Gained internal autonomy in 1977. Governor Tauese Sunia since 1996. Samoan, but many islanders speak English. GMT - 11. All outgoing calls have to go through the international operator.
Facilities are available at main towns and hotels.
American Samoa is part of the US postal system and the same standard postal rates apply. The main Post Office in the Lumana'i Building in Fagatogo is open 24 hours. The island's own English-language newspaper is the News Bulletin , published from Monday to Friday. The Samoa Journal and Advertiser and Samoa News are also published in English. The main international newspapers available on the islands are The Herald Tribune, The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today .