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Connecting Rural America Finds That Oregonians Want Better Rural Cell Phone Service for Public Safety

MEDFORD, Ore.-(Business Wire)-October 3, 2008 - According to a recent statewide poll, nine out of 10 Oregonians feel it is important to have reliable and consistent cellular phone coverage in rural areas for public health and safety. Nearly 75 percent also said reliability of service, wireless coverage and call quality are the most important wireless issues they want the federal government to address.

The opinion poll–commissioned by Connecting Rural America–also found that Oregonians overwhelmingly support the use of federal Universal Service Fund (USF) dollars to build and expand cell phone and wireless communication technology in rural areas. The USF was created by Congress in 1996 to provide wireless carriers with an incentive to build communications networks in sparsely populated rural areas that are too small to support investment. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering proposals to drastically cut USF support for rural wireless, jeopardizing public safety and economic development in smaller communities.

Statewide, according to the poll results, rural Oregonians consider access to a wireless phone on a high-quality, reliable network to be as important as access to a quality land line broadband Internet connection. Roughly half (51%) of Oregonians would choose a wireless cell phone over a traditional landline if they could only choose one type of service.

“People everywhere depend on their cell phones to meet critical safety and personal needs,” said John E. Rooney, President and CEO of U.S. Cellular, a key supporter of the Connecting Rural America campaign. “Cutting federal funding significantly will put the safety of rural citizens and emergency personnel at risk, and for a savings to consumers of just seventeen cents per month.”

In rural Oregon, as in other parts of rural America, first responders like firefighters and police officers rely on cell phones in domestic violence situations and undercover activities, and to aid communications in areas where police radio is unsecure or unavailable. Additionally, nearly 300,000 emergency 9-1-1 calls are placed via cell phones every day nationwide.

“We need reliable wireless service to protect the health and security of our citizens, to conduct search-and-rescue operations and to assist first responders in the aftermath of disasters,” said Jackson County Sheriff, Michael Winters. “In many cases, and particularly with respect to homeland security, reliable wireless service can literally mean the difference between life and death.”

Connecting Rural America opposed the FCC’s decision to cap USF support for wireless in March, 2008. The FCC is now considering regulatory changes that could cut USF support for wireless by up to 58 percent in Oregon, costing the state approximately $13 million per year and jeopardizing more than half of the new cell phone towers planned for rural Oregon. FCC action on these proposals could come at any time.

The poll was conducted by Fako & Associates of Lisle, Illinois on July 9 – 14, 2008. The survey was conducted by telephone among a random sample of 602 adult (age 18+) residents of the State of Oregon using random digit dialing (RDD) methodology. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.00%. A full summary of poll results is available on request.

Connecting Rural America is a grassroots coalition of concerned citizens, community leaders and elected officials working for equality in wireless telecommunications. Its goal is to provide rural communities with the same access to technology as their urban counterparts. Visit www.ConnectingRuralAmerica.org to learn more.

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