I have recently become aware of the proposal which is before the CRTC to provide telephone service to remote communities through subsidization by current telephone users - specifically those in "rural" areas. There are no specifics provided as to what constitutes a "rural" customer versus an "urban" customer.

I would like to voice my objection to such a plan for the following reasons:

1. If there is a need to provide a standard level of service, now enjoyed by rural customers and supported by the rates of those rural customers, then this is a matter for intervention at the public policy levels of government. Remote areas are in a class by themselves when it comes to levels of service, and the costs for providing those services to the higher cost class should not be blended with lower cost classes for the purpose of achieving a public policy goal at the expense of those already paying their way. Public policy goals must be funded out of the public purse, for it is for the benefit of all. Wired telephone revenues must not be classified as the "public purse".

2. Rural customers already receive a lesser level of service. Although I would not expect it to show up in the performance statistics reported because of the broad base of statistics, the rural telephone customer is more likely to receive service in a time frame which falls outside of existing performance standards than are urban customers. I speak from personal experience in this matter. At my rural property, it required 4 attempts to schedule an appointment to repair a service degradation on Bell owned equipment over a 6 month period before a technician was able to keep an appointment and make the necessary repairs.

3. To raise local rates without increasing the level of service (i.e.. local call area) makes zero competitive sense. The current price for local service is already uncompetitive with cell phone rates and to raise rates even further will drive rural customers to other non-regulated services thus eroding the revenue base for other rural customers.

4. I would suggest that if the current rural customer base is not paying their way, then the classification of rural versus urban customers has been done improperly and should be re-balanced before any thought is given to lumping remote customers in with rural.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinions.

Al Bennett

14 Shoreview Drive

Barrie, Ontario

L4M 1G1

705 737 4703