Hearing Outcome Can Affect Rates The outcome of hearings scheduled to begin in Wash ington, D.C. later this month could well affect rates for service charged to local Western Carolina and Westco Telephone Companies’ cus tomers, according to Paul Wooten, District Commercial Manager. The House Subcommittee on Communications has sche duled exploratory hearings September 28, 29 and 30 on wheffterx competition, as preempted j by the Federal Comrtitmications Commis sion, is having a detrimental or beneficial effect on tele phone service. Os particular concern is the impact such competition could have on rates paid by local residential and small business custo mers. “It’s reassuring to know that Congress is at least taking up this question. In recent years, the FCC has done everything it could to make it easy for new telecommunications suppliers to enter the industry. At the same time, they have hinder ed the telephone industry’s ability to compete fairly. Their policies have helped these new firms go after the big business, high profit accounts without any regard for what happens to residential cus tomers. These newcomers, in effect, have been aided by FCC policies in “skimming the cream” from the more profitable areas of business without having to be concern ed with serving the homes and smaller firms in our rural and suburban areas,” Woot en said. He explained that the services most generally lost to competition are for private line long distance service and terminal equipment and other business facilities. ■“Historically, these ser vices have been priced at a premium so that they could contribute revenue that helps hold down the cost of local service. The more of that contribution we lose, . the higher our local rates will have to go,” Wooten stated. Concern for the impact of those potential increases on local customers led the traditional telephone industry to seek passage of the Consumer Communications Reform Act of 1976. Versions of that bill have been introduced in the House by our North Carolina Repre sentative Roy Taylor, and Senator Jesse Helms also has supported a similar bill in the Senate. The proposed bill would reaffirm the basic principles and objectives for telecom munications service set down by Congress in passing the Communications Act of 1934- the provision of high quality, low cost service to as many people as possible. The legislation also would restrict the FCC from pro moting contrived competition and allow the traditional telephone industry to compete on a more equal basis. “Washington may seem a long way from here, but what happens up there is going to have a direct bearing on what happens to our local tele phone rates. We hope that the hearings at the end of this month are just the start, and that fuller hearings on the Consumer Communications Reform Act itselfftvill be held in the next session of Congress,” Wooten conclu ded. Books Close October 4 It has been announced by the Yancey County Board of Elections that the registration books will close on October 4th at 6:00 A.m. for the general election, The re quirements for votaf registra tion is 18 years of age by November 2,1976 aryl 30 days residency, / The Board cf Elections office will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or voters may register with the precinct registrars or judges anytime during the registration period by ap pointment. Absentee balloting begins on October 4 through Oct 27. ... . i I?!-- A y-"«fe' f * ■ &Li. Pfe ~ ;i. . • -J&jjttl.' V - jgfc •> . > ' fcV ,«»^yPP| ■ . isg,. ••«.*■ . , . ' • ’?•• 4 . .. . ~._ - i ■ : 4 . ■ * * f , * a. *. *. - ■-, >^-<^.\,> . v : -‘i t ..* '^s&r -A? g«* *^jp Eagle Scouts At Court BY DAN MAXWELL Monday, September 13, Troop 502 held a court of honor and covered dish supper at the Presbyterian Church in Burnsville. It began at 7 p.m. with an iipvßcation by Rev*%n,Sides. After dinner came the honor awards with merit badges given to several boys. Rev. ,Pat Hardy introduced Mr. Dover Fouts, who along with several Eagle Scouts gave tribute to Mr McLain A gift certificate and plaque was given to Mr. McLain by Mike Moore arid Jim Remine. A gift was also given to Mrs. McLain. Mr. John McLain became the new chairman of the troop committee. Pictured are Eagle Scouts Tim Thompson, Donny Laws, Kenny Deyton and Jimmy Wilson with Mr. McLain. Yancey Benefits: FHA Loans Increase During the past year ending June 30, 1976, there has been an increase in the number of Rural Housing Loans in Yancey County. Forty individuals have ob tained loans in the amount of $759,370 to build or buy houses in Yancey County. As of June 30, 1976 there were 196 Rural Housing borrowers in the county. During the past year 27 •farmer type loans were made totaling $125,000. At present there are 38 active Farm Ownership borrowers and 46 operating type borrowers. A Community Facility Loan was during the year in, tfhe " amount of $1,500,000 to Yancey County i%«uM