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7 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: January 18, 2001 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. -A <br />SUBJECT: Support of Extended Area Service (EAS) for Orange and Durham Counter <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:. <br />Pam Jones, 245-2652 or <br />Resolutions David Cannell 245-2651 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider two resolutions supporting establishment of Extended Area Service <br />(EAS) calling from Orange County to Durham County. <br />BACKGROUND: In March of 1993 EAS was established for Orange County citizens who had <br />telephone service through Centel (now Sprint), Bellsouth and Mebane Home Phone (now <br />Mebtel). A surcharge is assessed on each phone number but allows Orange County citizens <br />free local calls within the County. GTE (now Verizon) implemented a calling plan whereby toll <br />charges are charged at a significantly reduced rate, however, they are the only phone company <br />in the County who chose not to participate in the 1993 EAS effort. <br />With the growth throughout the County, an increasing number of Orange County <br />neighborhoods are being split by the calling plan disparities. The Town of Chapel Hill has <br />recently initiated an effort to once again bring the EAS matter before the Utilities Commission. <br />Further, the Triangle J Council of Governments has expressed a willingness to explore the <br />issue. Triangle J spearheaded a multi jurisdictional effort that was ultimately responsible for <br />the original success in 1993. <br />The first attached resolution is intended express the Board's desire for the Utilities Commission <br />to require that Verizon offer EAS to their customers living in Orange County and to offer toll free <br />calling to Durham for all citizens living in Orange County. The second resolution asks Triangle <br />J Council of Governments to join the effort to expand EAS to include calls to Durham County. <br />Similar resolutions were adopted by the Chapel Hill Town Council on October 23, 2000. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with these resolutions <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the resolutions.