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The cooperatives and municipalities in Oregon don't have to play by the same rules. In the end, the comsumer is the one who suffers.

Until Oregon requires co-ops and municipalities to play by the same rules, you'll continue to pay more and you'll usually pay more for lower quality services.

The original idea of the co-ops was good. However, times have changed.

Pressure your representatives. It's your only hope.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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I must say that your comment, especially as a business owner, makes no sense whatsoever.

Do you give your goods/services away for free? If so, how do you stay in business? If not, why would you ever expect a telecommunications company to buy millions of dollars worth of equipment, pay salaries to employees, and then give the product away for free.

The equipment, support, staff, utilities, network access fees, and more all cost a great deal of money. If you don't pay for access, how are these bills supposed to get paid? If the bills don't get paid, wat happens to the "free" access?

I have yet to see any business owner willing to invest large sums of money only to give away the products.

The Internet was started to offer freedom of idea sharing, not as a free playground.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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We've been growing our rural broadband network for 7 years now with our own money. We applied for RUS funds when we started, but there was no way to meet their demands. It has been our goal from day 1 to provide broadband to ANY community or area which needs it. Now we are upgrading to allow those same subscribers to have the speed they need to watch online TV. Imagine living in a rural area and having enough bandwidth to allow you to not need to pay the satellite and cable TV companies.

This year we are beginning our rural FTTH project.

Would I take money if it were reasonable and available? Sure I would. Everything helps when getting the services to these communities.

If anyone says that they don't have access, we haven't heard from them yet.

Regards,

Steven Sugg

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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