The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS w h itb y P ,ished every wednesd., by M.B.M. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 66X-6111 he Free Press Buildinp Voice of the County Town Michael lan Burgess, Publisher - Managing Editor 11 rock Street North', Te only whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. P.O. Box 206, Whitby, 01 g. nt. Michael J. Knor Communlty Editor Marlorie A. Burgess Production Manager Karen Thompson Advertising Manager Mailing Permit No 460 Member Imhm Whilby Chamber of Commerce Bell's monopoly should prevent proposed 13 per cent rate increase The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission is trying to decide whether or not to grant Bell Canada a 13½ per cent increase in the rates that it charges to residential telephone sub- scribers. That same petition from the com- munications monopoly would increase the rates paid by business and commercial users by an even greater amount. The Whitby Free Press has always been an ad- vocate of business growth, holding the view that if business prospers, everyone. prospers because of increased employment and productivity. This publication has even defended some increases in the property tax rate, believing that the money was to be used for valiId and needed services. However, in the case of Bell Canada and its petition for a 13½ per cent (about 35 % for businesses) or more increase, we must take an op- posite view. "Ma Bell" as the communications conglomerate is affectionately known, has toid the CRTC that the extra revenue Is needed in order to keep up with rising overhead costs. But the fact that Bell Canada holds a virtual monopoly over communications systems in this country, shoots down any arguements that its representatives might make to the commission. Business and Individuals need high speed com- muniations and techrology to carry out their day- to-day affairs. The telephone as Bell Canada television commercials often point out, is perhaps the most widely used business tool. Every business needs a telephone to survive in the modern market place. In fact, business needs more than one telephone in many cases. More and more businesses need other means of com- munications including teletype machines, data processors and other high technology. There is only one major supplier of this technology: Bell Canada. There Is only one major communications net- work, allowing for the transmitting and receiving of signais owned and operated by Bell Canada. It does not matter what any business or in- dividual needs to communicate, at some point in time, Bell Canada gets into the picture. There is no way that Bell Canada can ever run tin- to the problem of the diminishing market. Its market is expanding ail the time as the need for fast communications becomes greater ail the time Bell Canada has an imput or an effect on the lives of every person in this country. After ail, at some point in time, almost everyone will use a telephone. Almost everyore in this country pours money in- to Bell's coffers at some point in time, even if its only ten cents for a pay phone. Another major reason for opposing the increase in subscription rates is the fact that Bell already gets a good price for its services. Residential users are not paying that much when business rates are taken into consideration. While business should pay more for the service, because it uses the service on a greater scale, business cannot afford another increase in its costs. Every government agency and every politician is saylng that the economy is in a bad way and it Is time to give business the incentive and the ability to grow to combat this recessed period. The services that Bell Canada provides is a must ta modern business. Business needs the telephone ta communicate with suppliers and customers. Sales are made over the phone in a lot of cases. Sales means revenue, revenue means jobs and jobs give a healthy economy. If business is forced to cut back on the com- munications services it needs because of the high cost, it may be logical to assume that the business will suffer. Then we will all suffer because of increased prices and lower productivity. Bell Canada has too great a part of Canadian life to be allowed to make our lives economically har- der. If business grows, the needs for com- munications will grow and because Bell provides these services, it wll grow. Bell Canada has the opportunity to lead the way in keeping costs down to lead us all back to economic prosperity. This is not to say that they do not need more revenue, but simply to say that their request before the CRTC be more reasonable considering the position that they hold in the Canadian economy.