Letters to the editor - Tuesday (2-14-2012)

Efforts to derail Fibrant damage all city residents

The feature article about Fibrant in Sunday’s Salisbury Post prompts me to write a letter to Fibrant’s critics. If you can get better rates with a private competitor, then don’t subscribe to Fibrant. But don’t criticize the venture that has already been implemented. By doing so, you harm every Salisbury citizen.

I became a Fibrant customer last June after first carefully comparing the features and costs of each of their services with my current providers. I concluded that I would save money by subscribing to Fibrant, bundling their services for Internet, TV and phone. I not only save money, but I also receive additional TV channels, get free long-distance phone service and receive better Internet access. Additionally, when I need technical support, it is available 24/7, and their phone is answered by a local person speaking with a local accent that I can understand.

Fibrant has already been implemented. It’s here — and many people like it and benefit from it. If Fibrant fails, everyone suffers. Sunday’s article tells us that Steve “Mensing said he doesn’t hate Fibrant or the city but worries about the long-term consequences of taking on so much debt.” If he is truly worried about those consequences, he should not try to derail the city’s plans. By fighting against the city, he is hurting all Salisburians. He is making it more difficult for the city to succeed and thereby increasing the likelihood of failure, which would hurt both subscribers and taxpayers. He should not sabotage a service that has the potential to help so many just because it doesn’t seem to suit his needs.

— Missy Shives

Salisbury

Great idea, poor execution

I am so disappointed in the city of Salisbury. With Fibrant, it had had a great technical idea and then totally mismanaged the pricing and implementation. I strongly supported the Fibrant project and the visionary leadership that brought this extraordinary Fiber to the Home system to our community. I talked Fibrant up to friends and called WSTP several times defending the program. I planned to get Fibrant ASAP. Then the overpricing was revealed. I was really disappointed and shocked with the Fibrant overpricing. When Fibrant rolled out, our country was in the middle of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Our city leaders signed off on these inflated prices, which to me shows they must be out of touch with the reality of the average citizen’s situation. They also never responded to my letter to the Post asking them to explain the inflated pricing scheme. The issue of Fibrant pricing needs to be reopened with Salisbury leadership and the people of Salisbury.

— David Brown

Salisbury

Naysayers should try it

In response to ongoing criticism of our Fibrant ownership, I would ask, what was our alternative in acquiring fiberoptic service?

To Mr. Bare, who said the industry “was already saturated by private companies,” I ask, which ones provide fiber optic service? To Mr. Mensing, who was unable to communicate with either the city or Fibrant, I suggest he call AT&T and and wade through their endless menu. My own experience has been total satisfaction with Fibrant service, Internet speed and their competitive rates, but the best thing of all is when I dial their number, I speak to a real person (not an endless menu) whose office is right here in my hometown.

Having been a customer of all three available Internet and video providers, I’ve found that Fibrant is clearly superior, and I suggest that Spencer aldermen and all other naysayers give it a try.

— John Alexander

Salisbury

School office option

Regarding a site for the school central office, has anyone thought of the Catholic church (Sacred Heart) property on Fulton Street? One block of Council Street could be blocked off for parking.

— Pat Moore

Salisbury