Re: TRR's unjustifiable increase

Dear Editor,

I read your article , re: Aviation industry is opposed to TRR’s unjustifiable increase in radio fees, when they have absolutely nothing to maintain in the way of equipment.

I have discovered that the Ports and Marine Department also have the same concerns; as one of them, who has been in the marine industry for a very long time said, “the issuing of radio licenses used to be done for few Hundred Franks from a little counter in the Post office”.

What has changed?

Well now we are told that TRR are here to protect you and I, the Public, from the “Big Bad Telicom Giants”.

Funny thing is , When TVL were handling the Radio Licenses it was 5 times less than the new TRR rate!!

So just who are they protecting us from!

It is not as if a ship’s or aircraft’s radio is there to make money or to sell advertising from, it’s just there for safety and navigation.

IATA and ICAO have both issued advise to Radio Spectrum Regulators around the world, that radio licensing should be not a Cost recovery basis only it is free in Australia, New Zealand, USA and UK and Just $13 in Fiji and less than $40 in Samoa so how come TRR needs Vt56,000 per aircraft or ship or land based navigate aide.

If TRR wants to reduce their overheads maybe they should consider setting up office in a less expensive part of town as it is not as if they need prime real-estate with harbor views and out door BBQ area to do their job and maybe they could consider less expensive accommodation for their expat staff and fewer and shorter trips overseas.

After all they are supposed to be in to all that “IT” stuff, why not just tellie conference instead of flying to Hawaii or where ever for meetings and save the money to run their office.

Oh yes and even after paying Vt56,000 for a license of an aircraft that had to go to Noumea it took over 40 days to get a certificate and then it was only printed on A4 copy paper!

Tony Deamer