I'm opposed to Bell Canada's proposal for monthly basic local

residential rate increases of any kind due to the lack of competition in

their service area in regards to local service. Bell has had an monopoly

in their service area with little or no real competition. There have

been some companies that have tried to offer local service, but the cost

has been prohibitive due to the fact they are competing against a

monopoly. If other Telecommunication companies were able to provide

local residential service then the cost of an average monthly bill would

decrease as we've seen with the long distant market. Monthly price

increases for basic service in rural and remote areas should not go

fourth, if Bell has increased cost in these areas then that is the the

cost of doing business. Service to rural areas will happen when real

competition comes into play, and with the Government spending millions

of our tax dollars to provide Internet access to all areas of Canada,

Bell and other Telecommunication companies cost to this area will be

minimized. We now pay a System access fee on all Cellular/PCS invoices

imposed by the CRTC to help build a rural/remote area network of both

wireless and land line service. This proposal if granted would have

consumers paying twice, first with our tax dollars and then with higher

rates. The cost to Bell in providing phone service hasn't really

increased because providing Touch Tone Services like call display and

call forwarding have been on their network for a number of years with

the cost of this equipment to provide them have decreased. An increase

of pay phone service also raises a red flag, not to long ago Bell was

removing all of their pay phones because of a shift on the consumer to

use Cellular phones. Wireless service is still cutting into the pay

phone business but now that competition has been allowed in the pay

phone industry, Bell has been re-installing them and wanting us to pay a

higher rate to cover the cost. This again is the cost of doing business

to Bell and should not be passed on to the consumers. On a number of

occasions I have contacted Bell and tried to discuss theses issues, but

get a sense that as a monopoly my questions are falling on deaf ears. If

and when competition in the local market does flourish, I'm sure Bell

will sit up and start listening to the consumer.