The Cabinet endorsed the appointment of Mrs Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell as the Regulator to lead and administer the Office of the Regulator.

Mrs Purcell holds a Masters in Commerce and Administration from the Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand (2003) complemented by a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Systems Management from the same University.

She is a 1973 graduate of Samoa College, Lematua has a wealth of working experience in the Information Communication and Technology industry both in Samoa and abroad. 

For six years (2003-2009) she served as the National ICT Sector Committee Secretary and Assistant CEO with the Ministry of Communication, Information and Technology.

And for the past 11 years, Lematua has worked in top management level posts internationally which includes:

• (2009-2016); Head of Division/Project Manager-International Telecommunication Organization, ITU Geneva Switzerland

• (2016-2018): Regional Adviser, South Pacific, Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization, London United Kingdom

• (2018-present) Director, ICT Development-Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization, London United Kingdom

• (2018-2020) Acting Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organizations, (CTO) London United Kingdom

Regulator’s Roles and Responsibilities

The Regulator’s roles and responsibilities are specifically stipulated under the four legislations namely the Telecommunications Act 2005, Broadcasting Act 2010, Electricity Act 2010 and Postal Act 2010 which also administers the Office of the Regulator.

The Regulator under these Acts shall carry out the following:

         i.            Advise the Minister and Cabinet on policies for broadcasting, electricity, postal and telecommunication services;

       ii.            Implement the Acts, the regulations and other elements of the legal and regulatory framework for broadcasting, electricity, postal and telecommunication services;

      iii.            Issues, amends or revoke licenses in accordance with the legislations and regulations;

     iv.            Prescribe procedures for the approval of telecommunications equipment;

       v.            Establish a radio spectrum plan and administer allocation of radio spectrum to licensees;

     vi.            Regulate and adjudicates on interconnection issues between licensees;

    vii.            Establish  and  manage  a  numbering  plan  and  assign numbers to licensees;

  viii.            Investigates and resolve disputes between licensees and also between customers and licensees;

     ix.            Must protect the interests of consumers of all regulated services;

       x.            Establish appropriate measures for preventing anti-competitive conduct and practices in the broadcasting and telecommunication services;

     xi.            Publish procedures, guidelines and interpretations to facilitate the implementation of its governing Acts;

    xii.            Must implement the national energy policy and support any national policies in combating climate change;

  xiii.            Monitor and enforce compliance by licensees with the conditions of their licenses;

  xiv.            Must require licensees to provide all information necessary to carry out regulatory and enforcement functions;

   xv.            Reviews, approves and monitors tariffs for broadcasting, electricity and telecommunication services;

  xvi.            Make rules and orders for such matters within the jurisdiction of the Regulator under the governing Acts;

xvii.            The  Regulator  shall  carry  out  the  responsibilities, functions  and  powers  of  the  Regulator  with  a  view  to implementing  the objectives set out in section 3 of the Acts;

xviii.            In exercising the Regulator’s powers and performing her duties under the governing Acts, regulation, rule or code of practice, the Regulator shall:

·         act  independently  in  performing  her responsibilities, functions and powers under each governing Act;

·         act  in  a  manner  that  is  separate from,  and  not  accountable  to,  a  service  provider, including  a  service  provider  owned  by  the Government.