As a rural citizen of Nova Scotia I find it appaling that a very profitable company can unjustifiably raise rates just because they can. To start with the service to rural communities is far from ideal. The fact that they are a monopoly seems to give them a license to charge what they want without government interference. Bell Canada, Aliant's parent firm once stated to the CRTC that a phone company should recoverits costs "from the totality of its services, not from any particular service". If this is their thinking then how can they justify a rural rate increase. Most rural people can't afford any more increases. Please help us.

Nick Sobol

Northside East Bay

Nova Scotia

 **********************************************************************

Nick Sobol  

Serials Technician

University College of Cape Breton

P.O. Box 5300

Sydney, Nova Scotia

B1P 6L2

Voice:  (902)  563-1675

Fax:     (902)  563-1177