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By Bob Weaver
During a week in which politicians and business leaders spoke about rural areas
being poorly connected to the information highway, there appears a story about
basic service problems from the Frontier Telephone Company, formerly Citizens
Telecom, which provides service to several poor, low populated West Virginia
counties.
This is low-tech phone line service, we're talking about.
Frontier has cut basic phone internet service to its customers in Fort Ashby,
according to Frontier Vice-President Reed Nelson. A circuit was set up to allow
customers to call Cumberland without a long distance charge.
Nelson said heavy usage by internet customers was causing a blockage for "voice
call customers.
Frontier reports the Public Service Commission agreed the best course of action
would be to block all traffic to internet service providers.
Frontier customers who have installed a second phone line for internet service would
also be affected by the cut-off.
Instead of 21st Century technology, it sounds like reverting to basic sound-of-voice
communication, first uttered in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell and his partner.
Nelson said Frontier cannot afford an upgrade of the Fort Ashby system that could
cost up to $30,000.
Calhoun's DSL or rapid-access to the internet has been made available within three
miles of Grantsville, but if you live in the country, which most Calhouners do, you're
just out of luck. | 
