As a Telus residential customer, I do not support the proposal to increase

rates to provide service to unserved remote areas. Increasing everyone's

bill up to $35/month in order to serve communities with as few as 10

residents seems unreasonable, especially if the costs of doing so can be as

high as $26,000 per household.

I can see and support the rationale of raising local rates to bring them

closer to the cost of providing service. But this proposal would raise most

people's rates further and seems to violate this principle, by using one

group to heavily subsidize another.

If ham radios or satellite telephones are not viable options, and some new

wireless technology doesn't promise cheaper service within the foreseeable

future, then perhaps these households can just continue living without phone

service. Presumably, they choose to live in the communities they are in and

have developed coping mechanisms.

Doug Page

2246 Allenby St.

Victoria, BC V8R 3C5

tel. (250) 356-9538