Phone bill shocks surfer Robert Galster News Reporter “robert@nsnews.com CHEAP Internet access has turned out to be an expensive proposition for one North Vancouver resident. Sophia Stefaniuk, 51, has had some previous exposure to the world wide web — just enough to have her interest piqued, but not enough to be aware of the possi- ble pitfalls of web surfing. As a result, when Adetita Rock! hill, an old college acquaintance, approached her about the possibility of hooking Stefaniuk up without using a computer, she agreed to a trial run. ‘The sales pitch Stefaniuk heard was for an RCA product that hooks up the Internct to a television set, thus bypassing the need for a computer. Rockhill also showed Stefaniuk a similar Phillips model. The two women decided to hook up the Phillips model for a trial run. Installation involved attaching Stefaniuk’s phone linc to a receiver, which was in turn -attached to the television. “When she (Rockhil!) came over and hooked me up over my telephone she said you'll not be charged because it’s going on my password,” said Stefaniuk. . Fhree “weeks later, Stefaniuk received her phone bill and got a jolt when she saw ‘she owed $350 more than she expected. When she approached Rockhill about the outstanding bill, the distributor said NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge SOPHIA Stefaniuk’s recent experi- ence with free Internet access has turned into a $350 phone bill. she would look into it. Rockhill is a distributor for a firm catled Futurenet Canada, a marketing company that sells the RCA model in conjunction with access to a fixed-rate Internet provider. Futurenet’s Vancouver office manager Matt Morrow said the company’s distribu- tors work independently, though the com- pany provides training. Morrow said the Phillips product Rockhill had hooked up at Siefaniuk’s residence is popular in the United States, where it is distributed by Fururenet’s U.S. counterpart, WebTV, Morrow said WebTV is not avaiable in Canada and local users must access its U.S. network. Morrow added he doesn’t approve of his distributors selling WebTV products. “What we have here is a person who was marketing a product they shouldn't have,” said Morrow. “1 have a choice. | can terminate them or T can give them a warning.” He had nor vet decided on his course of action. Although Rockhill did) not return News calls to press time Thursday, her son Carlos Rockhill said his mother has a dis- pute with Stefaniuk that will be sertled in time. “All ] can say is she has offered this lady to settle the matter in small claims court and she (Stefaniuk) is blowing the matter out of proportion,” said Carlos. “Obviously, the both of them have a different point of view in this matter,” added Carlos, a Coquitlam detachment RCMP officer. Morrow agreed the dispute will likely end up in court and cautioned other potential users that being on the Internet is like being on the phone: whether long- distance charges are accrued depends on the location of the server being accessed. As for Stefaniuk’s strained relationship with the Internet, the future looks bleak. “It’s a lot of BS,” said Stefaniuk of her web-surfing experience. NVC spurns main in cemetery Jolanda Waskito Contributing Writer sense.” Other councillors expansion of the casement, but also said that “the GVRD were with — the remains except if that purpose is approved by the Registrar of disposition of “WORTH Vancouver City council decided on Monday night that the city’ s cemetery is no place for a Greater Vancouver Regional + District (GVRD) water main. — irae | happen to. think rotting human remains and drinking Water is a bad mix,” Coun. Barbara . Perrault said. “Why run .a water main ‘carrying “purified water through a cernetery? It doesn’t make similarly disgusted. Coun. Stella Jo Dean was also concerned about losing 300 double-depth crypts to make room for the water main. Although the city would be compensated for the lost plots at an estimated $420,000, she said the ceme- tery was worth more to Fesi- dents. “The city is having prob- lems because there’s not enough land for burial of our . own at Dean said. city’s lawyers indicat- ed that the city is not obligat- ed to voluntarily agree te an does have the power to expro- priate lands for the purpose of constructing services.” The GVRD is initiating water main projects through- our many Lower Mainland municipalities to accommo- date water supply demands and to upgrade water quality. In a report to council, city staff indicated that Section 23 of the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act “provides that an operator of a cemetery must hot use any part of the lands set aside for use as a cemetery for a purpose not associated Cemeteries.” Most councillors agreed that the extra expense of terouting the water main around the cemetery was worth it. But others, like Coun. John Braithwaite, said that the new water main may be strong cnough to with- stand any leaks or breakage because it would be two metres (seven feet) high and made of concrete. Council voted §-2 to reject the GVRD’s request to build the water main. Friday. February 27, 1998 — North Shore News — City strategy queried From page 1 predicted conflicts arising berveen adjacent induscrial users and car dealerships over such things as wind- driven paint spray. The water let in front of the site is owned by the Vancouver Port Corpora- tion and Icased to Seaspan tor the mooring of its barges. Maver Don Bell tater elaborated on a process that has occurred more than onee in Vancouver, whereby a major retailer has bought comparatively cheaper industrial Jand and then gained commercial zoning permission ro operate giant retail outlets. Flemming acknuwl- edged thar her working group of port-users, indus- try representatives, staff and public had 3 narrowly defined focus bur said, “We're coricerned — that there isn’t a concerted waterfront vision across the North Shore.” The IWWG was set up last vear as part of the dis- trict’s Waterfront Tasktoree to provide council with suit- able objectives and policies that, according to staff, “might guide the develop- ment ofa plan for the indus- trial waterfront.” Council's specitic direc- tions to the [WWG say that “the long range strategy is to foster the economic via- bility of the industrial water- front while providing for public access ro the water- front.” The IWWG asked coun- cil not to support the city’s proposed rezoning for the following reasons: @ “The lack of a common strategy/vision for the North Shore waterfront is a concern. The [WWG believes that the protection of the port and its related activities is fundamental to our economy and must be protected. Any redevelop- ment should encompass these activities and be cog- nizant of the community's desire for active interface with the waterfront.” & “There appears to be an incompatible and_ inade- quate evaluation of tratfic- related issues, including a fack of recognition of the existing industrial users in the area and the interface with neighboring communi- ties.” @ “Adjacent land uses, including those within the district. may be negatively inspacted by the proposed development. For example, it is reasonable to assume there will be — conflict between an auto mall and the adjacent shipbuilding facilities, between the hotel and offices and the barge mooring areas.” @ “There is little evidence of a thorough consultation process with the adjacent and neighboring businesses and the community.” District’ planning staff acknowledge - the IWWG’s concerns as “serious” and say there is concern that the proposed development will “injure the prospects for remeining heavy waterfront industry.” But staff also point to two possibly mitigating fac- tors: public waterfront access to a proposed walk- way that would eventually link to Lonsdale Quay; and the = redevelopment — of Marine Drive to a more pedestrign-oriented focus if the car dealerships located there move to Fullerton. North Vancouver City will hold 2 public hearing on the issue March 16. 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