communicator - fmctc all (1).pdf · project includes four phases and is sched- ... corey gaskill...
TRANSCRIPT
TheTheCommunicatorYour Complete Communication Services Provider
Telephone, Long Distance, Wireless, Cable Television, Paging, Internet, Web Hosting
July 2012 19th St. & Cyclone Ave., Harlan, IA 51537 • (712) 744-3131 • [email protected] • www.fmctc.com
Fiber to the Premises update FMCTC is making excellent progress with its plans to replace copper and co-axiallineswithfiberopticcablerunningallthewaytocustomerpremises(homesandbusinesses).Werefertothisas“fiber-to-the-premises”orFTTP.Wearebeingambitiousthissummerandaremakingterrificprogressinrural-Earling,rural-Westphalia,andrural-Jacksonville.WealsoanticipatewelcomingourfirstFTTPcustomerinTownHarlanthissummer. ThetownofIrwinbecameaFTTPcommunityinSpring2007.TheFTTPnetworkisalsocompleteinruralManilla(June2010),ruralDefiance(August2011),andruralKirkman(Spring2012).Weexpecttohaverural-EarlingontheFMCTCFTTPnetworkbySpring2013,andrural-Jacksonvilleandrural-Westpha-liaontheFTTPnetworkbySpring2014. Byprovidingfiberopticcabledirectlytothehomeoroffice,customerscanre-ceivephoneservice,highspeedInternetandcabletvalloveroneline.Thistech-nologywillallowforhigherqualityTVchannelsandthecontinuedexpansionofinternetspeeds,dataservices,andotherapplications.(766-3391)
FTTP Project UpdatesrUraL earLing
phase 1: main fiber / Completed Thefiberopticmainlineisburiedinditchesandalongroadsides.phase 2: site survey/fiber optic drops to homes/installation of box on outside
of home/ summer2012 TheFMCTCconstructioncrewisburyingfiberopticservicelinedropsfromthenewfiberpedestalintheyardtothehouse.Theyalsomountaprotectiveboxontheoutsideofthehomewhichorganizesthecablesandgroundstheequipment. Approximately125fiberopticservicelinedropswillbeburiedinruralEarlingbysummer’send.Phase 3: Splicing of fi ber / Fall2012/Winter2013phase 4: installation of electronics and wiring at the home with cutover to the fmCtC fiber optic network/ spring2013
rUraL WestphaLia anDrUraL JaCKsonViLLe
phase 1: main fiber / summer 2012 Thefiberopticmainlinewillbeburiedinditchesandalongroadsidesbyourutil-itycontractors,QualityCommunications.phase 2: site survey/fiber optic drops to homes/installation of box on outside of home / summer 2013Phase 3: Splicing of fi ber/Fall 2013/Winter 2014phase 4: installation of electronics and wiring at the home with cutover to the fmCtC fiber optic network/ spring 2014
toWn harLan/West of12th street
phase l: main fiber/summer 2011/ongoing Constructionofthefiberopticmain
lineinwest-Harlanwillbeaworkin-progress.phase 2: site survey/fiber optic drops to homes & businesses /installation of box on outside of home / summer 2011/ongoing ArepresentativefromFMCTCwillcontactcustomersifthefiberopticservicelinedropneedstobeburiedtotheirhomeorbusiness.Hewilldeterminenecessaryinformationregardingtheburyingofthefiberintheyard,andthebestplacetobringitinsidetheproperty.Ifthecustom-erisgoneatthistime,adoorhangerwillbeleftwithacontactphonenumber.Phase 3: Splicing of fi ber/Spring 2012/ongoing FMCTCworkerswillsplicethefiberopticservicedropswiththemainfiberopticline.Thisworkiscompletedatthenewpedestallocatedinthecustomer’syard.phase 4: installation of electronics and wiring at the home/business with cutover to the fmCtC fiber optic network/summer 2012/ongoing AFMCTCtechnicianwillenterthepropertyandinstallthepowersupplyandbatterypackandconnectthefiberfrom
theoutsideprotectiveboxtotheinsideequipment.Serviceswillbecutovertothefibernetworkandtestedtoseeiftheyareworkingproperly.Onceeachcustomer’scutoveriscomplete,eachresidenceorbusinesswillhavetheirowndirect‘non-shared’fiberconnection.Thisfiberconnectionprovideseverycustomerwiththeirowndedicatedfiberopticlinefortheirphone,internetandcabletvser-vice.Ourdailytimetableisthreetofourcutoversaday.
FTTPworkwillmoveintootherareasofFMCTC’sserviceterritoryoverthenextyears,buryingfiberopticcabletoserveruralHancock,rural-Irwin,andrural-HarlanandthetownsofManilla,Jacksonville,Defiance,Kirkman,West-phalia,EarlingandHancock.EachFTTPprojectincludesfourphasesandissched-uledtotakeabouttwoyearstocomplete. BelowarepicturesoftheconstructionphasesofFMCTC’sFTTPproject:bury-ingthefiberopticmainlineinditches,buryingfiberopticservicelinedropstothehome,andplacementofanewfiberpedestal.
FTTP FAST FACT:Did you know after this summer there
will be approximately 630 MILES
of fi ber optic cable buried for FMCTC’s FTTP project?
Workers from Quality Contractors are buryingthefiberopticmainlineinditches
FMCTC work-ers Mark Davis & Corey Gaskill use ayardplowtoburyfiberfromthenewfiberopticpedestalto the customer’s home. Our timetable istoburynewfiberservicedropstotwotofivehomesaday.
Thefiberopticservicelinedropishand-dugoutsidethehome,workingaroundlandscaping.Aprotectiveboxis mounted on the outside of the home which organizes thecablesand‘grounds’theequipment.ThefiberisneatlytiedoffattheboxinpreparationforPhase3and4,whichwilltakeplaceoverthenext12months.
Anewfiberpedestalisinstalled.
AlargerplowisusedtoburythefiberopticservicedroptotheditchwhereFMCTC’smainfiberopticlineislocated.
Thecrewmakesprogress!The customer’s driveway is 1/3milelong.
Watch for next month’s newsletter which will include more pictures of
FMCTC’s FTTP project.
FMCTC worker Corey Gaskill ma-neuverstheplowwhileNickPetscheguidesthefiberopticcable.Ablade‘cuts’thefiberintotheground.The crew’s destination is a second pedestalwhichislocatedattheendofthecustomer’sdriveway.Atthispedestal,thefiberopticservicedropwilleventuallybesplicedwiththemainfiberopticline.Themainfiberopticlinerunsintheditch.
DirectorsPresident ....... Paul NelsonVice-Pres ....... Roger SchmitzSecretary/ Treasurer .... Ted ChamberlainDirector .......... Kenneth MartinDirector .......... Joel BerndtDirector .......... Eugene JuhlDirector .......... Harold PetersDirector .......... Rex G. AdamsDirector .......... Westley WalkerDirector .......... James Rasmussen
TheCommunicatorPublished monthly by FMCTC
19th St. & Cyclone Ave., Harlan, Iowa 51537
General Mgr... Tom ConryOffice Mgr ...... Brenda FiscusPlant Mgr .........Gary Petersen
Harlan Office Hours:Mon-Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Telephone: (712) 744-3131or 800-469-3511
Fax (712) 744-3100
www.fmctc.comOutages after hours, holidays and weekends
(712) 744-3131
FMCTC office closed July 4
The FMCTC office will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th, in
observance of theJuly 4th holiday.
Emergency calls will be taken at 744-3131.
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Relay for Life event raisesawareness and money for cancer
2012TEAMFMCTCandfriendsatthe2012RelayforLifeeventinHarlan:NicoleArnold,ShawnWilliams,ShelliLarson,WayneFink,BudBieker,JoanBieker,TomConry,BrendaFiscus,JacieScheffler.
Formorethan20years,peoplearoundthecountryhavebeentakingturnswalk-ingorrunningaroundatrackorfield,allforoneofthemostwell-knowncausesintheworld:fightingcancer. FMCTChasbeenapartoftheAmeri-canCancerSociety’sShelbyCountyRelayforLifefundraisingandvolunteer
effortsformanyyears.ThefightagainstcancerisacauseclosetomanyFMCTCemployees’heartsandTeamFMCTCisproudtobeabletosupportsuchanim-portantcause.(782-4125) FMCTChasbeenaCorporateSpon-sorfortheRelayforLifeeventsince2010.
New rate forFederal Universal Service Charge EffectiveJuly1st,theFederalUSF(UniversalServiceFund)assessmentisslightlylowerandyourmonthlybillwillreflectthisdecrease.TheUSFisnowassessedat15.7%ofanyInterstatecharges,adecreasefrom17.4%.TheUSFchargeisassessedontelephoneserviceandDSLInternetservice. TheUniversalServiceChargeisnotpartofyourlocalservicerate.Instead,thechargegoestoarelieffundthatas-sistswiththecostsofprovidingtele-phoneserviceinlowincomecommuni-ties,andforruralhealthcare,schools,andlibraries.
Low-incometelephoneassistanceisavailabletoqualifyinglow-incomeIowansaspartofafederalsupportpro-gramcalled“Lifeline”andisavailablethroughFarmersMutualCooperativeTelephoneCompany. Lifelineisaplanthatassistsquali-fiedlow-incomeIowansbyprovidingamonthlyreductionof$9.25ontheirlocaltelephonebill. Iowanswhoseincomeisatorbelow135%oftheFederalPovertyGuidelinesareeligiblefortelephoneassistance.Ad-ditionally,Iowanswhoparticipateinoneormoreofthefollowingprogramsareeligiblefortelephoneassistance:• Medicaid• SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram(SNAP)
• SupplementalSecurityIncome(SSI)• FederalPublicHousingAssistance• Low-IncomeHomeEnergyAssistanceProgram(LIHEAP)
• TemporaryAssistancetoNeedyFami-liesProgram(TANF)
Financial assistance isavailable for your residential landline phone service
• NationalSchoolLunchProgram(NSL)
Documentationwillbenecessaryforenrollment. Inaddition,youmustnotcurrentlybereceivingLifelineassistance,andnootherpersoninyourhouseholdcanbesubscribedtotheLifelineprogram,astheprogramislimitedtoonebenefitperhousehold. ToapplyforLifeline;applicantsshouldsubmitanapplicationtoFarmersMutualCooperativeTelephoneCom-pany.ApplicationformscanbeobtainedfromtheFMCTCofficeat80119thStreetinHarlan.ThisapplicationisalsoavailableontheIowaUtilitiesBoardwebsiteatwww.state.ia.us/iub. Lifelineisagovernmentbenefitprogramandsubscriberswillfullymak-ingfalsestatementsinordertoobtainthebenefitcanbepunishedbyfineorimprisonmentorcanbebarredfromtheprogram.(747-3232)
BeginningJuly1,2012,youwillno-ticeanewchargeonyourtelephonebill: Residential Telephone Service: will see$0.50permonthAccessRecoveryCharge(ARC)feeonallphonelines. Single-line Business Service: will seea$0.50permonthAccessRecoveryCharge(ARC)fee. Multi-line Business Service: will seea$1.00permonthAccessRecoveryCharge(ARC)feeonallphonelines. TheARCchargeisanoutcomeofthesameFCCreformplanthatcausedyourlocalserviceratetoincreaseinAprilofthisyear,andagaininthefuture. We’vebeentellingyouoverthelastmonths,sincethereleaseofthenew
Reminder: FCC Reform brings a new charge to your phone bill this month
FCCreformplan,thattheFCCorderwouldaffectyourpocketbook. 1.ItrequiredFMCTCtoraiseyourlocalratestoaminimumlevelsetbytheFCC.ThefirstincreasetookplaceonApril1,2012,anditrequiredustoincreaseourresidentialandsinglelinebusinessratesto$10.00permonth.Multi-linebusinessrateswerenotaf-fectedatthistime. 2.ItisrequiringFMCTCtoaddtheAccessRecoveryCharge(ARC)onallphonebillsbeginningJuly1,2012. 3.Inadditiontotheabovechang-es,wearerequiredtoraiselocalratesto$14permonthminimumbyJuly2013.
ThecostofLifelinetelephoneser-viceusedbylowerincomeresidentsisdecreasingby75centspermonth. EffectiveJune1,2012,theLifelineAssistanceprogramnowgivesa$9.25creditpermonthonlocalphonebills.TheLifelinecreditisanincreasefrom$8.50. It’stheresultofmodificationsorderedbytheFederalCommunicationsCom-missionincludingeliminationofacom-panionprogramcalledLink-Upwhichprovidedeligiblecustomersadiscount
FCC modifies Lifeline program and eliminates Link-Up program
ontelephoneinstallationcharges.Who pays for the
LifeLine program? AlltelecommunicationsserviceprovidersandcertainotherprovidersoftelecommunicationsmustcontributetothefederalUSFbasedonapercentageoftheirend-usertelecommunicationsrev-enues.Thesecompaniesincludewirelinetelephonecompanies,wirelesstelephonecompanies,pagingservicecompaniesandcertainVoiceoverInternetProtocol(VoIP)providers.(744-3621)
from the fmCtCinternet help Desk
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
DO NOT press the reset button on the back of your
modem. pressing thereset button will erase the
configuration of the modem.
if you need to reboot the modem/router, use the power switch. if there is no power switch, unplug/plug in the
power supply to rebootthe modem.
Haveyourecentlyreceivedanemaillikethisinyourinbox?-----OriginalMessage-----From:Amazon.comTo:undisclosedrecipientsSent:Friday,June11,201211:32AMSubject:YourAmazon.comKindlee-Bookorderconfirmation
Startinglastmonth,arashoffakeKindleebookordershittheInternet. Sentoutaspartofanexploitmalware,theemailisdesignedtoalarmtherecipi-entsintothinkingthattheirAmazonaccountshavebeenchargedoutrageousamountsforebooksthattheydidn’torder.Thelinksintheemailsuchas“youraccount”actu-allytaketheunsuspectingrecipientstomalicioussiteswherethemalwarewillinfecttheircomputer. Thesubjectoftheemailisusually“YourAmazon.comKindlee-bookordercon-firmation”or“YourAmazon.comKindlee-bookorderreceipt”[email protected]“Thanksforyourorder(youremailaddress)!”theemailstartsout,goingontosay“Didyouknowyoucanviewandedityouror-dersonline,24hoursaday?Visityour account.”Don’tfallforit!(748-4631) Neverclickonalinkembeddedinanemail.Alwaysloginbyopeninganewwebbrowserandtypinginthelegitimatewebsiteaddress.
Fake Kindle E-book Order Confirmations lead tomalicious sites
Remote support for your PC over your Internet connectionOurInternetHelpDeskstaysbusywithrequestsfromourInternetcustomersfortechsupport.Sometimestherequestissimpleandeasytosolveandcanbedonebyinstantremotesupport. Withremotecomputersupport,ourHelpDeskcanconnect,diagnoseandtroubleshootyourpersonalcomputerrightfromourofficeusingyourhighspeedInternetconnection.Wecanworkonyourcomputerasifweweresittingrightinfrontofit.It’seasy,it’shandy,andit’ssecure.
Test your Internet connection speed with our Speed Test Tool found at www.fmctc.com.
Summertime help SummerisabusytimeatFMCTCandsummertimeemployeesplayanim-portantroleincompletingmanyofourprojects.FMCTCisluckytohavetwoexcellentyoungmenhelpingusoutthissummer. JustinGraeve(topright)isbackforhisfourthsummeratFMCTC!HewillreturntoISUthisFallwhere he is majoring in Mechanical Engineering.Justinisahardworkerandisalwayswillingtohelpoutwhereneeded. NickPetsche is the‘rookie’atFMCTC,buthelearnsquicklyandworkshard.Nickwillbea Freshman at ISUthisFall.(755-3130) JustinandNickmostlyworkwiththeFMCTCconstructioncrew.TheyaretwoofthereasonswhyFMCTC’sFTTPprojectismakingexcellentprogressthissummer. WelcomeJustinandNick!Weappre-ciateyou.
Ifthenewchargesonyourphonebillconcernyou,weencourageyoutocontactyourCongressmanorSenatorsandaskthemforhelp.TellthemtosupportaneffectiveUniversalServiceFundandtostoptheFCCfromtakingactionthatincreasestheratesforbroadbandandtelephoneservicestoruralAmerica. senator Chuck grassley135HartSenateOfficeBuilding,WashingtonD.C.20510;Phone202-224-3744;Webforum:grassley.senate.gov/contact.cfm senator tom harkin 731HartSenateOfficeBuilding,WashingtonD.C.20510;Phone202-224-3254;Webforum:harkin.senate.gov/contact_opinion.cfm Congressman steve King1131LongworthOfficeBuildingWashingtonD.C.20510;Phone202-225-4426FederalCommu-nications CommissionChairmanJuliusGenachowskiFederalCommunicationsCommission44512thStreet,SWWashington,DC20554;[email protected]
A sample letter follows. Feel free to customize your own letter. Dear(Legislator): IamconcernedabouttherecentFCCreformplan.ItincludessubstantialchangestotheUniversalServiceFund(USF).Itchangesthewaycarrierschargeeachothertosendtrafficoneachother’snetwork. Iamamember/owner/customerofasmall,community-basedtelecomcompanyinruralIowa.SinceimplementationofthenewFCCreformplan,Ihaveseenincreasedratesandchargesonmymonthlyphonebill.AndIunderstandthispatternofnewchargesandratesformeisjustthebeginning. IamwritingtoaskthatyouconsiderchangestotheUniversalServiceFundthatwillsupport,notharmsmallruraltelecomcompanies.PleasestoptheFCCfromtakinganyfurtheractionthatincreasestheratesfortelephoneandbroadbandservicesforusinruralAmerica.Irelyonmylocaltelecommunicationsprovidertosupplymewithaffordableandreliablephoneandhigh-speedInternetaccess.I’mnottheonlyone.Thousandsofpeopleandbusinessesalsorelyonruralcarrierssuchasmine. Pleasedon’tforgetaboutusouthereinruralAmerica.PleasetelltheFCCtostopmakingdecisionsthatwillincreasecoststoruralAmericansandcouldcausemetolosemyconnectiontotheworld. Sincerely, Yourname
We need your letters and emails, please…
Hot Weather, Cool Flicks Hereisasneakpeekatwhat’sshow-inginJuly. The Big Year:Saturday,July7,Com-edy/Adventure,RatedPG13,HBO Men in Black: Saturday,July14,Comedy/Thriller,RatedPG13,HBO Contagion:Saturday,July21,Action/Thriller,RatedPG13,HBO Fast Five:Saturday,July14,Action/Drama,RatedPG13,Cinemax Dream House:Saturday,July28,Suspense/Thriller,RatedPG13,Cinemax Fair Game:Saturday,July7Mystery/Thriller,RatedPG13,Showtime
Planningahomeimprovementjob?Plantingatree?Installingafenceordeck?WAIT!Here’swhatyouneedtoknowfirst!Whetheryouareado-it-yourselferorhireaprofessional,smartdiggingmeansalwayscalling811beforeeachproject. Don’tgamblewithyoursafety–knowingwheretheundergroundutilitylinesarewillhelpprotectyoufromin-jury,preventdamagetoutilities,servicedisruptions,potentialfinesandrepaircosts…plusitsFREE!Whywouldn’tyoucall? Justcall811atleast2businessdaysorupto10daysbeforeyouwanttostartdiggingThatmeansifyoucall811Tues-
It’s a homeowner’s responsibilityday morn-ing,811mem-berutilitieswill haveyourservicelinesmarkedbynoonThursday–justintimeforyourweekendproject!((741-5620) Call811MondaythroughFriday8am-5pmtosubmityourrequestformark-ings.
Fair Time It’sthattimeofyearagain…fairtime!Don’tmisstheShelby
CountyFairgoingoninHarlanonJuly8,10throughJuly16. Congratulationstoallofthearea4-Hers,FFAers,andOpenClassexhibi-torsonyourhardwork,andgoodluckwithyourexhibitsatthefair. BesuretostopbyourboothintheCommercialBuildingandsay‘hi.’FMCTCisproudtobeacorporatesponsoroftheShelbyCountyFair.Foracompletescheduleofthecountyfairandformoreinformation,gotowww.shelbycountyfair.org.
Harlan Tribune Graphics Web Printing
FMCTCispleasedtoannouncethatPatrickBruckofIKM-Manningistherecipientofa$2,000collegescholarshipfromtheNationalTelecommunicationsCooperativeAssociation’s(NTCA)FoundationforRuralService.Pat-rickwasalsotherecipientofthe$500FMCTCcollegescholarship. TheFRSscholarshipprogramawardedover$95,000inscholarshiptoruralyouthacrosstheUnitedStates.Outofover1,400applicationsreceivedthisyear,thirtyfivescholarshipswereawarded.Thegoalofthescholarshipprogramistohelpfurtherhigheredu-cationopportunitiesamongruralhighschoolstudents.FMCTCstronglysup-portstheyouthofourcommunityandisthrilledtosponsorthisworthyprogram.FMCTCsponsoredPatrickforthisna-tionalscholarship. Scholarshiprecipientswereselectedbyanindependentteamofreviewers
FMCTCboardmembersgathertocongratulatePatrickBruck,nationalscholarshipwinner.PicturedFrontLtoR:KennethMartin,PaulNelson,Bruck.Back:EugeneJuhl,TedChamberlain,WestleyWalker,JimRasmussen.
FMCTC announces winner innational college scholarship program
fromtheeducationfield.Tobeeligible,recipientsmustbesponsoredbyaNTCAmemberandmustindicateadesiretore-turntotheirruralcommunitiesoncetheircollegiatestudieshavebeencompleted. “Wearethrilledtoofferthisprogram,withthegoaloflevelingtheplayingfieldforruralstudentswhooftenfacefinan-cialobstaclesintheirpursuitofhighereducation,“saidTomConry,FMCTCManager.“TheFRSscholarshipprogramenablesruraltelecommunicationspro-viderslikeFMCTCtoshowtheirsupportoftheyouthlivinginthecommunitiestheyserve.” The scholarship program is open toallgraduatinghighschoolseniorsthatreceivelocaltelecommunicationsservicefromFMCTC.Applicantsmustbeenrolledinanaccreditedtwo-yearorfour-yearcollegeoruniversity,orvoca-tionaltechnicalschool,andhaveatleastaC-gradepointaverage.(799-4737)
FMCTCcelebratedyou–ourcustomers–lastmonth,withour2012THANKYOUTOURwhichmadeninestopsallacrossthearea.TheFMCTCtravelingcaravanfeaturedafreeBBQdinner,freegiftsforall,specialcustomerpromotions,andchancestowingreatgrandprizes.Almost1600ofyoucameoutandenjoyedaneveningofbarbecuing,visitingandwinningprizes.Manyofyousigneduptopreviewanewserviceforfreeforthesummerincluding:CallerIDorVoiceMail,aCommunityPhone,apremiummoviechannel,orafasterInternetspeed. ThankstoeveryonewhoattendedandsupportedourTHANKYOUTOURevents.OurFMCTCgrillin’teamenjoyedcook-ingforyou.Ourboardofdirectorsandteamofworkersenjoyedservingyouandvisitingwithyou.Weknowthatshowingourgenuineappreciationtoyouismuchmorethanschedulinganeventonthecalendar.Appreciationisreallyanattitude.Ourgoalistoshowyouthatappreciationyearroundwithtopnotchproducts,serviceandsupport.(627-4238)) BesuretocheckoutourTHANKYOUTOURgrandprizewinnersintheAugustnewsletter!
Hancockservingline. BrendaandWaynegreetingatManilla.Manilla serving line.
Nicole(lefttoright),Wes,PaulandHaroldatHancock.
Grill masters at Manilla in-cludedBud,CoreyandTrent.
GrillmastersatHancockincludedPatrickandEugene.
Hancockshelter.
Trent,WayneandKennethatHancock.
JoanvisitswithmembersatManilla.
WIN $5 CREDIT ON YOUR FMCTC BILL! It’s simple. Find your telephone number in the body of this month’s newsletter and we’ll credit your next month’s
FMCTC bill. Ten telephone numbers appear in parenthesis in every monthly newsletter. Good luck! (654-2602)