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SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 21, 2002 Public lets figures do the talking at hearing By SANNE SPECHT for the Mail Tribune Public Utilities Commission representatives saidThursday night that a proposed extended telephone calling area for 582-prefix customers could be in place by August of next year. The effort was given a boost by what representatives called an "outstanding" and well-organized hearing at Rogue River Middle School. More than 400 customers in the exchange area filled the school gymnasium and voiced frustrations about their local long distance rate charges. After receiving nearly three times the required 1,263 petition signatures necessary to call a meeting, the PUC sent administrative law Judge Michael Grant to the town to view the "community of interest." Grant, who will make his recommendation in July, said the meeting was necessary to provide verification that broad support exists for an Extended Area of Service and ensures that any proposed EAS will benefit the community. For two hours, political, community and business leaders presented evidence about the relationship between themselves as the petitioning exchange and need to communicate with the target exchanges — Gold Hill, Central Point and Medford. The crowd voiced enthusiasm as the speakers urged the PUC to grant the EAS to Rogue River. Rogue River Schools Superintendent Charles Hellman said his fiscally strapped district could save more than $4,600 incurred annually while calling county education offices, schools and teachers in Medford. "We rather spend the money on books or other necessary school supplies," said Hellman. Hope Warren, president of the Rogue River Community Center board, had a succinct question for the PUC judge. "Why should Rogue River have to pay long distance charges to call our own county seat?" she asked. Rogue River City Councilman John Bond said his daughter attended school overseas. He said it cost him less to speak to a foreign country than to call his neighboring communities. "There’s something wrong with this," said Bond. Bob Valdez, a PUC public information officer, said Judge Grant would have a decision regarding the night’s hearing by July. "Once that happens, if a determination that the need for an EAS exists, we start the number crunching and calling history research with Qwest," said Valdez. "In October, Qwest will tell the PUC what the new EAS rate will be." If the new EAS rate is accepted by 582 customers, the PUC will order the necessary hardware and software changes in Qwest’s switching stations needed for toll free calling. "If it all gets approved, the new system should be in place by August of 2003," said Valdez. Valdez and PUC EAS Manager Marlene Gorsuch had high praise for Shayne Maxwell, who organized the event. "This is outstanding and as unusual a presentation as we’ve seen in our history. It will be very helpful in providing us information with which to make our decision," said Valdez. Gorsuch said she’d never seen such an well-organized and fact-filled EAS request in her more than two decades of service with the PUC. Gorsuch said she’d verified over 3,000 petition signatures. "Shayne buried me in petition sheets," said Gorsuch. "I don’t think anyone has gone to such lengths. It’s amazing." Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S