Telephone co-op, in 30th year, looks to digital technology

JOY LANDALUCE

April 11, 2008 at 11:19AM AKST

Celebrating 30 years of business in Cordova was the theme for the Cordova Telephone Cooperative at its annual meeting held on Monday, March 31, at Mount Eccles Elementary auditorium.

CTC Board President David Allison invited any of the 1,090 members of the cooperative to visit the coop’s lobby and view a display on expansion plans.

"Boosting communication coverage in the (Prince William) Sound is a high priority. We feel we have the best product at a fair price," Allison said.

Fisherman Ralph Lohse asked about dead spots that fishermen are experiencing on the Copper River Flats.

General Manager Paul Kelly responded that the goal is to serve everyone.

"We are on the leading edge of technology. Digital technology is still being tested as are amplifiers for existing technology," Kelly said.

CTC has given away 51 roundtrip tickets to Anchorage, including 12 in 2007 to winners of monthly drawings, and sponsors the "student of the quarter" campaign.

Five $2,000 scholarships were also awarded in 2007. Angela Beedle was announced as the winner of a scholarship for high school students that includes an all-expenses-paid trip in 2008 to Washington, D.C.

Other 2008 projects are to complete the harbor and lay fiber lines down Lake Avenue.

"The future looks bright for the telephone company," Allison added in his report to the membership.

He invited interested persons to join the meeting held at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month in the CTC boardroom.

Kelly and the CTC board and membership awarded the Sheridan Alpine Association with a $25,000 check to further Mike O’Leary’s legacy in the community.

"Hopefully this money can be used for some of the projects that O’Leary was working on," Kelly said.

Joy Landaluce can be reached at (907) 424-7181