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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 19, 2005 Ashland postpones AFN fee until ’06 By VICKIE ALDOUS for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — The Ashland City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to delay until next year the addition of a $7.50 monthly Ashland Fiber Network fee on city electric bills. The fee, which went into effect Oct. 7, was pushed back until January to give the city time to find ways to reduce its impact on seniors and low-income residents. Customers who already have paid the fee for the month will receive a credit on their accounts, according to city staff members. Some residents who spoke Tuesday at the City Council meeting urged that the fee be done away with permanently. Coupled with cable television rate increases scheduled for January, the AFN fee was approved by the council in September so that the city could make payments on the fiber network’s $15.5 million debt. Advertisement "I urge the City Council to do more than consider delaying it, but to look for other avenues," said resident James Bowland, who said he does not subscribe to either cable television or high-speed Internet, the services offered by AFN. AFN currently breaks about even on its operations, but is not generating excess revenue to pay off the debt from several past years of shortfalls. A city memo prepared for the council prior to the meeting stated that some needy residents impacted by the AFN fee might not qualify for the city’s two existing programs to help people pay their winter electricity bills. The council has formed the AFN Options Committee to explore alternatives for AFN — ranging from selling it off to keeping it and rolling out new services in an effort to increase revenues. The committee’s report is expected in November. Mayor John Morrison said the report, and any council actions based on the report, could impact the implementation of the fee. "Council certainly understands how people feel," he said. "We’ve gotten a lot of messages," he added. Vickie Aldous is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach her at 482-3456. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s