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136 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OP COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda <br /> ACTION AGEMIA rim ABSTRACT Item No.:10;_ <br /> Meeting Date: DECEMBER 2, 1985 <br /> SUBJECT: MENDED AREA TELEPHONE SERVICE BETWEEN CHAPEL HILL, DURHAM AND <br /> H :1: r.11 <br /> DEPAREMNT: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING: Yes X No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: DON WILLHOIT <br /> TEL ER: <br /> Hillsborough - 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill - 968-4501 <br /> Mebane - 227-2031 <br /> Durham - 688-7331 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider establishing a task force to study and make recom- <br /> mendations on the extended area service (E.A.S.) and its possi- <br /> blelimplementation in Orange County. <br /> 1 <br /> NEED: As you are aware, several months ago the County gave notice to <br /> the Centel Phone Company of the several complaints County resi <br /> dents had concerning their local phone service. Centel in turn <br /> investigated each of the complaints and reported back to the <br /> Cou* results of the investigations. Any further citizen <br /> questions or concerns will likewise be forwarded to Centel for <br /> remedy. <br /> Anotlher action which would improve telephone service is the <br /> expansion of the EAS. There is an insufficient toll free area <br /> between Orange and Durham Counties. In response to public <br /> demand three years ago the Utilities Commission asked the tele- <br /> phoie companies serving Orange and Durham to solicit their <br /> subicribers and determine the interest level in an extended area <br /> service. Hillsborough subscribers voted overwhelmingly to <br /> accept the proposed (78.25% of those reporting voted yes) while <br /> Chapel Hill and Durham voters turned it down (30% of those <br /> reporting voted yes) . It should be noted, however, 4,285 <br /> ballots were mailed by Centel with approximately 3,205 responses <br /> while 5,587 responses were received by Southern Bell from their <br /> estimated 27,000 Chapel Hill Customers. <br /> Becalsue of close vote and the further linkage between our three <br /> (=Amities that has occurred since the vote and will occur in <br /> the near future, efforts to establish an extended toll-free area <br /> need to be renewed. Accordingly, I am proposing that the Board <br /> establish a task force to explore ways this might be accom- <br /> pliihed. <br /> The task force could be charged to: <br /> 1. Determine the costs and savings in long distance calls the <br />