CUJAE Students Demand ETECSA Accountability: Call for Respect and Concrete Solutions

In a bold move, the Federation of University Students (FEU) and the Union of Young Communists (UJC) at the José Antonio Echeverría Technological University of Havana (CUJAE) have issued a strong condemnation of the recent measures announced by the Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA). The measures, intended to enhance university students' connectivity, faced backlash due to restrictions on Cuban peso (CUP) recharges, capped at 360 CUP over 30 days.

On June 3rd, a joint statement from FEU and UJC called for more substantial solutions and demanded greater respect from ETECSA toward the Cuban populace. "We reiterate our dissatisfaction and request more immediate and inclusive solutions, alongside a more respectful public attitude from the company's leadership," the statement declared, marking the start of a sharp critique from CUJAE.

Beyond technical and economic corrections, the students sought a shift in the company's demeanor. They criticized ETECSA representatives for offering repetitive and vague explanations without fully addressing the true impact on citizens.

Specific Criticisms of ETECSA's Approach

The document outlines several arguments supporting the student community's disapproval:

Lack of Technical Rigor
"The graphs used to justify the 'average consumption of 6GB' are flawed: they lack age ranges and need-based segmentation."

Exclusionary Measures at Odds with Socialist Ideals
Changes favoring only university students overlook educators, researchers, healthcare workers, and other essential sectors: "Such inequalities are unacceptable in a socialist system."

Discrepancy Between Discourse and Practice
Although ETECSA claims to prioritize key sectors for development, connectivity restrictions directly harm those meant to benefit: "These limitations undermine the goal, affecting students, scientists, and professionals."

Unanswered Questions
Students directly challenge the company: "Why weren't alternatives like bonuses, schedules, or promotions implemented earlier to raise funds without harming the population?" "Is there no other option that doesn't burden the people?"

Lack of Transparency and Communication
"It's incorrect and not revolutionary practice to announce immediate changes without any chance for reaction or preparation." Additionally, they question the dollarization of services against national salaries, pointing out that package costs exceed half of an average salary, threatening digital inclusion.

A Call for Respect and Self-Critique

The statement targets ETECSA's attitude during public appearances: "The presentations have not met public demand. They've displayed disrespect," the statement noted, also highlighting the directors' lack of empathy. "No executive has publicly acknowledged any mistakes," they added.

Concrete and Viable Proposals

Rather than merely criticize, FEU and UJC at CUJAE presented specific proposals:

• Revisiting the national recharge scheme with student and citizen involvement.
• Offering nighttime bonuses (12 am to 5 am) for academic downloads.
• Segmented plans for specific uses (e.g., packages for WhatsApp or YouTube).
• Engaging with ETECSA directors at the university, coordinated by the Telecommunications and Electronics Faculty.
• Extending benefits to other vulnerable sectors, including educators and social workers.

Context of the Statement

The statement emerged after a broad meeting at CUJAE involving faculty representatives, FEU presidents, UJC secretaries, the Union, and the Communist Party (PCC). Provincial and national authorities from the Party, UJC, FEU, and the Union also attended. The aim was to hear firsthand the concerns of students and workers, channeling their collective sentiment into a public document that accurately reflects their stance.

Final Declaration: Commitment to Dialogue

The text concluded with a call for genuine dialogue and the defense of collective well-being: "We urge ETECSA to rectify, engage in transparent dialogue, and act on the principle that 'Revolution is changing everything that needs to be changed.'" They also warned against external manipulation attempts and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace within the university community.

"We will not allow our students and youths to be manipulated with malicious actions... Nor will we allow the tranquility of our University's halls to be disturbed," they concluded.

ETECSA Attempts to Appease Students After Rate Hike

Following widespread backlash over the new tariffs imposed by ETECSA since May 30, the state telecommunications company sought to quell criticism, particularly among university students, with new measures announced on the official Mesa Redonda program. ETECSA president, Tania Velázquez Rodríguez, revealed that as part of a strategy targeting specific groups, university students could purchase a second 6 GB mobile data package, in addition to the one they can already buy with the 360 CUP allocated monthly for national recharges. This allows them to access a total of 12 GB per month for 720 CUP.

This benefit is available to students properly identified in ETECSA's database, based on a consumption study of over 60,000 university students. Velázquez Rodríguez also announced that over 40 educational sites are now cost-free and that they're working with national organizations to expand this list. The company's aim is to enable students to interact on academic platforms without using their mobile data. However, this solution has not satisfied CUJAE students, as clearly expressed in the FEU and UJC's official statement.