Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 18, 2000
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Don Dennis, CenturyTel: 253-851-5220

Locke inaugurates new telephone and Internet service for Libby Creek

SEATTLE - Emergencies in Libby Creek no longer mean running for the pay phone way down the street.

That's because this small community near Carlton in Okanogan County for the first time is connected to the world via home telephone lines.

Phone service, provided by CenturyTel, began at 10 a.m. today with Gov. Gary Locke making the first call to Bernie Bigelow and several of his neighbors. Bigelow is one of approximately 25 Libby Creek customers who now has telephone and Internet access.

Locke emphasized to the residents the service is another step in his effort to create one Washington.

"In rural Washington, a modern telecommunications infrastructure is as important as roads and rail lines were a hundred years ago," Locke says.

While many people and businesses are attracted to rural communities because of their lower costs and quality of life, they continue to suffer high unemployment and poor economic growth as the urban areas enjoy a booming, information-age economy, Locke says.

As a consequence, he has made the development of telecommunications in rural areas such as Libby Creek a top priority.

During today's call, one Libby Creek resident expressed his gratitude to the governor and CenturyTel because now he can continue to operate his business even when it snows. Modern communications will also help him expand his business, the man said.

A 91-year-old woman from Mexico told the governor her new phone line would mean she now could talk to relatives in California.

Several residents told the governor their phone lines would mean they could call for help in emergencies without going to the community's pay telephone.

Libby Creek's former communications isolation was featured in a number of newspaper articles and television shows.

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