TELEFUTURE II WOULD LINK CITIES WITYH FIBER OPTICS

TeleFuture II, a three-year, $153 million plan designed to link every Missouri community with a fiber optic "highway of the future" could be in operation as early as February of 1994 if it receives the approval from Public Service Commission.

Dale "Zeke" Robertson, assistant vice president of external affairs for Southwestern Bell, discussed TeleFuture II during the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee held at Drury Inn Friday.

Robertson, a native Texan who has been in the St. Louis area since 1978, told the audience that TeleFuture II "will provide numerous opportunities in Missouri.

"The program will provide a fiber optic network linking all communities," said Robertson, who joined Southwestern Bell 25 years ago in Lubbock, Texas. "We filed the plan with the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) Oct. 1."

Robertson said funds had already been set aside for the project. "If we get PSC approval, we could put the plan into operation as early as 1994," he said.

Robertson added that more than half of the funds about $82 million would be for the fiber optic network.

He said the new fiber optic network would focus on schools and hospitals, providing new educational and health care services and opportunities, but would also provide communities with better opportunities to attract new businesses.

"This program fits into the four major items which are so often discussed and debated," said Robertson. These items include economic development, education, health care, and essential services to provide for better quality of life.

Public middle schools, high schools and universities across the state would be linked to the network, along with hospitals and other health care facilities.

"This will provide schools opportunities to offer programs and courses that were previously out of touch," said Robertson, "It will also provide hospitals with access to advanced medical services."

In response to a question, he added that the new system, which provides for two-way communications, will not be competitive with cable TV. "We won't have the capacity to deliver cable television," he said.

The program will put a freeze on basic local telephone rates for three years. It would also lower long distance rates and establish a profit-sharing plan with customers. "We will refund 50 percent of our profits to consumers," he said. Long distance rates will be reduced by $6.5 million annually.

The project will also increase the number of customers eligible for the Lifeline reduced phone rate program. "Currently there are about 14,000 users who received the special Lifeline discounted rates," said Robertson. "With the new program, all Medicaid participants will be eligible which will make the service available to as many as 200,000 Missourians."

Telefuture II is an extension of TeleFuture 2000, a three-year program which was put into effect by an agreement between the Public Service Commission and Southwestern Bell in 1989. TeleFuture 2000, which provided for new experimental fiber optics in many Missouri communities, expired Dec. 31.

In other action at First Friday Coffee Friday, chairman of the board Harry Rediger reminded the group of two important dates the Chamber of Commerce dinner/dance Feb. 5, and the annual Business Conference, scheduled April 7 at the Show Center.

Gov. Mel Carnahan will be the noon speaker for the Business Conference. Another keynote speaker will be Britt Beemer, chairman of America Research Group, who appeared on the program last year.

Rediger presented a financial review for 1992, saying the chamber was within budget and operating "in the black."