Why pay for internet we can't have?

I reside outside the city limits of Ephrata. As of right now I am just a few roads from the High Speed Network (HSN). The internet we have in this area is sub-par to the other 70 percent of Grant County. I have found out from a person working there that all residents who have Grant County PUD pay for the maintenance of the system, even the 30 percent who don’t have access to the HSN. I do understand that if it is offered and not wanted, they should pay for the upkeep but not the ones that can’t have HSN. I have read the Outreach Update from the PUD, but seems to always need more data. I know there was a survey out there, I did take it. But I am sure not all 30 percent of the non-HSN customers knew about it. I only found out when I wrote the PUD complaining about HSN not available in my area and after what internet I have took 45 minutes to watch a 15-minute video.

It would seem like the PUD would want to make all residents, 100 percent of us, into the 21st century, and not treat the rural community as lower class citizens. I would also think the PUD would reach out to all customers that are in Grant County to get complete thoughts of non-HSN-able residents. It seems like the 30 percent need to do the footwork for the PUD to get the true feeling of being lower class to the PUD, or get all the residents to show up to the meetings, or get a petition going from the rural areas to show we want HSN or not pay for it. And of course be reimbursed for what the 30 percent can’t have.

James Flippen

Ephrata