proposed lease of federal lands for the medical campus, [ and] to address the attorneygGeneral’s recommendations regarding the non-compliance of the lease with federal and local laws,” All hearings are broadcast on GTA TV Channel 21, Docomo Channel 117 and livestreamed on the Guam Legislature YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GuamLegislatureMedia.
Bill No. 100-37, introduced by Sen. Telo T. Taitague extends commercials leases on Government of Guam property from five to 10 years.
Bill No. 8-37, introduced by Sen. Jesse A. Lujan, aims to ensure online accessibility and timely posting of Government of Guam Invitations for Bids and Requests for Proposals on a dedicated government website.
Bill No. 75-37, introduced by Sen. Joe S. San Agustin, to provide public assistance for private businesses recovering from the economic effects of COVID-19 through a program established by the Guam Economic Development Authority
In the 23rd NMI Legislature:
House Bill 23-18 will get feedback from the community, to include the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, before it passes to the Senate. The bill – the Beverage Container Law of 2023 proposes 5c will be added to the cost of each beverage container, which consumers may take to approved vendors to redeem the 5c charge. The Bill defines beverage containers as “individual, separate, sealed glass, metal or plastic bottle, can, jar or carton containing a beverage.”
S.B. No. 23-30: To impose an additional (5% on any licensed construction contractor that earns a yearly gross revenue of $250,000 or more for a period of three years.
S.B. No. 23-32: To establish mandatory presentation of valid personal photo identification for any debit and credit card transactions made in person and any check cash exchange or purchase for all business establish
H.B. No. 23-39: To establish a tax credit for monetary donations/contributions made to public hospitals and/or clinics.
And also …
The Crowne Plaza Resort Guam will launch the Cabana Sunset Dinner Show featuring the Magic of Anthony Reed April 25 and co-starring the comedy magic of Hank Rice. The show will run every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with a Korean BBQ style dinner. For further details: (671) 646 5880 or fbreservations.cprguam@ihg.com
For your diary:
May 3: Guam Chapter of the Society for Human Resource ManagementBreakfast Briefing, 8.30 to 10.30 a.m., Dusit Thani Resort Guam – giving an overview of “some new and important employment law topics you need to know about,” with Michael A. Pangelinan, partner with Calvo Fisher & Jacob and SHRM Guam’s VP of Legislative Affairs.
Pangelinan will also explain recent changes in employment regulations at the federal and local level and recent court decisions impacting the workplace.
These include:
PWFA & PUMP Act – New Laws Protecting Pregnant Employees
Quiet Quitting – Legal Implications
Avoiding Unfair Labor Practices
New Judicial Policy on Arbitration Clauses
How to Keep Communications with Your Lawyer Confidential
Social Media and Artificial Intelligence – Legal Implications
May 27:Saipan Chamber of Commerce 2023 Golf Scholarship Tournament, Lao Lao Bay Golf & Resort West Course, Showtime starts at 6 a.m., Shotgun starts at 7 a.m. For more details, go to https://www.saipanchamber.com/whatsnew/golftournament/
