NCMA Dials In On Analog Service Cut Issue

Saturday, September 20, 2008 06:44 AM

Prince George, B.C. -The North Central Municipal Association (NCMA) Board of Directors is concerned about cuts to Telus analog cell phone service around Northern BC.

The NCMA plans to pursue the issue with Telus and the federal and provincial governments.

“We are very concerned about the loss of service in our region”, says NCMA President Murry Krause. “It is important to note that these residents are not asking for a new service, they have had analog cell phone coverage for many years and now it is being taken away from them. Unfortunately analog cell phones are the only means of phone communication that many residents have in the north, and at this time it does not appear that residents are being offered any other options.“

“We are trying to work with Telus to resolve this issue,” says Karen Goodings, Chair of the Peace River Regional District. “The NCMA Board has requested a meeting with senior Telus representatives to discuss its concerns. We have had unreliable and intermittent cell phone coverage across the North for many years, which is frustrating to say the least, but it is also a safety issue when travelling the highways especially during the winter months. To have it completely eliminated from some areas with no option to access digital service is simply unacceptable”.

Eileen Benedict, who is Chair of the Bulkley Nechako Regional District states, “As local governments we are expected to do Emergency Preparedness Planning. As a part of those plans we need to have an effective means of communicating in outlying areas – this is truly a safety issue”.

Members of the NCMA Executive were in agreement that residents affected by the cuts to service need to be provided an affordable, reliable option. They are asking all residents who are affected by the cuts to analog cell phone or EARS (Exchange Area Radiotelephone Service) to contact their office by Sept. 30th and have their name included on a list that will be forwarded to Telus.

“It is important that we determine exactly how many residents in the North Central Region are affected,” says NCMA President Murry Krause. “We specifically want to hear from those residents who have no option other than analog or EARS service.”

The NCMA office can be reached at 250-564-6585 or via email at nrthcent@telus.net

NCMA will be sending letters expressing its concern to Telus, the CRTC, Industry Canada, and to Premier Gordon Campbell, the Minister of Citizen’s Services and to all Northern MLA’s.

Telus has said it needs to abandon analog service because the system is outdated and replacement parts are no longer available. Telus also says expanding new service to some areas is cost prohibitive.

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Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 06:44 AM in News by Submitted Article

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Comments

Posted by: giterdun on September 20 2008 7:56 AM

Hey TELUS take the thorn out of your ass and buy everyone involved a SAT PHONE and be done with it. It might cost you a couple hundred grand but the problem will be solved. It will only cost the user about $20.00 per month.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 20 2008 8:04 AM

No service? Move to the city, and buy a house next to Murray Krause.

Leading edge communication technology used to make good money servicing the hinterland. Remember SSB radio, and all the XJ and YJ tone repeater open radio channels? I remember ordering parts in 1974 through the BCTel operator on SSB that connected to land lines. All gone now.

Now there is more money in wireless technology for city dwellers that can't be out of reach of the phone for more than ten seconds. The new solution is satelite communication, if they can get it to work.

If you want to live outside the city limits, and be wireless, you have to pay big bucks for satelite service, which by the way is about as good as the old SSB radio days. The old SSB radio call was just as pricey as the satelite is today.

Buy a SPOT GPS transmitter if you need 911, or to send a message that everything was all right out in the bush today.

Posted by: TinkersDamn on September 20 2008 9:02 AM

I listened to the September 18th Telus presentation to the Regional District of Fraser Fort George. As one of many who have endured the Telus arrogance of the past few years, I listened with great interest while the presenter wooed the audience with the Telus story. Several times the presenter stated that "Telus is in business..." and "it's got to make business sense." In no way do I mean to insult the workers at Telus, when I say I see more clearly now that the problem at that organization comes from the top. Sorry Telus, the attitude I see displayed is more one of a monopolistic monolith that hasn't yet made the mental transition to seeing themselves as a competitive business. A REAL competitive business MUST be more concerned about customer service. I challenge Telus to put on a customer service hat and find a way to ensure continued telephone service for those who are being hacked out of the connectivity loop by the 'analog' decision. If you're really in business, step up to the plate and serve customers.

Posted by: lunarguy on September 20 2008 1:58 PM

Well get Bell or Rogers to do it, and I bet you will get the same answer.

Posted by: wavoes on September 21 2008 1:30 AM

As much as i dislike Telus...it is a business. just like CANFOR and Ford who are in business to MAKE MONEY. yes they do have customers to keep happy but at what cost. People who live in rural areas have to accept that there are services that have to be sacrificed. Just like there isnt a fire hall every 10kms or why Dominos doesnt deliver.

And there are options out there...satellite internet with VOIP

Posted by: MrPG on September 21 2008 12:18 PM

Absolutely right wavoes and Yama, if you want to live out in the boonies then you can't expect that communications services will be the same as in more urban areas.