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CCT taking TRC to court!

-parties appearing in High Court tomorrow Oct 2
CCT Global Communications has initiated legal action against the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) and the two parties will be appearing in the Supreme Court tomorrow October 2, 2015. Photo: Provided
CCT CEO Romney Averad Penn. Photo: VINO/File
CCT CEO Romney Averad Penn. Photo: VINO/File
CEO of TRC Guy L. Malone. Photo: VINO/File
CEO of TRC Guy L. Malone. Photo: VINO/File
In 2014 the TRC fined CCT $50,000 for unauthorised use of the spectrum. CCT claimed to have done nothing wrong. Photo: Provided
In 2014 the TRC fined CCT $50,000 for unauthorised use of the spectrum. CCT claimed to have done nothing wrong. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – CCT Global Communications has initiated legal action against the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) and the two parties will be appearing in the Supreme Court tomorrow October 2, 2015.

Parties in the matter are all tight lipped as to the details of the litigation but documents seen by this news site confirm that there would be a court hearing.

According to those documents, the matter is between Caribbean Cellular Telephone Limited as applicant and Telecommunications Regulatory Commission as respondents. The parties will appear before the Honourable Madam Justice Nicola Byer.

Attorneys for the applicant are Tana’ania Small Davis of Livingston, Alexander and Levy and Monique Peters of Hunt and Co. appearing for the respondent is William Hare of Forbes Hare.

Efforts today October 1, 2015 to reach CEO of CCT Global Communications Romney Averad Penn proved futile. When we contacted CEO of the TRC Guy L. Malone today, he said that because of confidentiality issues, he could not disclose any details regarding the latest court action against the TRC by CCT.

CCT fined $50,000 in 2014 for ‘unauthorised use of spectrum’

Over the past months, tension between the CCT and the TRC has been high. In 2014 the TRC fined CCT $50,000 for unauthorised use of the spectrum. CCT claimed to have done nothing wrong.

At a press conference on May 15, 2014, CCT Chief Executive Officer Mr. Romney Averad Penn told reporters that they have done nothing beyond the authorisations.

"We live in a regulated environment and we have done nothing that is beyond the authorisations which we have been granted by the TRC,” said Mr Penn.

In a statement dated May 14, 2014, Mr Guy L. Malone, Chief Executive Officer of the TRC had said that after careful consideration and consultation conducted with reference to section 75(1) of the Telecommunications Act, 2006, it had determined that CCT breached section 20(1) (a) of the Act which resulted in the fine.

However CCT’s Penn said, "we went out, we asked for permission, we have written letters; we told them we wanted to test, we have gotten pioneer status. From our perspective, we have tried to be as above board as possible, and we are a little disappointed in the fine that has come down to us and obviously we will look to see what recourse we have, moving forward.”

He had hastened to note that CCT does not have an adverse relationship with the TRC as they are the regulators of the industry.

CCT was never shy about its LTE ambitions

Penn had said that CCT has never been shy about the fact that they are building a new network that does include LTE technology. He said that they got pioneer status to bring in LTE technology of which they did inform the TRC as they were going along the way.

“We have installed this new technology here within the BVI and we are waiting for an opportunity to bring it to the customers,” Penn stated back in May 2014.

We will bring you details emanating from the court hearing tomorrow.

34 Responses to “CCT taking TRC to court!”

  • oh (01/10/2015, 19:28) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    Government taking Government to court?
  • ..... (01/10/2015, 19:29) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Oh dear ndp civil war
  • Customer (01/10/2015, 19:44) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Let there be LTE, years now cct have this thing trying to give us. the home one bad but I want it on my phone too.
  • wize up (01/10/2015, 20:24) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    this should be fun the "government" taking the "government" to court(wow) I am predicting CCT will win and the administration will pay according to the judgment and payment will be swift (its call a tap-up)
  • vip (01/10/2015, 21:16) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    time CCT stands up fr em rights
  • LilyAnn (01/10/2015, 21:45) Like (10) Dislike (11) Reply
    Remember when CCT used to charge for incoming and outgoing calls??? the world is round ....they have to constantly be in court !!!!
    • Yes (01/10/2015, 21:58) Like (14) Dislike (7) Reply
      Remember when CCT had to route their calls through C&W (now Lime) at the time which is why they charged that rate? Remember how much C&W used to charge? They get a free pass because they are the big outside company but you bashing the small local company. BVI will forever be backwards and filled with dreamers and 9-5 disgruntled workers instead of doers and real business owners who understand wealth.
    • concern (01/10/2015, 22:16) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      Lily Ann u need to shut up
  • The watchman (01/10/2015, 22:22) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    Are we really that naïve? That is not a fight. No matter how you try to polish the, if you in government you can be in business. Wake up people. Government members have shares in CCT. CCT will win the court case and you guessed it. People tax money paying for a decision on the TRC side that is a set up to milk a little of the people's purse. REALLY!
    • wize up (02/10/2015, 07:54) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ the watch man, I hold the very same view as you but I call it "a tap up" some-folk goes to they service provider and do a tap-up when their cell phone credit gets low: OK-CCT just sponsored all or most of the 2015 festival so funds "might" just be a bit low....our tax will tap up CCT: let me also mention this, as broke as government is crying, CCT will be paid within minutes of any judgement and paid in full........replenishments of CCT's cash low after the 2015 festival: its called business BVI-Style
    • @The watchman (02/10/2015, 12:10) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      If you only know what is really going on you would not ever say what your saying. CCT has a legitimate case and when all the documents are released you will change your tongue. Just wait for it.
  • -------------------- (02/10/2015, 08:09) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    leave CCT alone they are one of us and the NDP trying to help kill them off because they do not want anyone say conflict of interest!
    • East to West (02/10/2015, 09:59) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
      As a matter of fact NDP has more political ties to Digicel and Lime rather than CCT, hence the reason why CCT got fined that 50k, pioneering status means being the first to have that technology but because while Digicel and Lime been working on there suppose to 3G to 4G and CCT curb the threshold those political ties to the other companies is the ones that's preventing CCT from making that power move
      • wize up (02/10/2015, 10:24) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ east to west: keep fooling yourself: the current members of VIP brought the Digicel....
  • rewrsdffds (02/10/2015, 09:34) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    I never understood why the TRC blocking the progress of the country. Technology is steadily advancing and we are stuck with crap that keeps buffering.
  • Fooled again (02/10/2015, 09:53) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply

    Talkin bout local company n routing tru Lime
    B S
    Can i operate/ offer cars for rent if i dont own any ?
    YES if im working for some one
    C C T RAPED the ppl of BVI for years
    Damn cr**ks

  • East to West (02/10/2015, 10:07) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    As a matter of fact NDP has more political ties to Digicel and Lime rather than CCT, hence the reason why CCT got fined that 50k, pioneering status means being the first to have that technology but because while Digicel and Lime been working on there suppose to 3G to 4G and CCT curb the threshold but those political ties to the other companies is the ones that's preventing CCT from making that power move, and since those politicians ain't making money from that Venture because they ain't apart or active in the BVI investment club anymore they trying to keep there foot in that company's neck... Keep the fight going Mr. Penn your tactics in this fight is brilliant.
  • service (02/10/2015, 10:57) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    CCT it appears has been ready to provide the sevice we need and have been asking for, so why the TRC don't grant permission to use the spectrum? We like to live in the past about two way charges in stead of working together and tell the elected people to stop holiding us back. I am sure they are waiting until Sour Lime finish their upgrades and then permission will be granted. I am using CCT LTE for the home and I love it. Lime and Digi is still in 3G world. I say LET THERE BE LTE. If court is where we will get it....then so be it.
  • Stopit (02/10/2015, 11:22) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    When are we going to let our local companies progress? CCT is one of our local companies. Digicel and Lime must bow to it. People, get it straight, no Chinese go against another Chinese, they play partner-hand till the other open a business. No "Arab" goes against another "Arab" they waiting for each door to become vacant so they can jump in and give the locals hell in operating a small business here. People of the Virgin Islands, wake the hell up, it is time we start looking out for our own regardless of CCT's past. CCT's money stay here. Where the 'fart Lime and Digicel goes. It is time for Virgin Islanders to stand build our own Virgin Islands Economic Street. So, TRC, stop drinking the crab-n-political basket Kool-Aid and let CCT go Free. TRC, let our people go!! Pshaw, man.!!
  • Sammo (02/10/2015, 12:13) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply

    CCT = Company Constantly Thieving
    Its time to wake up to the reality that they are lining their own pockets not the peoples pockets
    CCT still charge per minute and not per second so if you are on CCT and talk for 10 seconds you pay for 60 seconds
    Its time to shake off this thievery

  • shovla (02/10/2015, 12:41) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Level playing field only when it suits 'the Club'!!!
    What about all of us overpaying for groceries, ferrys, medical. Stop pulling in favors from your friends and fight a fair fight CCT. You cant always depend on NDP to bail you out
  • save ourselves (02/10/2015, 12:45) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The truth is out now that cct trying to stop fair process with highest bidder
    They stop at nuthing to make the little people pay for this craziness when they still charging per minute and lime and digi charging per second. Its time to make the move to real network and thats not cct
  • Pasma (02/10/2015, 12:55) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    cct build a lte network without any license and then when there is a equal chance for the others they cry to the courts
    when will this foolishness stop and we get the technology we really want with fibre from digicel
  • laffing girl (02/10/2015, 12:58) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thats the truth Sammo and how about this one?

    CCT LTE = Clowns Constantly Telling Lies To Everyone
  • Jonah F (02/10/2015, 13:03) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply

    We must stand up for the Virgin Islanders and residents of the BVI who have to pay per minute when they make a call on CCT. So when you cant connect my call and I get voice mail I pay for a whole minute!

    This is madness in 2015 and we have to stop fooling ourselves that P*** and the rest of the Investment club care anything about the little man.

    Stop trying to fix everything to protect yourselves 

  • fooling the people (02/10/2015, 13:44) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    CCT get duty free for LTE equipment when they did not have a license to offer LTE;
    How is this possible? Who is going to stand up to them?
    We support you Mr Malone in your efforts to bring freedom for ALL the people and not just the 1%
  • latest (02/10/2015, 14:06) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    so what happened in court?

    Will CCT not be allowed to get any LTE because they perverting justice again
  • wize up (02/10/2015, 15:05) Like (2) Dislike (12) Reply
    the former minister responsible for communications under the virgin islands party is the person that have CCT in this hardship by bringing Digicel in to the small BVI Market: the market study advised the former VIP minister against bring the 3 cell service provider into the BVI but he went ahead: this former minister of Work & communication single handedly destroyed occean conversion and CCT: one must add destroying the 2015 VIP political party to his list: imagine him as Premier of this place(wow): look on the bright side Digicel helps with his ball-games......
  • Moving forward (02/10/2015, 16:00) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why you want to bring us back to the past before digicel got here and allowed everyone have a phone??

    Now I can roam in USA and pay same price as when I am in the BVI
    Now I can get a smartphone for lowest price
    Now I can get lower price calls to Jamaica
    Now I can get customer service 24 hours every day
    In the future I will get internet at home and television from digicel
    CCT is the past and Digi is the future
    • wize up (03/10/2015, 04:27) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      @ moving forward: you sound like a broke @$$ nigga just a free loader: just for your information many of our people invested money in CCT: the purpose of good government is to protect local business; there is a factor in business called business development; our territory is a small business market and our people and our children have to be given the chance to enter business in this territory thereafter given the right opportunity to develop that business: let me submit to you, when we just had CCT as a cell provider our people paid their bilsl and we bought cell phones: we did not sit like clowns waiting of Digicel to give free phones or free tap up, we went out and we got what we wanted:
  • open wide (02/10/2015, 19:49) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cct only got local after vanterpool and romney buy it before that it was a expact company
  • wize up (03/10/2015, 04:35) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    @ open wide: ask a question: our people invested their money in to CCT long before Penn and Vanterpool became the major players but I am very proud to know that our people have the financial ability to undertake such major investments: that's why we need a government that looks out for the investments made by the residents and citzens of the BVI...our country had cell phone long before Digicel can here and we paid our bills and bought cell phone(talk that)
  • Eagle Eye (03/10/2015, 11:50) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply

    digicel customers need to take digicel to court.



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