Frett-Gregory Defends Referral of Heritage Wireless to Dept. of Education, Calls Proposal “Golden Opportunity” As ACP Signup Deadline Looms

Senator Donna Frett-Gregory says she does not have any affiliation whatsoever with Heritage Wireless, the company at the center of a firestorm of attention following an announcement from the V.I. Dept. of Education of a new initiative under the soon-to-expire Affordable Connectivity Program.

Last Saturday, the D.O.E. announced a partnership – in their words – with Heritage Wireless to provide free devices to qualifying students under the ACP. The initial press release omitted key details, including information that the program benefits would soon expire if the ACP were not renewed, and that they were available from other service providers as well. The press release also linked to a since-updated application form specific to Heritage Wireless, and praised Senator Frett-Gregory for “her invaluable support and for her role in establishing the connection with Heritage Wireless.”

The move quickly drew scrutiny from the offices of at least two lawmakers, who raised several questions about how the decision was taken to partner with this company. Consortium journalists then learned that the president and sole director of Heritage Wireless Bobbi Alston seems to be the same person as Corey Alston, who has a history of criminal convictions and civil lawsuits against him for fraudulent activity dating back as far as 2013.