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Cook
Islands - Small Islands Voice - Technology Audit
Background
A
technology audit of schools and community centres was conducted
on all outer islands in the Cook Islands during the second half
of 2002.
There
is a definite lack of communication equipment (telephone, faxes
and computers) in the outer islands. While radios and televisions
(mainly for VCR use) are widely available on the outer islands
there were virtually none in any outer island community centre.
Additionally,
Radio Cook Islands (the AM station in Rarotonga) which is supposed
to be available nationwide is really only available to the Northern
Group (Manihiki, Penrhyn, Rakahanga, Pukapuka, Nassau, Palmerston)
in the early morning or later evening hours due to a combination
of climate conditions and the fact that Radio Cook Islands turns
down its frequency during most of the day to cut down on power
costs.
This
lack of readily available communication facilities proved disastrous
during Cyclone Martin in 1996, when Manihiki was devastated because
it only had 10 minutes warning that the cyclone was about to hit.
Not much has changed since then to improve communications on a
national basis.
New
Development - Satellite TV
This
is a new service, named Marama, being introduced by Telecom Cook
Islands to the outer islands. The TV channels originate from Tahiti
and comprise a selection of channels, only one of which can be
viewed by those on the outer islands at any one time. Channel
selection and time of viewing for the respective island is at
their discretion and requires a manual 'turning of the dial' by
an island operator. The channel selection comprises CNN, Turner
Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, one French movie channel, one
French news and variety channel, one French sports channel. As
of 1st December 2002 the service is available on the following
islands: Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, Mangaia, Manihiki, Rakahanga, (the
Aitutaki Island Government operates its own direct satellite linkage).
By 1st April 2003, Penrhyn will be able to receive Marama and
by 1st January 2004 Pukapuka will be added to the list. It should
be further noted that direct Internet service is only available
on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
Southern
Group Islands
Aitutaki
This
is probably the only outer island with a good communication network.
All four schools have computers, TV, radio and telephone/fax.
Community centres are also equipped with telephone/fax and radio.
It is the only outer island to have e-mail and Internet access
at affordable rates, as of 1st December 2002, Internet access
is $0.15/minute. (Internet charges on all other islands are $1.00/minute).
Communication on Aitutaki is equal to, if not superior to that
on the main island of Rarotonga.
Atiu
There
is one school with one telephone/fax, three computers (no Internet
access), one radio, one TV/VCR. The community centre has nothing.
Mangaia
There
are two schools, both have telephone/fax, no radio. The larger
of the two schools has one TV/VCR. The community centres have
nothing.
Mauke
There
are two schools, each has one computer, one TV/VCR, one radio,
one telephone/fax; the community centre has one telephone. There
is no Internet access.
Mitiaro
There
is one school with one telephone, three non-working computers,
no radio, no TV/VCR or fax. There is no Internet access. The community
centre has one telephone.
Northern
Group Islands
Manihiki
There
are two schools each has telephone/fax, one computer, one TV/VCR,
no radio. The community centre has nothing.
Penrhyn
There
are two schools each has telephone, no fax, one computer, one
TV/VCR, no radio. The community centre has nothing.
Pukapuka
There
is one school with two computers, one telephone/fax, one TV/VCR,
one radio. The community centre has nothing.
Nassau
There
is one school that has nothing. The community centre has nothing.
Palmerston
There
is one school with five computers, no radio, one TV/VCR, no telephone
or fax. The community centre has nothing.
Rakahanga
There
is one school with one telephone, one TV/VCR, no fax, computer
or radio. The community centre has nothing.
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