To Whom It May Concern,

I recently received a written notice from Telus BC concerning its request to

the CRTC for a rate increase to off-set service improvement in remote areas.

I am strongly opposed to Telus's request for a rate hike for several

reasons, two of which include the following:

The rate increase appears to be a "permanent" fee increase for customers.

However, this fee increase, according to my understanding, is designed to

offset what seems to be a "one-time" cost for installing and/or upgrading

service in remote areas. If Telus wants to distribute the costs of a project

with a finite duration, why are they asking for a fee increase with no end

date? At the very least, Telus ought to request a pay increase until such

time that the costs of the improvement project have been collected from

customers, then the increase could be removed. In the literature they mailed

to me, Telus says nothing about a rate increase for a finite time. It seems

to me that the explanation of a service upgrade is but an excuse to

introduce another permanent fee increase.

Many people in BC live below the poverty line. For many families, telephones

are becoming luxuries because of the cost of $35.00/month equals

$420.00/year. This is a substantial amount of money for many families.

Because such high costs could have a negative impact on families, has Telus

considered/proposed an optional by-in program whereby BC customers would

have the choice of voluntarily helping the company pay for service upgrades

in remote area? If the answer is no, why not?

It seems from my observation that each time a telephone company comes out

with a new technology or technological improvement, customers are forced to

pay. This appears not to be the case in other technology sectors. To

illustrate, in 1987, I paid more than $6,000 for an Apple computer. Since

then, Apple, like ALL other computer companies have increased performance

and capabilities and yet have lowered prices. Rest assured that when

tomorrow's computer line comes with more robust speed and replete with new

techno-functions, customers will not likely pay an added price. On the

contrary, computers continue to drop in price even though they are

constantly being replaced with newer more technologically savvy components

and accessories. Not so with the phone companies. Each technological update

comes complete with its accompanying price tag.

This ought not to be so.

I hope the CRTC will decline to approve Telus' request for a rate increase.

Yours sincerely,

Nicholas Watkins

RR1 F-46

Bowen Island BC V0N 1G0