Hi-tech telecommunications companies are experiencing technical hitches with their marketing campaigns at the Bermuda Airport.

Problems with the scrolling light boxes which display commercials at the Airport have led to them being taken down for repairs.

Advertisers at the Airport, including Cellular One, Logic Communications and AT&T, have paid top dollar to get their messages across to arriving tourists and business people.

"Some are blank, others are out of focus, some are supposed to roll and they don't," said Airport general manager, James G. Howes.

"We have contacted the company responsible concerning these deficiencies on more than one occasion and so far the deficiencies persist."

"It's a substantial amount of money," said AT&T spokesman John Manderson, "I know that people are trying to sort it out, but based on the amount we're paying we should be getting the highest quality available."

Mr. Manderson said that new plasma screens for video footage were also out of focus.

"We have been told by our agency that the ad company provided the wrong format, but customers only provide the format which they are asked for. Everybody was asked to provide a TV format, but those screens use the wide screen format."

The company which has the Government concession for selling advertising space at the Airport is Bermuda Airport Advertising Company, run by Walton Brown.

Mr. Brown said yesterday that the company had experienced some "teething problems" since they took over the concession last October.

Clients would be offered a credit against future charges when they extended their contracts, said Mr. Brown.

He added that the company was currently working with the Belgian-based manufacturer of the scrolling light boxes to rectify the problems and he hoped customers would contact him to discuss their concerns.

In addition to the new plasma screens, Mr. Brown said that the company had invested in cedar display cases which currently displayed merchandise from Cecile and Bacardi. He said that his company had made tremendous efforts to improve the aesthetic appeal of the Airport including installing a new art gallery and arranging for books to be supplied to the children's area in the departure lounge.

Mr. Brown confirmed that his company paid $15,000 per month to the Ministry of Transport for the privilege of selling the advertising space.

They also passed on a certain percentage of revenue when income exceeded a certain threshold.

"In our first six months, we have increased income by over 60 percent compared to the previous contract holder," said Mr. Brown, adding that the company had only scratched the surface of potential revenue to be made through the Airport advertising contract.

"We are confident that when we move into the overseas market, revenues will increase. We haven't even tapped that market yet because we are still sorting out some kinks," he said.