I recently learned that the FCC is deregulating the telecom industry, allowing them to shut down old-fashioned copper wire landline service across the country and move their customers to internet-based phone service. I strongly oppose this change and encourage the Bethel government to do what it can to save our landlines.
My parents live in a small town outside Bethel, and even though they have cell phones, they continue to rely on their landlines. Their cell service is spotty, and their internet goes in and out constantly.
And they aren’t alone. 53% of seniors over 65 still rely on landline phone service. The thought of my parents being stranded without a reliable way to reach family or emergency services during a crisis is profoundly worrying.
While some argue that deregulation promotes innovation and competition, the reality is that telecom companies have little incentive to invest in rural areas. The FCC’s hands-off approach leaves rural communities like my parents at the mercy of providers prioritizing profitability over connectivity.
I strongly urge the FCC to reconsider its deregulation for the sake of the millions living in rural America for whom the landline is a lifeline. The Alaskan government should step in and take necessary actions that prioritize the communication needs of seniors in rural communities. Thanks.
Anderson Curtis
Bethel, AK
Steller Sea Lions are protected under federal law
Reward Available for Information About Shooting of Steller Sea Lions in Cordova.
NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to a civil penalty or criminal conviction in the May 2023 shooting of seven Steller sea lions. The Steller sea lions, which are protected under federal law, were killed near Cordova, Alaska in the Copper River Delta.
“We’re asking for help from anyone who may have seen or heard anything related to the killing of these endangered animals,” said Nathan Lagerwey, Assistant Director with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Division.
Anyone with information should contact the investigating agent directly at (907) 250-5188 or through NOAA’s Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964. To report a dead, injured, or stranded marine mammal, call the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network at (877) 925-7773.
The sea lions were first discovered on May 16, 2023, shortly after the fishery opened, by members of NOAA’s Protected Resources Division. In coordination with the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, it was determined that the sea lions appeared to be shot—with no evidence of any attempt to harvest or salvage them.
The western population of Steller sea lions is protected under the Endangered Species Act which prohibits harassing, harming, or killing listed species, with very limited exceptions. Killing marine mammals is also a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
NOAA Office of Law Enforcement
Silver Spring, MD
