We are "rural telephone subscribers" ---as are the majority of telephone

users in Nova Scotia--- and I would like to point out at least one

inconsistancy in Aliant's claim for rate hikes to our rural communities

on the basis of high costs in providing for low population areas. I

live half way between Greenwood/Kingston and Aylesford in the Annapolis

Valley of Nova Scotia.. Greenwood/Kingston has a large rural population

due to the Greenwood military base. I live at 442 Hall Rd and I have an

Aylesford exchange number. At number, 311 Hall Rd they have a Kingston

exchange number. We live less than 1/4 mile apart. Furthermore, their

neighbour at 333 Hall Rd has an Aylesford exchange number. If you

accept Aliant's argument that they can not afford to service rural areas

at the same rate than you are ruling that it costs more to deliver to

one neighbour (and we are talking adjoining lots) than the neighbour

next door. Either Aliant has not done their homework or they have made

arbitrary rulings (such as the four kilometer rule) without actually

knowing their exchange areas all that well. I, for one, find it

reprehensible that Alaint expects me to pay more for a basic service

than my next door neighbour and it comes across as a money grab more

than a real need on their part. One can only hope that the age of

corporate greed and the desire for larger and larger profits will

somehow lose its potency in the wake of the"Trade Centre" attack and the

obvious antagonism that exists between the have nots and the ruthless

pursuit of corporations for more profits here and abroad. Aliant would

do better to try and improve its service to rural communities and,

perhaps, then ask for a rate hike----not offer less and expect more.

David & Tonya Ludlow

RR 1, Aylesford, NS