FURNACE, Ky. — It took Patricia Tackett, who is battling breast cancer, 53 hours to reach her doctor through her cellular phone after receiving her first chemotherapy treatment.

        Mrs. Tackett was using her cell phone to call her doctor because she and her husband, Charlie, who live in rural Estill County, cannot afford the fee needed to get phone service.

        The Tacketts, living on a hillside farm in the woods, worry about being able to call emergency services.

        “(The cell phone) cuts on and off so bad,” Mrs. Tackett, 35, said. “If it's raining don't even try to call me.”

        It's not unusual for people in rural Kentucky to have to pay the cost of extending phone lines to homes far from existing service.

        But the Tacketts wonder why that's necessary in their case because the house used to have phone service.

        Estill County is served by Verizon Communications, neighboring Powell County by BellSouth.

        In 1980, the state Public Service Commission ruled phone companies must observe exchange boundaries. The house where the Tacketts live was grandfathered in to keep BellSouth service even though it was in Verizon territory.

        The Tacketts moved to the house last fall knowing it didn't then have phone service. The companies said they could add it but didn't reveal the costs.

        In November, a BellSouth technician said a phone wire found in the Tacketts' back yard was still live, but that he couldn't hook it to the house because it was in Verizon territory, Mr. Tackett, 54, said.

        Verizon said it would cost at least $3,000 to extend service from its nearest line, he said.

Her question for officer: 'Plain and simple. Why?'
More answers expected
Riverfront action moves east
Health cuts could affect Tristate
Child deaths shake neighbors
Garden grows into reminder of tornado
Lebanon aims to keep its looks
Planners stepped on some toes
Upscale development coming soon
Ballpark alone won't save downtown Dayton
Church casts a long shadow
Coaching law meets criticism
Newport complex adds to the riverfront's draw
Ohio seeks keys to schools' success
Police officers' defense fund tops $60K
School stung by audit
Teachers colleges put to the test
Turf issues leave Ky. home without phone service
Ukrainians raise egg decor to art form
You asked for it
Tristate A.M. Report