History of the Pacific Islands as British protectorate by a Resident Commissioner from 1892 to 1916 as part of the British Western Pacific Territories (BWPT), and later as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony from 1916 to 1974. A referendum was held in December 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony ceased to exist on 1 January 1976 and the separate British colonies of Kiribati and Tuvalu came into existence. Tuvalu became fully independent within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1978. On
Telecommunications in the Turks and Caicos Islands 2007 broadcasts from The Bahamas are also received; cable television is established) (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2013) Country code (Top level domain): TC Telecommunications in the Turks and Caicos Islands Communications in the Turks and Caicos Islands Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994) Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone services Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) A partial list of AM/FM/SW stations in the Turks and Caicos Islands is provided below: AM Radio: FM Radio: Shortwave: Defunct: Radios: 8,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 2