The students of the Faculty of Arts in Audiovisual Communication (FAMCA) at the University of the Arts (ISA) have withdrawn from participating in the "multidisciplinary group" that the national FEU and ETECSA are attempting to establish to address the protests against the rate hike.
In a public letter shared on the Instagram page of the Faculty managed by the students, they presented several reasons for the resignation.
Among them, that the group will meet at ETECSA's facilities and under their own terms.
"The participation of teachers and external professionals has been omitted, and a path has been imposed, not for evaluating responsibilities, but for strengthening the company and negotiating perks that exclude large sectors of the population," argue the students.
Similarly, FAMCA students consider “the establishment of a space like this unacceptable until the measures unilaterally imposed on our people on May 30, 2025 are revoked (at least temporarily).”
"We will only recognize a commission organized by students, teachers, and civil society specialists that assesses the level of responsibility of the various authorities involved in the rate hike of May 30, 2025," they state in this emphatic declaration.
The statement also denounces the pressure exerted on several students from the faculty by agents of the State Security, which "only reaffirms the vertical and aggressive attitude of the authorities toward a horizontal and peaceful student movement that, despite repeatedly seeing its demands ignored, has not abandoned (and does not abandon) the path of dialogue."
For this reason, they decided that "students identified by State Security will immediately withdraw from activism as a measure to protect their physical integrity."
The students reiterate that the statement "is the result of collective deliberation" and that they will not promote "independent actions as a faculty until a consensus has been reached among universities."
"We reiterate our condemnation of the aggressive and indifferent attitude adopted by the Telecommunications Company of Cuba S.A. and the State Security Organs in response to the dialectical and respectful dissent, and we call for university and civil integration in these demands that concern all the people of Cuba," they conclude.
Multidisciplinary group
The statement from FAMCA comes after a new attempt to create an illusion of dialogue between university students and officials from the Telecommunications Company of Cuba (ETECSA). The "José Antonio Echeverría" Technological University of Havana (CUJAE) hosted the formation of a Multidisciplinary Group consisting of 30 students from various universities across the country.
The measure aims to project the image that the concerns of young people are being heard following the widespread rejection of the recent rate hike implemented by ETECSA.
According to information released by the state media, the group will be responsible for engaging with executives from the state-owned company, analyzing the new commercial measures imposed, making proposals, and seeking "future collaborations" that will benefit the university community.
Previous statement from FAMCA
Last week, the students of FAMCA reiterated their rejection of the new rates set by the state-owned company, and demanded public explanations from the national president of the University Student Federation (FEU), Ricardo Rodríguez.
In an open letter, the students reported on a meeting held on June 4 with officials from ETECSA, the Ministry of Higher Education (MES), and representatives from ISA and the FEU, where they discussed the grievances arising from the sudden increase in prices for mobile data packages, known as "the price hike."
Despite the technical explanations provided by ETECSA officials—who acknowledged communication errors, the company's current financial crisis, and potential solutions in development—students expressed multiple grievances.
"The prices of the new packages severely restrict our possibilities as creators and place us at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the world in the professional field," they stated in their announcement.
FAMCA students indicate that their academic and professional activities depend on the intensive management of large volumes of files: downloading, uploading, and exchanging audiovisual materials. They assert that the rising costs of digital services have drastically limited their daily and professional lives.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Student Protest and ETECSA's Measures in Cuba
Why did the FAMCA students resign from participating in the multidisciplinary group with ETECSA?
The students of FAMCA resigned because they find the lack of participation from professors and external specialists in the multidisciplinary group unacceptable and they report that the group's focus is on strengthening ETECSA instead of assessing accountability for the rate increase. Additionally, they highlight the pressure exerted by State Security on some students as a factor that strengthens their decision.
What are the main demands of Cuban students against ETECSA's rate hike?
The students are demanding the revocation of the tariff measures imposed by ETECSA and are requesting the creation of a genuine dialogue space that includes students, professors, and civil society specialists. They are also asking for an assessment of the scale of responsibility of the authorities involved in the implementation of the rate hike.
How have other universities in Cuba reacted to ETECSA's price hike?
Other universities, such as the Faculty of Mathematics and Computing at the University of Havana, have called for academic strikes and issued statements rejecting ETECSA's measures. These faculties denounce the lack of transparency and the negative impact of the fees on access to education and communication, and demand a reconsideration of the pricing policies in favor of collective and fair solutions.
What has been ETECSA's response to the protests and criticisms from the students?
ETECSA has maintained its stance of not reversing the imposed rates, justifying the increases due to operational costs and the need for sustainability. Although it has allowed some concessions such as additional packages for students, the company has not shown willingness to make significant changes to its pricing policy.
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