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Forks Survey
Dear Residents of Forks:
The City of Forks is conducting this survey to measure interest and satisfaction with cable television service, telephone service and Internet access service. Even if you do not subscribe to cable television or have Internet service, please take a few moments to let the City know how you and members of your household feel about the following matters. If you have any questions related to this survey, please contact Kathy Cunningham at 360-374-5412. Thanks for your opinion.
The City of Forks
1. How many people in your household are in these age ranges?
Below 10 24.5
11-20 22.3
21-30 13.7
31-40 22.9
41–50 33.6
51-60 29.0
61-70 18.5
71-80 9.1
81 and Above 3.6
Total Household Average: 2.6 Persons
Cable Television Service
2. How many television sets in your household? Average: 2.3
2a. How many hours a day does your household watch television? Average: 4.9
3. What is the subscriber status of your household? (Check all that apply.)
77.9 Currently subscribe to Summit Cable's basic cable service (channels 2 thru 36) in Forks
10.9 Currently subscribe to Summit Cable's premium cable service(s) (like HBO, Cinemax) in Forks
10.1 Previously subscribed to Summit Cable's basic cable service (channels 2 thru 36) in Forks
6.8 Previously subscribed to Summit Cable's premium cable service(s) (like HBO, Cinemax) in Forks
11.7 Currently subscribe to satellite delivered television services in Forks
4.6 Never subscribed to any cable service in Forks
4. If you are a current subscriber to Summit Cable's service, how long has your household been a Summit Cable subscriber?
4.5 Less than 1 year 79.9 More than 4 years
13.5 1-4 years 2.1 Not applicable or do not know
5. If you are not a current subscriber to Summit Cable's service in Forks, what are the reasons? (Please check all that apply.)
32.0 Rates too high 13.7 Don't like cable programming
13.7 Don't watch much TV 5.3 Cable not available to me
7.6 Customer service is unsatisfactory 11.4 Picture quality is unsatisfactory
0.0 Satisfied with broadcast TV (11.7) Subscribe to satellite TV
Other reasons (please list): (9.2%: Some subscribers wrote in comments.)
1. Do not enjoy television, omitted television from household.
2. Want a very basic cable package.
3. Programming not want I want.
6. How would you rate Summit Cable's overall customer service? (Customer service means installation, repair, billing and telephone response, but neither programming nor price.)
17.0 Very Good 5.1 Poor
44.4 Good 2.9 Very Poor
30.7 Fair
7. Has the cable company been responsive to service problems?
17.1 Very responsive 2.6 Not at all responsive
34.8 Responsive 20.4 Never had a service problem
18.4 Somewhat responsive 6.8 Don't know
8. If you called for service, how soon after your call was the problem resolved?
1 day 28.4 2 days 27.5 3 days or more 10.2 Never needed service 33.9
9. Using the following scale, please rate each of the following aspects of Summit Cable's service within the last two years or indicate “Don’t’ Know” if you are uncertain. Circle desired rating.
Service Issue |
Very Good |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Very Poor |
Don’t Know |
|
Picture Quality |
9.7 |
38.1 |
36.8 |
8.4 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
|
Sound Quality |
11.8 |
50.9 |
26.9 |
4.8 |
2.0 |
3.6 |
|
Repair Service |
11.6 |
33.1 |
16.9 |
3.2 |
1.6 |
33.6 |
|
Billing Practices |
13.5 |
43.0 |
23.6 |
9.6 |
3.7 |
6.6 |
|
System Reliability (Outages) |
7.6 |
32.9 |
34.1 |
13.1 |
3.5 |
8.8 |
|
Telephone Response |
7.9 |
29.8 |
24.7 |
7.5 |
2.1 |
28.0 |
|
Variety of Programming |
7.8 |
29.5 |
33.6 |
15.0 |
8.8 |
5.3 |
|
Cable Rates |
3.5 |
12.9 |
36.6 |
24.4 |
15.7 |
6.9 |
|
Notification in changes in service and/or rates |
8.3 |
32.6 |
30.0 |
8.5 |
6.0 |
14.5 |
|
Use of Set-Top Box |
2.5 |
5.8 |
3.8 |
.8 |
.8 |
86.7 |
|
Installation of Service |
13.8 |
32.5 |
15.0 |
1.0 |
2.1 |
35.6 |
|
Customer Service Representative (“CSR”) Knowledge |
13.2 |
25.5 |
17.5 |
3.3 |
2.8 |
37.7 |
10a. On average, how much is your monthly cable bill? (Rounded to the nearest dollar) $34.19
10b. How would you rate the prices charged for your current cable television service from Summit Cable? (Please indicate.)
20.4 Very high .2 Somewhat low
56.2 Somewhat high .9 Very low
13.6 Right amount 8.6 Don't know
11. Which categories of programming do you currently watch on cable TV? (Select as many as are applicable)
80.5 Broadcast (KOMO, KING, etc.) 53.7 Sports (ESPN, FOX Sports NW)
32.2 Local programming (Access Ch. 19) 51.7 News (CNN)
70.6 Variety (A&E, USA, TNT) 12.5 Shopping (QVC)
66.2 Educational (Discovery, The Learning Channel) 54.3 Movies (Turner Classic Movies, American Movie Classics)
23.5 Children (Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network) 4.0 Ethnic (Telemundo)
11a. Are there any cable channels (or types of programming) not presently offered by Summit Cable or existing channels (or types of programming) that you or members of your household would like to see added or expanded? (Please list.)
Top 3 Mentioned
1. Nickelodeon
2. Sci-Fi Channel
3. ESPN II
11b. If more local programming were made available, what type of local programs would people in your household like to see? (Check all that apply.)
29.8 Local sports 20.5 Public affairs 10.7 Business and Economy
21.1 General educational 18.3 Children's 25.6 Community events
14.7 Instructional/classroom 14.1 Arts 12.9 Government meetings
7.0 Senior citizen 27.6 Weather 3.6 Ethnic programs
14.5 Community group meetings 10.7 Religious
3.2 Other (please specify)
1. Good recent movies.
2. Medical News
3. City Council Meetings
12. If the channel capacity of the cable system were to be expanded to provide space for more channels, how much more would you be willing to spend on cable service per month?
10.0 $.01 to $0.99 per month 3.1 $4 more per month
10.0 $1 more per month 9.3 $5 more per month
12.7 $2 more per month 1.9 Above $5 more per month
8.4 $3 more per month 44.5 Nothing more
13. Do you have any other comments regarding cable television service?
1. Cost of service v. level of service received (negative).
2. Absence of local office.
3. Picture quality overall and on specific channels.
Telephone Service
14. Using the following scale, please rate each of the following aspects of CenturyTel's telephone service within the last two years or indicate "Don’t Know" if you are uncertain.
Service Issue |
Very Good |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Very Poor |
Don’t Know |
|
Sound Quality |
23.5 |
55.8 |
16.0 |
2.1 |
.2 |
2.4 |
|
Repair Service |
19.1 |
35.8 |
12.8 |
2.6 |
.6 |
29.1 |
|
Billing Practices |
16.1 |
49.3 |
22.5 |
4.9 |
4.3 |
3.0 |
|
System Reliability |
22.8 |
55.9 |
14.6 |
1.3 |
.4 |
4.9 |
|
Telephone Service Rates |
9.7 |
32.8 |
34.7 |
11.4 |
4.3 |
7.1 |
|
Installation of Service |
18.8 |
36.6 |
13.9 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
27.5 |
15. How would you rate CenturyTel's overall customer service? (Customer service means installation, repair, billing and responsiveness, but not price.)
20.5 Very Good 2.9 Poor
49.5 Good 2.1 Very Poor
24.9 Fair
16. Has the telephone company been responsive to service problems?
21.1 Very responsive 1.9 Not at all responsive
32.2 Responsive 18.2 Never had a service problem
10.0 Somewhat responsive 16.7 Don't know
17. If you called for service, how soon after your call was the problem resolved?
1 day 30.9 2 days 23.1 3 days or more 6.3 Never needed service 39.6
18. Do you have any additional phone lines? Yes 32.0 (Total # 2.09) No 68.0
If yes, for what purpose? Top 3 Responses
1. Internet
2. Children’s Phone Line
3. Modem
If no, are you considering getting additional telephone lines? Yes 24.8 No 75.8
For what purpose? Top 3 Responses
1. Internet
2. Business
3. Modem
19. On average, how much is your monthly telephone bill? (Rounded to the nearest dollar) $64.6=Average, $50=Mode
20. How would you rate the prices charged by CenturyTel for residential telephone service?
12.0 Very high 0.0 Somewhat low
45.8 Somewhat high .4 Very low
31.3 Right amount 10.5 Don't know
20a. Do you have any other comments regarding your telephone service? 20.7%
1. Basic telephone rates too high.
2. No local customer service and billing out of Louisiana.
3. Surcharges and taxes too confusing as appear on bill and too high.
Internet Service
21. Do you own a personal computer? Yes 58.6 No 41.4
If yes, how many? 1.2=Average
22. Are you connected to a modem? Yes 79.2 No 20.8
23. Do you use your personal computer for business purposes? Yes 39.0 No 61.0 If yes, how much time per day?
1.9 Hours Per Day on Average
23a. Is the income you earn conducting business from home your primary source of income?
Yes 6.1 No 93.9
24. Do you currently have Internet service? Yes 74.5 No 25.5
25. If yes, who is your current Internet Service Provider?
Top 3 Providers
1. Olypen
2. CenturyTel
3. PTI Net
26. On average, how much time per day do you spend on-line? Average=2.23 Hours Per Day
Using the following list, indicate the activities you conducted while on-line during the last month. (Check all that apply.)
42.7 send or receive e-mail 18.3 purchase goods or services
12.1 conduct work from home 3.8 make investments
32.2 conduct research 34.4 recreational browsing
5.0 do banking 11.9 real-time conversation (CHAT)
4.2 other: News and Weather
School Work
Purchase airline tickets
Listen to the radio
26. On average, how much time per day does your child or children spend on-line?
N=114/1.12 Hours Per Day
Of that time, what portion is spent Recreationally? 60.5% Educationally? 41.4%
28. Using the provided scale, please rate each of the following aspects of your Internet service or indicate "N/A" if not applicable.
Service Issue |
Very Good |
Good |
Fair |
Poor |
Very Poor |
Don’t Know |
|
Speed of on-line connection |
10.3 |
30.5 |
34.7 |
16.9 |
6.6 |
.9 |
|
Internet service rates |
14.5 |
41.6 |
36.0 |
4.2 |
.9 |
2.8 |
|
Billing practices |
17.8 |
50.2 |
27.2 |
2.3 |
0.0 |
2.3 |
|
System access (busy signals) |
8.0 |
33.3 |
31.5 |
19.2 |
6.6 |
1.4 |
|
Ease of use |
16.0 |
48.6 |
28.3 |
4.7 |
1.9 |
.5 |
|
System reliability (disconnect) |
7.5 |
39.4 |
32.4 |
12.2 |
7.0 |
1.4 |
|
Customer Service Representative (CSR) knowledge |
15.6 |
36.5 |
19.4 |
6.6 |
4.7 |
17.1 |
|
CSR courteousness |
20.7 |
40.4 |
17.8 |
5.8 |
1.0 |
14.4 |
29. How would you rate your Internet Service Provider's overall customer service?
16.4 Very Good 8.9 Poor
49.3 Good 1.9 Very Poor
23.5 Fair
30. Has the Internet Service Provider been responsive to service problems?
14.4 Very responsive 3.3 Not at all responsive
39.1 Responsive 13.0 Never had a service problem
17.7 Somewhat responsive 12.6 Don't know
31. If you called for service, how soon after your call was the problem resolved?
1 day 41.5 2 days 15.6 3 days or more 8.8 Never needed service 34.1
32. On average, how much is your monthly Internet bill? (Rounded to the nearest dollar)
Average: $20.34
33. How would you rate the prices charged by your Internet Service Provider?
4.7 Very high .5 Somewhat low
26.4 Somewhat high 0.0 Very low
64.6 Right amount 3.8 Don't know
34. Currently, many Internet users are able to connect at a speed of 34.4 bits per second through their Internet Service Providers.
If you were able to connect at higher speeds, would this be desirable for you?
Yes 86.9 No 13.1
If so, how much more would you be willing to pay per month for a faster, reliable Internet connection?
60.4 $10 more per month 0.0 $40 more per month
8.5 $20 more per month 0.0 Above $40 more per month
0.0 $30 more per month 31.1 Nothing
Do you have any other comments regarding your Internet service? 15%
1. System access difficult at night.
2. Want DSL or cable modem for faster connection.
3. Pleased with service.
35. Advances in technology may make it possible for telecommunication providers to offer advanced services. What level of interest do you have in the following services being made available to you? (Circle appropriate rating.)
|
New Service |
Very Interested |
Interested |
Neutral |
Somewhat Interested |
Not Interested |
Don’t Know |
|
Electronic mail/Internet access |
37.0 |
24.8 |
12.2 |
2.8 |
15.4 |
7.8 |
|
Electronic access to local data banks/resources (City Hall, Library, Parks, local business, etc.) |
29.8 |
25.2 |
12.4 |
4.3 |
15.2 |
4.3 |
|
Educational courses and certification |
34.4 |
29.4 |
12.4 |
4.3 |
15.2 |
4.3 |
|
Local telephone service |
31.8 |
22.6 |
20.8 |
5.0 |
11.3 |
8.5 |
|
Ability to work from home (telecommuting) |
24.3 |
15.1 |
19.6 |
6.0 |
27.8 |
7.3 |
|
More local television programming |
26.8 |
21.1 |
20.2 |
6.0 |
21.1 |
4.7 |
|
Electronic banking |
15.2 |
16.2 |
18.7 |
7.0 |
36.2 |
6.7 |
|
Document/data transfer and transmission |
19.0 |
13.6 |
20.3 |
6.6 |
30.1 |
10.4 |
|
Video conferencing |
15.9 |
12.1 |
21.2 |
9.7 |
31.5 |
9.7 |
|
Interconnection to neighboring community |
18.2 |
10.7 |
21.7 |
7.5 |
30.2 |
11.6 |
|
Security monitoring |
16.6 |
18.5 |
18.5 |
8.5 |
27.9 |
10.0 |
|
Digital Television |
22.0 |
21.1 |
18.0 |
7.8 |
23.6 |
7.5 |
|
Movies on Demand |
26.0 |
23.2 |
14.2 |
7.1 |
22.3 |
7.1 |
|
Interactive Television Guide |
19.9 |
18.7 |
18.1 |
7.5 |
25.9 |
10.0 |
City Opportunities
The City is currently exploring the possibility of offering cable television and Internet Service to its residents. Advances in technology make offering cable television service and Internet access a possibility.
36. If the City were to offer you the following services in a comparable manner to what you currently receive, and in some cases more enhanced than you currently receive, at competitive rates, how likely would you be to try these services?
Cable Television: 51.5 Very likely 5.5 Very unlikely
26.9 Likely 8.6 Uncertain
7.5 Unlikely
Internet Service: 38.2 Very likely 9.7 Very unlikely
26.3 Likely 15.4 Uncertain
10.4 Unlikely
If you indicated any response other than "Very likely", what are some of your concerns about trying these new City services?
38%
1. Cost, price.
2. Concerns related to City taking on the additional responsibility.
3. Satisfied with current service and wouldn’t try services.
37. Would you support the City working with the following entities or institutions (for example, in joint construction or partnership arrangements) to promote a broadband telecommunications network within the City? A broadband telecommunications would allow residents to access video, voice and data at more efficient speeds.
Summit Cable Yes 77.1 No 22.9
Public Utilities Department (PUD) Yes 84.7 No 15.3
CenturyTel Yes 84.4 No 15.6
Forks Library Yes 89.0 No 11.0
Olympic National Resource Center (ONRC) Yes 78.2 No 21.8
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Yes 76.8 No 29.4
Quillayute Valley School District (QVSD) Yes 85.8 No 14.2
Department of Corrections (DOC) Yes 70.6 No 29.4
Forks Community Hospital (FCH) Yes 85.1 No 14.9 Others
38. Do you have any other comments: 16%
1. Cost of municipal involvement. No new taxes.
2. Like the City asking these questions, concerned with empowering community.
3. Why is the City getting involved? What are the advantages?
Demographics (Optional)
So that we may consider your opinions with others like yourself, please indicate the following:
39. Zip Code 98305 .9
98331 98.7
98362 .2
98363 .2
40. Own or Rent? Own=85.4, Rent=14.6
41. Do you live in the City of Forks? YES=71.0, NO=28.2
42. How old were you on your last birthday? Average Age=49.2//Range 19-91
43. Male or Female? MALE=41.4//FEMALE=58.6
44. Highest grade completed? (10% No Response)Median=12 Years of Education
Range=1-21 (Ph.D.)
45. Race? White=96.9
(15% No Response) Native American=1.7
Asian=.7
Hispanic=.7
46. Household Income? 42,936 Average Annual Income
(34% No Response) Range=6,000-150,000
Thank you for your cooperation in completing this survey. Please use the enclosed postage-paid envelope to return the survey to the City of Forks; P.O. Box 1998; Forks, WA 98331.
Forks Survey
Open Codes
5a: Other reasons for quitting cable?
1. Dropped premium service due to cost and quality of the programming deteriorated.
2. We don't want a TV - most TV programming we find distasteful or a waste of our time to view. (Programming issue)
3. TV broke down - never bought a new one.
4. No music video channels--other than country. Channels 14/19 don't count.
5. Seriously considering purchasing a satellite.
6. No MTV or VH1--limited movie channels.
7. Satellites provide much better programming (DBS).
8. We want a package with just the four major networks and PBS. Desire a "Plain Jane" package. A basic service for a basic price.
9. When they closed local office we decided not to support them. No local office.
10. Poor choice and channels on cable.
11a - 11d: Cable channels desired?
1. Sci-fi
2. Nickelodeon
3. MTV
4. VH-1
5. The Weather Channel
6. Comedy Central
7. Country Music Channel
8. Religious programs/Catholic/Christian Channels
9. Fox
10. ESPN2
11. Lifetime
12. Educational Channel
13. Hunting Programs
14. Food Network
15. Gardening Channel (HGTV)
16. Exercise Channel
17. TMC
18. CNN and CNN Headline News
19. CNBC
20. Court TV
21. The Travel Channel
22. Biography Channel
23. Starz
24. Kong TV
25. Spanish speaking channel
26. Playboy
27. Game Show Channel
28. TBN
29. MSNBC
30. The Animal Channel
31. Public Broadcasting
32. WB
33. Local Channel
34. Bloomberg
35. KTZZ
36. NPR
37. TV Land
38. Pay Per View
39. C-SPAN
40. BET
41. Encore
42. Romance
43. Nick at Nite
44. Home Shopping Network
45. PAX
46. The History Channel
47. The Golf Channel
48. Bravo
49. National Geographic
50. Westerns
51. KOIN
52. Horse Racing
53. 700 Club
54. National Public Radio
55. Seahawks
Question 11b: If more local programming were made available, what type of local programs would people in your household like to see?
Other:
1. Medical
2. Good recent movies.
3. City Council Meetings
Question 13: Other comments about cable?
1. Quality and clarity are important
2. I would like to talk to a local office, not to an unknown person somewhere far away. A real person.
3. My cable TV service hookup is for the AM/FM radio receiver. Cable TV viewing service is too poor to bother hooking up to my TV.
4. We never get a discount when cable is out.
5. Sometimes the company moves the billing date ahead. This amounts to an unauthorized rate increase.
6. We don't have a choice but to have cable to have any touch with the outside world.
7. The company always raises rates by adding channels one does not want and one has no say to that. Also some channels are really bad and getting worse.
8. For what we are paying we should have a wider variety of programs.
9. We changed from cable to dish due to high rates, poor selection and a lack of community presence.
10. I would be satisfied to get just the Seattle stations and pay a lower monthly fee.
11. Every time we get one of these surveys the price increases.
12. If I had an option, I would choose a different carrier.
13. The installation appointments are ridiculous.
14. There are too many news channels.
15. I quit cable yesterday.
16. More programming is not the only answer---offer a basic network package for a more affordable price. I believe you will gain subscribers.
17. It just changed to Millennium Cable, so we should give them a chance.
18. Getting too expensive. Cost. High Rates. Rate Increases.
19. Reception of broadcast stations is terrible.
20. Picture quality is poor.
21. Too much sex on TV. Low moral television standards.
22. Other areas offer more channels for less cost.
23. Amount willing to pay should depend on channel selection.
24. There should be a free block for inappropriate programs for children.
25. Concerned about the lack of money put back into the system.
26. Miss local sports channels.
27. Too many taxes on cable.
28. More radio programming.
29. Please check the spelling of items on Channel 19.
30. Service is poor. Service is slow.
31. No local access programs.
32. Channel seven (7) is sometimes bad.
33. Need better TV Guide Channel.
18a: Second phone line purpose:
1. Kid's Phone.
2. Internet line/Computer line.
3. Business line. FAX line.
18c: For what purpose considering an additional phone line?
1. Computer hookup/Internet Services.
2. For WEB-TV.
3. Business line/FAX line.
20a: Any other telephone comments?
1. I would like to talk to a local person/office, not someone in the middle of the US who does not know where we are.
2. The service repairman is excellent. Service repair response is excellent only if one pays for extra service. I am regularly billed for extra charges of telephone service I do not request.
3. KVAC has an antenna, which violates FCC's rules. Broadcasts come over the phone line but this is not a Century Tel problem. KVAC needs to fix their problems.
4. Century Tel uses mail service to Louisiana for crediting deposits to its accounts and charges interest for late payments. Also bills are mailed from Louisiana which limits time to pay those bills.
5. Basic service rate is too high.
6. I would like to have access to some of the lower rates.
7. I can not understand why we have so many surcharges and taxes added onto the basic service.
8. Billed for unrequested services.
9. Long distance shouldn't be required.
10. Port Angles should not be long distance.
11. There is only one line in the house at this time, which creates a real problem with Internet use.
12. When trying to call customer service--I can't get through after my regular work hours.
13. We have a business and the ad rates are extremely high.
14. Trouble using a calling card.
15. Billing should list what taxes are specifically and let people know they have a choice on the AT&T long distance charges.
16. I just changed back to CenturyTel and it is cheaper than a lot of others all things considered.
17. Not competitive with other long distance carriers. No fast bandwidth lines.
18. Basic service rates are too high. I didn't install a second phone line for my computer due to installation and monthly fees.
19. Customer service is better than PTI.
20. I like the drop box at City Hall.
21. It has improved over the past few years.
22. Phone line--for computer should be less than residential.
23. CSR is rude.
24. Need to cut wider path of trees along rural lines so storms don't knock trees down and cut service.
25. Service problems.
25: Current Internet service provider?
1. Century Tel
2. Olypen
3. PTI
4. AT&T
5. America On-Line
6. US West
7. Pencom
8. POE (PDE?)
26e: Using the following list, indicate the activities you conducted while on-line during the last month.
Other:
1. I work on the Internet from school too.
2. News, Weather
3. News and current events.
4. Bookkeeping.
5. Purchase airline tickets. Baseball tickets, Concert tickets and Hotel Reservations.
6. Listening to the radio.
7. Family Tree.
34b: Do you have any other comments about Internet service?
1. There should not be an extra charge for bringing the service to industry standards.
2. Olypen is terrible. They have created many problems for us. Their staff is not courteous. We would not be with them if we had another place to turn to.
3. $00--Wake up! Fiber optics needed no matter what. If you think you are going to get a fat hog out of this--forget it. Besides, CenturyTel is already faster than that.
4. If rates are raised too high a lot of people will drop the service and the ISP will be the loser in the long-run.
5. Certain hours of the evening you can't log on.
6. Olypen does a good job. CenturyTel should take care of the 56K problem.
7. Network is slow.
8. No problems. I just need a PC upgrade.
9. Would like DSL or cable modem, higher speed.
10. Already a rip-off.
11. Cost as high as should go.
12. It's cheap.
13. No local AOL access phone number.
14. No local office.
15. Satisfied with CenturyTel.
36c: What are some of your concerns about trying these new city services?
1. Any type of TV is omitted from our household.
2. Ever since Bellevue took over the TV, it went down hill. At present, I am very happy with my present Internet service. The city would have to provide a very good product for me to switch.
3. Price
4. I am basically satisfied with the cable service as it is now.
5. The city has enough to worry about without trying to run a business providing services currently available.
6. I would consider trying. I don't know if I'll ever have the Internet hooked-up.
7. Quality concerns.
8. The service would have to be comparable to satellite digital service and reception and satellite service prices, which are presently lower than Forks' extremely poor cable service.
9. I like what I have now.
10. No concerns. If the sound, service and picture quality were good I would stay--otherwise I would switch back.
11. Costs and reliability. No long distance charges for the Internet.
12. I am on a fixed income and cannot afford the installation fees wanted by the cable company.
13. City would need all new management.
14. Cable will never be as good as satellite. Internet service might be worth a try, but prices would concern me.
15. Being competitive in what is offered is key. But don't forget this is a working person's town where most of are below middle class income.
16. Do they have the capacity to be better, faster, competent and stay that way.
17. I like CenturyTel.
18. I prefer my dish for TV. I am happy with my Internet service and do not want the problem of changing e-mail addresses.
19. All are important steps for keeping our community connected in an ever-changing world. Rural isolation does not mean we have to feel disenfranchised from the rest of society.
20. Can't afford a computer right now.
21. Only interested in Internet.
22. Local programming?
23. Need local service representatives.
24. OK if self-supporting.
25. City isn't big enough.
26. Know more about the world.
38d: Do you have any other comments?
1. I will be installing a computer system in the near future so the above listed services would interest me.
2. Dislike monopoly in the community--costs are high.
3. Do not know disadvantages/advantages to these other than it would probably cost more.
4. Even though I may not be interested in some of the areas mentioned in this survey. I do support any improvements that will benefit the majority of Forks residents.
5. No on all of it--if it means new taxes.
6. City has enough utility problems already. Leave broadband to the experts.
7. Interactive cooperation and partnerships should provide the greatest benefits, but no new taxes and no long-term obligations that could leave the taxpayers holding the bag.
8. If you can make improvements in speed and efficiency of telecommunications then you have my support. The benefits of updating seem important enough to at least explore.
9. City should consider satellite and fiber technology.
10. Get rid of Summit.
11. Want cost contained.
12. Would like broadband to provide job training.
13. Need local way to register complaints.
14. C-SPAN needed.
15. If no conditions placed on service.
16. Offer bonds.
17. Why should City be involved?
[1] Survey Techniques. Sage Publishing, 1996.
[2] A standard error of margin chart was utilized.
[3] The questionnaire was designed to assess residential needs and interests. The returned business surveys do offer some interesting findings and might be used to develop a separate business related questionnaire that could be used for assessment in the future.
[4] Over the course of this survey, the cable company in Forks, Washington, Summit Cable, merged with another company and changed its name to Millennium Digital.
[5] Consumer and Electronic Manufacturers Association. www.eia.org (2000)
[6] The reporting of television viewing has suffered from the ambiguity between the number of hours the television set is “on” in the household versus the number of hours actually “watched”.
[7] FCC Report on Multichannel Competition, 1999. Because of the environment in Forks, over-the-air reception in the area is very difficult and in some instances not efficiently possible.
[8] Skyreport Magazine. www.skyreport.com, 2000.
[9] The conclusions drawn here are based solely on the experience of customers. Information regarding the cable system’s infrastructure was not provided prior to this analysis.
[10] A complete summary of mentioned channels is available in the Appendix of this report.
[11] During the course of this survey, PTI finalized a merger with CenturyTel. The phone provider is now CenturyTel; however, customers responding to this survey still used PTI and PTInet when referencing their service providers.
[12] Receiving services not requested is often referred to as slamming or spamming. This practice is illegal and is being closely monitored by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC’s web page has consumer information pertinent to the topic: www.fcc.gov.
[13] Consumer Electronic and Manufacturing Association. www.eia.org. 2000.
[14] While the Internet penetration is difficult to track because of the rate of its growth and use of the Internet at work v. at home, estimates today range from 60 million to 80 million users daily. www.eia.org. 2000.
[15] It is important to note that “nothing more” was not an option offered respondents. Those that indicated nothing had to hand write in that response. Because of the frequency of residents indicating “nothing more” on the written survey form, it was added as a category to the question.