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<font face="Arial, Helvetica"> </font><font size=5><b>Azulstar
Equipment To Be Disconnected<br>
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</b><i>Albuquerque</font> Journal<br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica">July 15, 2008<br>
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The Rio Rancho city staff says it will take immediate
action to pull the plug on wireless company Azulstar and its
problem-plagued Internet service.<br>
A city crew will begin disconnecting power to Azulstar's
network equipment as soon as work can be scheduled, said Steve Ruger, the
city's contract administrator. <br>
Ruger sent a letter last week giving Azulstar 30 days to
remove its equipment from city property. Failing that, Rio Rancho will
consider the equipment abandoned and will remove it and take
possession.<br>
The city is seeking reimbursement from Azulstar for $51,320
in charges for electricity supplied to the network since 2005 that the
city has already paid.<br>
Last week's letter follows more than a year of warnings and
extended deadlines by the city in response to complaints from customers
and requests by Azulstar for more time to improve its service. City staff
warned Azulstar last year that it had breached the contract by failing to
complete the network, maintain insurance coverage and provide
satisfactory service.<br>
Ruger said city staff has received no communications, other
than the invoices, from Azulstar since April<br>
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