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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us August 6, 2005 AFN shows where editorial, news divide The Ashland Daily Tidings has endorsed the Ashland Fiber Network and its desire to provide state-of-the-art technology at a cost-effective price for its residents. We have written editorials urging residents to support the company. We have advocated the merit of investing in this business for the future. Our editorial support remains strong. That said, we must still fairly and accurately report the process of Ashland Fiber Network at this critical stage. AFN’s opponents deserve nothing less. But so do its supporters. At a time when the city will soon make final decisions about the fate of the beleaguered enterprise, accurate information is critical for informed evaluation by each taxpayer in the city. The difficulty for all concerned is that as a community newspaper we will likely report on things that will put the struggling fiber network at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace. Marketing strategies, expansion plans or anything else that may be in the works — things no business would ever release prior to implementation — could become part of news reports about AFN during these planning stages. But that’s the price of being a city-owned and financed business. Certainly being taxpayer supported allows the company to function at a profit margin few of its competition’s stockholders would tolerate. Ongoing losses could be deemed acceptable for the public good if government is so inclined. No such buffer exists for a business for which the sole reason for operation is to make profits. AFN is a double-edged sword that truly cuts both ways. In this instance, the newspaper reports may do the company a disservice. But every Ashland resident, who is also an investor, certainly also deserves accurate reports about this difficult, contentious time for AFN. As a community newspaper, we can do nothing less. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams