Offer valid May 1 thru July 31, 2015. Not all services are available in all areas. Offer valid with qualifying services. Excludes surcharges, taxes, fees, service order and/or installation charges. Standard terms & conditions and service agreements apply; see office for details.

You’re in the top

%!5 Did you know you’re in a rare group? Although no one can agree on the percentage, there aren’t many customers in the US who have access to a Fiber-to-the-Home network, and all the benefits it offers.

By our information, only about 5% of customers in the nation have Fiber-to-the-Home available to them. That means you have what 95% of the customers in the U.S. wish they had.

So what does that mean for you? We’ve put it in a few easy categories.

1. Huge bandwidth capabilities. The Internet has grown a lot since it burst on the scene for most of us in 1993. In the early days, it was only text we consumed, which matched our connections at the time - dialup. Now, we watch video on YouTube, we stream HD ‘TV’ shows on Netflix and we video chat with others, routinely. Our fiber network can deliver 200mbps now, and will be capable of 1000mbps (often called 1 Gig). You don’t need to know how to calculate bits and bytes to know that is a lot!

Upgrade Your Internet Speed or FiberTV & Get the Upgrade

FREE for 30 Days

2. You do more with and connect more devices to your Internet connection. The lines that once defined Internet, TV and phone used to be distinct . Now, TV and Internet blur together and that trend will accelerate creating more need for that huge bandwidth we spoke about before.

3. We have invested in you and our communities. We are your local connection to it all – and today that requires Fiber-to-the-Home. We care about you, our communities and the climate we offer to those who want to create jobs. It’s why we have invested in this network!

June 2015Customer Service CornerCongratulations Grads!Congratulations and best wishes for a bright future. See our scholarship winners on p4.

Office ClosedOur office will be closed July 3 in observance of Independence Day.

Iowa OneCallCall OneCall at least 48 hours before you dig at 1-800-292-8989 or 811 from your home phone. Not only will it keep you safe, it’s the law!

Protect Your ElectronicsProtect your computer, router & other valuable electronics by using an adequate surge protector. Using a grounded outlet & surge protector will give you the best protection.

Need Technical Support?Technical support is FREE and available 24 hours a day/7 days a week by calling 755-8324.

You may get assistance with your Internet, TV or phone service, including troubleshooting or requesting a service call.

ConnectionsOne Community

always in their corner like we are.

Second, we try to walk a line of serving members while being fiscally responsible, but at the same time being the technology leader our members expect us to be.

Q: What should the members know about their board of directors and the staff of Panora Telco?A: Two ideas come to mind. One, the staff and board are very consciously trying to keep rates for all services affordable.

Second, I can’t give the staff enough credit for all they do to position our coop to serve members. They handle behind the scenes regulatory paperwork and filings, run the day-to-day operations, handle weather and other emergencies and still manage to plan for the future and be involved in the community.

Q: What do you do professionally/where do you volunteer? A: I love to volunteer with youth and other organizations. I’m retired from many years and different roles with the Bell System, and a related consulting company.I served 14 years on the Iowa Golf Association board, and am now on the Iowa Golf Foundation board too.

Q: Family?A: My wife Nancy and I have 5 children, 16 grand children and 3 great grand children.

Q: How long have you been on the board? A: I’m just staring my 4th year.

Q: What are a few things you have learned by being on the board that you didn’t fully understand before serving?A: I knew but didn’t appreciate the full extent to which the cable programmers have complete control of the rates we have to pay them; there’s not a thing we can do about it despite our desire to keep rates low. Similar to that is the impact that FCC rulings and regulations have on our rates.

Q: What topics do you want coop members to know about the company or the industry? A: The coop, both the board and staff, is here to serve them. It’s our purpose. It’s hard for customers (members) to appreciate what a coop can do for them, when they’re used to doing business with other types of companies who aren’t

Oxley explains ways coop serves its members

Board MemberLeRoy Oxley

Q&A

Solutions, our Technology Experience Center, has been open since December and the response from you and your neighbors has been great!

Get your hands on some technology at Solutions Technology Experience Center!If you have not been in, missed the announcement about it or are just returning from a long winters nap, here’s a summary:

• Solutions is located at 112 E Main Street in Panora, where you are encouraged to get your hands on some technology. It’s the best way to learn. We want you to leave having learned something that you find helpful for your personal or business life.

• We carry a wide variety of devices and technology – all which relate/connect to the services we offer. Our goal is for you to learn and understand, and if you want to make a purchase to help yourself, that is fine as well. You don’t need to buy something to come in the experience & learning center, but if you want to items are priced competitively.

• We want you to have a great experience with your technology. It should work for you. We can make sure that happens if you talk with us about

your needs. We live here together, so we won’t steer you wrong.

• Solutions is not meant just to be for our customers. It is a regional resource for technology knowledge. All are welcome!

Learn 3 different ways: 1. Ask your questions to our staff. They

are specialists, and want to show you how to solve your issue or give you different options to consider.

2. Push some buttons and touch some screens. In other words, use & experience the technology yourself, either on your own or with staff assistance.

3. Take a class. Check out our full schedule of classes (on p4), and pick one to join. We have topics ranging from streaming video, wireless networks (WiFi), SmartHome options and info on tablet computers.

Visit us at 112 E Main in Panora

Annual Meeting held March 16th The Annual Meeting of the Panora Communications Cooperative was held on Monday, March 16th at the Panorama High School auditorium.

Nearly 100 coop members heard from Manager Andy Randol about company activities and financial information for the past year. Technology Development Director, Curt Thornberry, spoke about our new Solutions Technology Experience Center, as well as the continued growth in broadband demand by our users.

Kiesling Associates, our auditing firm, presented the audited financials to the membership. John Pietilla from the Davis Brown Law Firm spoke about cable rates & programming contracts.

Re-elected to the Board of Directors, for another 3 year term, was LeRoy Oxley. Lynnea Andersen was elected to her first 3 year term. Linda Wendl was recognized for her retirement and 27 year service to the board. Attendees enjoyed refreshments after the meeting.

Drawing Winners were:• 32” LED Toshiba Television – Corey

Welberg• Toshiba DVD/Streaming Device –

Ellen Campbell• USB Power Bank – Kathy Klinge• ECOX Gear Bluetooth Waterproof

Speaker – Thomas Jeschke• Google Chromecast – Gary Buker• Spring Plants – Ed Buchanan, Julie

Dent-Zajicek, Reuben Hansen & Chaille Crandall

important than ever to remind you to plan ahead and call OneCall before you do any type of digging.

Your project might involve a spade to plant a bush or a backhoe to build a house. The possible cost and danger to you is well worth your time to call. Call 811 or 800-292-8989 48 hours before you plan to dig.

We have also seen mowing and burning in ditches cause damage to our network facilities, so please keep that in mind when starting a project of that nature, as you will be liable for any damage.

I’ve spoken about rural call completion issues in the past. Unfortunately, the problem still exists, so it needs more

When asked to state something very important about his successful business career, hotelier Conrad Hilton said “Don’t forget to tuck the shower curtain inside the tub.” With that illustration he demonstrated that important matters could be simple and therefore overlooked.

My ‘curtain’ story is to remind you about the importance of calling OneCall. With all the fiber we have in the ground, it’s more

Why OneCall matters; Info & video about Call Completion

attention. The topic is hard to grasp at times for everyone, so now there is a

video and an infographic, which help explain the issues and what you can do to help solve the problem. That info can be found on our website under the ‘About’ menu > ‘Call Completion’.

Enjoy Spring and thank you for your business. We enjoy the opportunity to serve your needs.

AndrewRandolGeneral Manager

Remodeled office to better serve you!

“With all the fiber in the

ground, it’s more important

than ever to plan ahead and

call OneCall before you dig.”

Solutions, the Technology Experience Center, is certainly enough to bring anyone to 112 East Main Street to learn or ask your tech questions. But, as in the TV commercials of the past: But wait, there’s more!

We want you to have a great experience with Panora Telco AND Solutions, so we needed to update our office space to better accommodate that.

We’ve opened up the entry space to allow us to serve you better, and to provide our technical staff space to work on your computers, and set up your routers and other tech gear.

There is a better area to sit down to talk about any questions you may have and a nice area for check out. Stop in to say hello, ask your questions or just to look around. We even have WiFi. Our office is located at 114 East Main Street.

Facebook.com/panoratelco

114 East Main

Panora, IA 50216

641.755.2424

641.755.TECH (8324) Voice, Video & Internet Support

panora@netins.net

localchannel@panoratelco.com

www.panoratelco.com

Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm

Hav

e w

e go

t a

cont

est

for

you! We know you love contests and this one is especially for our loyal newsletter

readers. Answer all these questions correctly and you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $10 bill credit.

What service do only 5% of US customers have? _______________________________

The PT Annual Meeting was March 10th. p True p False

How can you contact Iowa OneCall? _____________________________________

Panora Telco remodeled their main office. p True p False

Name ______________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________

Phone _____________________________________________________________

Clip and return with your bill, drop off or mail by June 25 to: Panora Telco, 114 East Main Street, Panora, IA 50216One winner chosen at random per quarter. Contest open to all Panora Telco customers 18 & over. Applicants can win once in a 12 month period. Other restrictions may apply.

Congratulations to George Moore who was the March contest winner.

Scholarships awarded to Panorama High School seniors

Assistance in paying your telephone bill is available to qualifying low-income Iowans as part of a federal support program called Lifeline.

Lifeline is a plan that assists qualified low-income Iowans by providing a monthly reduction of $9.25 on their local telephone bill.

You may only receive low-

income assistance from one wireline or wireless telephone provider per household.

Iowans who participate in one or more of the following programs are eligible: Medicaid, SNAP, Supplemental Security

Income, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program,

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

Program or the

National School Lunch Program.

Application forms can be obtained from our office or at the local and county offices of the Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging, and the Community Action Program offices of the Department of Human Rights.

To find out more or to download an application, visit our website.

Low income Iowans may qualify for assistance with Lifeline

“We are proud of all of our graduating seniors,” stated GM Andrew Randol,

“We are very happy to be able to award scholarships within Guthrie County.

We wish all area seniors the very best as they graduate this spring.”

Brody Stogdill is the recipient of the $500 Panora Telephone scholarship. He will be attending Iowa State University in Ames studying

Engineering. His parents are Doug & Shellie Stogdill.

Take a Technology Class in June!

Date Class Time

June 9 Tablets 101 2-3pm

June 13 Manage Your Home Network 10-11am

June 16 Internet 101 2-3pm

June 20 FiberTV 101 10-11am

June 23 Keys to Internet Safety 2-3pm

June 27 Email 101 10-11am

June 30 Make Your Home Smarter 2-3pm

All classes are held in the Solution Technology Education Center at

112 East Main in Panora.

Emily Neel is the recipient of the $500 Panora Cablevision scholarship. She will be attending Iowa State University in Ames studying

Graphic Design. Her parents are Tom & Sharon Neel.