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The Citizen, 2001-08-29, Page 6Moving In Jason Rehkopf the new owner of the Brussels Knechtels is doing some rearranging to get things the way he likes them. (Photo by David Blianey) REG I ST RAT I 0 NJEQA 2001-2002 DA E SEASON / September 5 & 6 Academy Of Dance Fot further Information Please call 52+2226 dAticv r Include: -Pre-school Dance Clas for 3 year olds - Adult Modern Dance for beginner/intermediate students aged 16 and up SPECIAL 10 WEEK SESSION / 5pm to 8 pm \ CLASSES 1 136 East St., Goderick - Modern Dance - Ages 10 to Adult -Ballet- Ages 4 to Adult -Highland Dancing with Heather Knapp-Sinclair Classes are available at all levels of competency, beginners of any age from the minimum age-up may enroll Melanie April (Hons, BA Dance) Cattemporary Steps CRTC Reviewing Rules for Local Telephone Service Prices Regulatory rules regarding local telephone service prices are now under review by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) as part of Public Notice CRTC 2001.37 - Price_Cap Review and Related Issues. As part of this process, Bell Canada has filed proposals with the CRTC that are intended to: , • Ensure that competition is maintained and encouraged in Canada's healthy, competitive telecommunications market; • • Encourage investment in the communications industry, ensuring continued innovation and leading-edge technology; • Extend and improve local service in many remote areas; and • Ensure prices for local service remain affordable. Canadian Industry Facts Today, Canadians benefit from a world-leading communications industry with some of the most advanced and lowest priced telephone services anywhere. • Canadian prices for basic local service are lower than comparable services in other major industrialized countries. • Long distance prices in Canada have fallen more than 40 per cent since the introduction of competition. • Close to 99 per cent of Canadians have basic telephone service, a higher percentage than in the U.S. • Canadians benefit from the world's lowest prices for Internet access (both dial-up and high-speed). For many services, such as long distance, wireless and Internet access, Canada's low prices are a direct result of competition and clearly demonstrate the benefits of reliance on market forces. Highlights of the Bell Proposal While the prices for many services are subject to market forces alone, local telephone services, such as the basic connection to the home and office and payphone services, are subject to a number of regulatory rules. Bell's proposal, which would come into effect over a four-year period beginning in 2002, does not call for specific price changes for regulated services. Rather, it recommends a framework that would limit any local service price changes, subject to CRTC approval, based on the following: • Monthly prices for basic local residential and business services in most areas could increase, on average, by no more than the annual rate of inflation; • Monthly prices for basic service in rural and remote areas - where prices today are-far below the cost of providing the service - could increase by no more than $2.00 each year, to a maximum monthly charge of $29.65 at the end of the four-year period; • Ongoing monitoring of the effects of price increases on affordability would continue; • Customers would receive rebates if CRTC-mandated quality of service indicators were not met; and • The flexibilitylo increase prices of payphone service (affecting indoor payphones only, where the price could increase over the four-year period to 50 cents per call). Payphone prices have not changed since 1981. And with our latest Service Improvement Plan, Bell is proposing to invest $41 million to connect, over two years, more than 500 remote localities in Ontario and Quebec where basic local telephone service is currently unavailable. Through gradual and moderate increases in basic residential service prices, service would remain affordable, while encouraging greater competition and innovation. How to Participate in the CRTC Proceeding Initiated in March, 2001, the Price Cap Review and Related Issues proceeding follows up • on key regulatory decisions that opened up Canada's telecommunications industry to competition in the 1990s. • If you would like to file written comments, please do so by writing to the Commission, with a copy to Bell, by October 15, 2001, at the following addresses: CRTC: Bell Canada: Secretary General R.F. Farmer CRTC Vice-President - Regulatory Matters Ottawa, Ontario Bell Canada K1A ON2 Floor 5, 105 Hotel de Ville Fax: (819) 953-0795 )8X 4H7 E-mail: procedure@crtc.gc.ca Hull, Quebec Fax: (819) 773-5629 E-mail: bell.regulatory@bell.ca A public hearing is scheduled for the first two weeks of October in Hull, Quebec. October 1, 2001, is reserved for comments from the public, which may be given in person or by teleconference. To present oral comments, you must register by writing to the CRTC at the above address by September 20, 2001, specifying whether you intend to participate in person or by teleconference. Please note that more information about the proceeding is available on the CRFC web site (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVii/Eng/2001/8678/C12-11.htm) or by calling 1-877-249-CRTC (2782). Bell's proposal is also available for examination on the CRTC web site. If you have questions specific to the Bell proposal, please call 1 866 625-0586. Ben PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2001. New owner comes to Brussels grocery store By David Blaney Citizen staff The Brussels business community has a new member as of a few weeks ago. Jason Rehkopf has recently become the owner and manager- of the Knechtels store in town. Although he is only 25, Rehkopf has I 1 years of experience in the business. " I got my first job in the Knechtels in Dorchester." he said, " Ever since I was 15 I've wanted to own a store." Prior to purchasing the business, Rehkopf was the assistant-manager of the store in Dorchester. He had looked at a lot of stores before set- tling on the Brussels location. " I liked the town and the store seemed like the best opportunity I'd seen." He heard about the possibility of the store being for sale almost by accident. After originally meeting Marj Teeft at a computer training session he heard through the grapevine that the business might be for sale. The original discussions took place last December and when Rehkopf's partner, Peter Knipfley of. Chesely, came on board the sale was put together with the former owner Allan Teeft. Although Rehkopf does not plan to make huge changes in the store he indicated that he wanted to bring in new equipement to modernize the appearance and to bring in some dif- ferent product lines. " L will be bringing in a lot more frozen foods." he said. The previous staff will be staying and he has added some new people. He intends to hold a grand open- ing sale in a few weeks and will unveil a new name for the business at that time. He has already Help protect the environment Reduce, reuse and recycle from his previous residence in London and lives across from the store. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Starting Sunday, September 2nd/01 moved to Brussels