03/27/2024
Thoughts While Shaving
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Thoughts While ShavingI am in Washington, DC for a couple of days, a different world.

Have been coming this time of year since 1975, first as a Bladen County commissioners, then as a staffer with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and for the past 20+ years as a member of the Star Telco board of directors.

Some things remain the same and others change with each national election and this year is one of those years. As a telco director, much of our governance is dictated by FCC rules and as expected, there is a new chairman of the FCC.

Today we will listen and listen and listen, to members of Congress, mostly those who represent rural America, or those who are chairman or the staff of a committee that deals with rural issues, such as Telco coops.

I know, some question the importance of the meetings. Fair comment, I suppose, but how will they know the issues back home, especially staffers, if they do not hear from those attempting to deliver the service.

My guess is there are more telephones in a couple of buildings on a single block in DC than all of Star TMC coverage area. The best telephone service in DC is no good, if staffers are attempting to respond to an issue, and there was no service in Kelly, Lisbon, Abbottsburg and White Oak. I know there are more options, but cell phones, dishes and other sources are hard pressed to offer phone, cell, Internet, TV and more and are committed to being the provider of last resort.

Commercial companies are not interested in providing service in the most rural of areas. It is an impossible task to provide the service and provide a dividend to shareholders.

That’s my story and I continue to stick to it and attempt to improve service in our rural area to that of our urban friends.

To ease other’s heartache is to forget ones own. Abraham Lincoln

These are days of special perplexity and depression, and the path of public duty is unusually rugged. Grover Cleveland

A motto of many politicians, and public servants: ‘Ask not what can I do for you?’ but ‘what can I do you for?’ H.M. Forester

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