I won’t be rushing off to take Andrew Robulack’s advice about ditching my Northwestel email account (Geek Life, March 2, Yukon News).
I happen to like Northwestel.
Even if I didn’t, I certainly wouldn’t contaminate my computer with his generic email site suggestions, the likes of Google or Microsoft. Neither do I allow their search engines into my computer or answer email messages coming from their accounts.
My loathing for these unscrupulous Marxist corporations was described in my online article Blastogram: Be Aware and Beware Google (May 26, 2011).
Andrew Robulack delights in Northwestel-bashing as he champions phone competition in the Yukon. My B.C. friend and I chuckle whenever he and his supporters mention Telus as a possible competitor.
My friend, with whom I share a website, blogsite and email site, has a front row seat with Telus.
Every time the land line and/or Internet services go down for three-to-five day spans in his city of residence, because a technician isn’t available, we wonder how much Yukoners and other northerners are going to enjoy the experience of hooking up with Telus.
When my friend goes to his other house in rural British Columbia, he is forced to resort to dial-up service, which is all Telus provides in many rural areas because the sparse customer base doesn’t warrant upgrading equipment.
Guess what, folks? Northwestel’s service area isn’t exactly top-heavy with a massive population of telephone/Internet users either.
Do you really think a new kid on the block is going to roll up to the North’s front door with a fistful of money and start installing new, expensive infrastructure?
No. And customers could potentially find themselves back in the dark age of dial-up.
I can’t fathom what northerners are expecting in the way of cost reduction and great service if new arrivals do come rushing into Northwestel’s service area.
One thing northerners could lose and would sorely miss is Northwestel’s high-profile participation in every community the company services across Canada’s North: the annual telephone directory art competition; the sponsorship of arts and sports events, projects and productions; sponsorship of awards and presentations; paid ads placed in virtually any publication; buying booth space to participate in every trade show.
The list is long.
Honestly, I don’t resent a portion of my monthly Northwestel payments helping fund those important community events. If it weren’t for Northwestel, I would not be a donor.
And I seriously doubt that any newcomer will have the financial wherewithal to be as generous as Northwestel with its community participation due to some customers wanting to transfer over to a “something-for-nothing” package.
I’m going to hang onto my Northwestel email and other accounts.
Jane Gaffin
Whitehorse