I’m very happy to see that the NECA has raised the same concerns as I have regarding SIC’s ownership and affiliates using their new inter island fiber-optic network (the NECA’s full comments are available here, Sandwich Isles comments are available here).
I previously blogged about the ownership of this new inter-island submarine fiber-optic network here.It seemed at the time the new ownership of this network, Blue Ivory Hawaii Corporation, was simply a shell company for Sandwich Isles Communications.
The latter assertion gained more credence today when I read this part of the NECA’s comments.
“Notwithstanding, NECA has raised concerns on this issue with Sandwich Isles, based on the fact that the Paniolo Cable Company (owner of the leased cable) is now owned in its entirety by Blue Ivory, LLC. Blue Ivory, which is held by the children of Albert S.N. Hee, President of Sandwich Isles, in “three private trusts, the Adrianne H.R. Hee Irrevocable Trust, the Breanne E.R. Hee Irrevocable Trust, and the Charlton E.R. Hee Irrevocable Trust. Each trust holds shares of Blue Ivory Hawaii for the benefit of the named beneficiary.”
The NECA also raised another significant concern regarding Sandwich Isles Communications affiliate company ClearCom use of this new fiber-optic network.
“Sandwich Isles asserted that the cable would only carry regulated traffic and services for the first 5 years of operation. Notwithstanding Sandwich Isles’ position, a 2002 Forbes profile on Albert Hee (President of Sandwich Isles) indicates that Sandwich Isles may have plans to allow ClearCom, its sister company and a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), to use the Sandwich Isles network.”
September 1st, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Aloha Aaron! Please keep reporting about Sandwich Isles…I remember reading the Forbes article and then asking about the company to a local business banker who said most of the article assertions were false…but I wondered. From what I have read over the years about the company there appears to be lots of “red flags” for a company which has quite a lot of government financial support in one way or the other….seems like the company should be a lot more transparent than it is…
March 24th, 2011 at 10:58 AM
Sandwich isles destroyed 125 trees on my property in Waimea when digging a trench cutting the roots and irrigation line…and refused to compensate damages or replace the trees….liabilities are The Hawaiian Home State Department and Sandwich Isles Phone Company…permission was granted by Hawaiian Home department without consent of the Native Hawaiians to install said fiber optic telephone lines… A case will be filed with the Supreme court for compensation of the trees… the irrigation line was replaced… In the year 2007… The jurisdictions of congressional lands lie’s within the Supreme Court… As State and county civil courst has no jurisdictions over the said Lands… Kahanamoku