For some Splatsin members, the future is not looking as friendly as the Telus slogan.
In a March 9 letter to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Splatsin councillor George William asked for support to secure free local calling for band members on two reserves as well as Armstrong, Enderby and Salmon Arm.
At this time, long-distance charges are applied to Enderby and Armstrong from Salmon Arm numbers assigned to Indian Reserve #1, and to calls to Salmon Arm and Enderby from Armstrong numbers.
“This has become a detriment to our family ties and communication with our elders and various areas of our community,” reads the letter. “Splatsin has never been offered an opportunity to discuss the division of our communities through the creation of regional districts and zones for local calling, and the impacts these have on our members, many of whom are low-income families and elderly.”
Although he did promise to look into some of the anomalies raised by directors, Bert Braybrook, general manager of Telus’ Kamloops Cariboo Region, did not offer much hope to the band.
“In the case of Salmon Arm and Armstrong, our main competition is Shaw, so people have a choice of who they want,” he said. “If Shaw were to come along and say ‘we’re gonna provide free long distance to Enderby and Salmon Arm,’ we would look at doing the same.”
But in areas where there is no competition, he said Telus would not be looking to suffer a loss in revenue, and that if the free-calling area were to be expanded, costs would fall on communities.
In terms of the Splatsin request, Braybrook said the matter is under review, but because Armstrong and Salmon Arm are competitive areas, it’s not likely to happen.
He pointed out the number of other avenues available for communicating, including Skype and what he deemed significant reduction in long distance rates.
But CSRD chairperson Rhona Martin took issue with this.
“The challenge for low-income people is the phone is a big enough expense at $40 a month and many elders don’t have the new technology,” she said.
Representing Coun. William who was unable to attend the May 21 meeting, Splatsin member Daniel Joe explained many of the band members have minutes on their phones rather than plans.
Area F director Larry Morgan said he was living in the Lower Mainland in the 1990s when people were thrilled by the expansion of the free calling area.
“I understand your constraints, but I think you could re-look at this,” he said.
Area C director Paul Demenok agreed, noting he can call Salmon Arm from Blind Bay and Sorrento for free but must pay a long-distance charges to call Sunnybrae.
Similarly, residents in Notch Hill can call Salmon Arm for free but must pay long distance charges to call neighbouring Sorrento.
A motion from Morgan to write a letter to Telus requesting that free calling be expanded in the Splatsin area, including Enderby, Armstrong and Salmon Arm, was passed unanimously.