HomeMy WebLinkAboutComments - Dr. Gottlieb
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April 15th 2005
To : The Ashland City COlUlcil
Ashland, OR. 97520
From : Dr. Murray Gottlieb
545 Oak Hill Circle
AsbJand, OR 97520
Subject: The Ashland Fiber Network-~
Suggestions on how to help it pay it's own way.
I have been a supporter of AFN from its' inception. The individuals who
thought up the idea had great vision as to the future needs of our citizenry.
Ashland has a water company, a golf course, an airport, an electric company
and a fiber network. I support all of the above because everyone benefits. In
a Capitalist system competition is an essential ingredient; not monopoly
corporations where the people are at their mercy. Look at the difference the
citizens pay for cable and internet service inside Ashland by the same:
corporate group that charges almost double in the surrolmding area thanks to
competition.
What can Vie do:
I am not aIll economist nor a lawyer, just a retired health practitioner .
However, I have some ideas that I would like to pass on to you . The
enormous debt owed by AFN will be made up possibly by other entities (I.e.
the electric company etc) This is one way possibly, after all , there an~ those
who do not pay property taxes etc but enjoy these services . Life is never
totally fair.
I suggest the following possibilities :
1. Forming a corporation ( a public purpose corporation) see the enclosed
paper.
2. Forming a Corporation and sell shares with the Corporate Purpose to give
the residents of Ashland the most efficient cable and internet access possible
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with the Corporate Purpose irrevocable and the Council retaining majority
stock. ( It is a way of borrowing money interest free? sell stock).. I the future
when the debt is paid, AFN will make money and the share holdlers will
indel~d benefit financially. Also , AFN can give incentives to the public to buy
shares such as a cheaper rate for cable etc. This is not privatization .
The bottom line is that the City is responsible for the debt ? no mlatter what.
There are endless ways to make AFN work . I would like to see: it expand to
Talent') Phoenix, Medford and as far as possible . It could be a real money
makler. What is to stop the citizens of Ashland from going into a larger
business?
Last but not least, we could raise the rates.. You MUST HOWEVER,
INFt)RM THE PUBLIC OF THE DEBT OWED... THEY MU~ST BE
AWi\RE OF TillS.
I am sure there are many other ways to explore and help .
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely;
Dr. lVfurray (Budd) Gottlieb