Volume: 13 Issue: 3 September, 2013
Newsletter
Inside this Issue:
Superheroes
of Service
DVR
Landline Service
Community Grants
Find BLU
Social Media
Directory Contest
Channel 6
Capital Credits
Fiber Optics - Why It Is So Important?
Over the past 10 years Glenwood has invested millions of dollars in fiber
infrastructure. Many customers see the dedication we have for this technology and
they ask why is it so important? Since this is the technology and the future of your
Company, we want you to know the answer to this question. But, first we need to
understand what it is and how it works.
What are Fiber Optics?
Fiber optics (optical fibers) are long, thin strands of very pure glass about the
diameter of a human hair. They are arranged in bundles called optical cables and
used to transmit light signals over long distances.
What’s the difference between FTTH and Copper/Coaxial Cable?
There are many advantages to installing FTTH. To name a few, fiber does not conduct electricity, has virtually
unlimited bandwidth, is not affected by heat and cold, and has a longer lifespan than copper or coax. The
closer to the home fiber is pulled, the more bandwidth opportunity the user is given, which is why we pull it all
the way to the home or business.
So that brings us to the main question, why is Glenwood investing so much in fiber?
• Greater Reliability
Fiber-optic cables are less susceptible to glitches or interference and can withstand shock and vibration,
such as potential disruption from inclement weather. It saves time and money on trouble calls.
• More Secure
Voice and data transmissions via FTTH are more secure than those sent over conventional copper cable
connections. The use of fiber eliminates the ability to tap, or eavesdrop, through contact with the delivery
system. • Flexibility
FTTH provides the flexibility to more easily adapt to customer preference, since new products and services
can be activated remotely, either permanently or on demand.
• Less expensive
Several miles of optical cable can be made more cheaply than equivalent lengths of copper wire. This saves
money!
Glenwood Telephone Board of Directors
President
Gerald Toepfer, Blue Hill
Vice President
Wayne Mousel, Roseland
Secretary / Treasurer
Mike Soneson, Funk
Ron Ostdiek, Blue Hill
Kevin Choquette, Campbell
Phil Boyd, Bladen
Walter Buescher, Lawrence
Keri Rutt, Norman/Upland
Change the Way You Watch TV
DVR (Digital Video Recording)
A DVR, or digital video recorder, functions a lot like a VCR, except it
uses a hard drive to record, as opposed to videotapes. This means
that there aren't any tapes to cue, and there is more recording time
available. Like modern VCRs, users of digital video recorders can
record television shows by entering information such as channel, time, and date into a recording menu.
However, the DVR service also allows you to search for upcoming programs, record an entire series, pause live
TV, record HD programs, and much more.
Say goodbye to videotapes and hello to digital recording.
Never miss your favorite programs again
Record in HD
Pause live TV
Fast forward through commercials
Search for upcoming events
And much more
DVR service
Free Professional Installation
New Enhanced TV Guide Feature
$14.95 per month
It will change the way you watch TV forever!
Top 9 Reasons to Keep Your Landline
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Because you want to keep your family safe.
Faster Internet.
Our 911 service has address recognition.
Quality - We have mandated 99.999% reliability.
We are regulated, meaning higher service standards.
You want a great voice conversation all the time.
You get money back each year, and we can all use a little extra cash!
When the power goes out the conversation doesn’t.
Free incoming calls.
AutomAticAlly couNt oN
lANDliNE REliABility
We have mandated 99.999% reliability!
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Community Grants Awarded
CSI Bladen – Received $5,000 to purchase and install a new playground at
Band Mother’s Park.
YMCA of the Prairie Grant
Upland Community Improvement – Received $5,000 to purchase and install
heating/AC, new windows, more tables/chairs, and picnic tables.
Campbell Area Foundation – Awarded $3,500 to purchase landscaping for the
new school bell monument area.
American Legion Post #176 - Received $5,000 to construct a veteran’s monument in Blue Hill.
With the approval of these grants, the total dollars allocated for the telephone area grant in 2013 = $25,000
(Leaving $0 remaining) and $1,000 for the non-telephone area grant (Leaving $11,500 remaining).
Next applications are due December 1, 2013.
With the appoval of these grants we have exhausted our funds for 2013. Please continue to submit applications
for the 2014 grants.
Find BLU Winners and Contest Details
Here are the “Find BLU” winners from the last edition of the newsletter:
Jenny Schneider
Betty Scheibel
Connie Reiman
Dean Wormuth
Sharlene Feely
Jan Weber
Johnny Thornton
Deyman Meyer
Ben Trausch
Delma Carr
Find BLU
Win Prizes
A very small BLU is hidden somewhere in this newsletter. Find it, let us know where he is, and you could receive
a prize. When responding, be very specific where you found BLU. If you are responding by email, please email
your answer to [email protected] with “I Found BLU” in the subject line. If submitting your answer with
your bill payment, please write on a piece of paper your name, phone number, and the location of BLU.
Responses due by October 15th, 2013. Ten winners will be selected each quarter.
Social Media
The growth of social media is staggering. Where do you fit in?
“Time on social networks represents 16% of all the time people spend on the internet, or one out of every six
minutes, compared to one out of twelve minutes in 2007.”
“Tumblr, a blogging site, deals with over one billion page views a week and 10 million posts per day, an increase
of 8 million daily posts compared to March 2010.”
“Facebook handles 1.5 billion updates daily from 600 million active users, with 73% of all American internet
users on there.”
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Want the latest information on Glenwood, updates on contests, and much more? Join our social networks today.
Directory Contest Winner
And the winner is... Sandy Ockinga of Blue Hill, NE. Sandy will receive an
11” x 14” framed enlargement of her winning photo, as well as a check
for $100. Plus, her photo will be seen by all of our members as the 2013
directory cover.
This year we had a great response with over 50 pictures submitted. All of
us here at Glenwood want to extend a big thanks to those who submitted
photos this year. As always, there were many excellent pictures and
choosing a winner was no easy task.We encourage you to continue taking
great pictures for next year’s contest. You never know, the next photo you
take could be the 2014 Directory Cover.
The new directory will be mailed out in early December.
Channel 6 - Local news, weather, and sports.
Glenwood Channels 6 is your local destination for replays of school events, church services, Glenwood channel
guide, information on church services, local event information, business advertisements, Glenwood
promotions, and much more.
Glenwood, in cooperation with Blue Hill and Silver Lake Schools, will be broadcasting school events on the local
access channel 6. Tune to Channel 6 and take a look at all the information that is available. We provide you with
local information that you won’t find with satellite providers.
The local channel ads and an up-to-date programming schedule can be found on our website
at www.shopglenwood.net. Click on the Channel 6 logo located at the bottom right corner of the
home page.
If you wish to advertise on our local channel, please contact the business office. Your ad will
reach over 1,000 people in 9 communities.
Capital Credit Allocation
On you last month’s bill you will notice our annual capital credit allocation notice. It reads as follows:
Telephone service is brought to you on a nonprofit, service-at-cost basis. If there is a margin of profit at the end
of any given year, that margin must be divided among all of the members and credited to their “Patronage Capital
Credit Account”. The amount of your said patronage capital credit is not to be reported as income on your federal
income tax return as it has no market value at this time. The amount of you capital credit cannot and will not be
accepted as payment on your telephone bill.
This amount is not the amount you will receive in December. A portion of this will be allocated on a percetage basis as determined by our Board later this year. If you have questions please contact the business office.
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P.O. Box 97 510 West Gage
Blue Hill, NE 68930 Phone: (402) 756-3131
Toll-Free: 1-866-756-4746
Fax: (402) 756-3134