Two-Way Radio Advocates Get Reprieve

Two-Way Radio Advocates Get Reprieve

Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 14:43

It appears a public outcry over plans to discontinue the northern two-way radio service has paid off.

SaskTel had initially applied to the CRTC to have the Northern Radio Telephone Service abandoned by February.

However, the utility has now decided to delay that until July to give more time to find funding for the service.

SaskTel spokeswoman Michelle Englot also says the company plans will still see the obsolete DOTS system disconnected.

However, under the proposed new arrangement, Englot says the two-way radio customers would still be able to connect to the key station operators and make long distance and local calls. In the new plan, the long distance calls would be paid for by using a calling card.

Englot also says within the next six months, Sasktel will work with the province, major community organizations and customers to try to secure funding to continue the service.

She adds the ultimate goal is to transfer ownership and operation to a representative community organization.