September/October 2009 Issue
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
September/October 2009 Published for the members of “We Keep You Connected” THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION VIEWING! Plus... Broadband Media Sexting: the newest Billy Holkem shares Networks now online problem among teens his Boston butt recipe Blessed are the... focused? I am having a good day! I’ve just read connected to your world. In the simplest something that I think is awesome. Do you terms, we make important and often very remember that phrase “Blessed are the difficult decisions every day trying to be meek”? What comes to your mind when certain we remain a relevant part of your you see the word meek? If you go to the homes and businesses well into the future. dictionary you are likely to encounter a We appreciate that opportunity. is a member-owned corporation range of meaning. On a positive note you But right now let’s return to a per- dedicated to providing communica- will find phrases such as gentle or pliant. sonal level. I challenge you to examine tions technology to the people of Less attractive, you will see spineless or your sense of focus. How well are you northeast Alabama. The company spiritless. No wonder some people have a harnessing your power to address the has over 16,000 access lines, mak- problem; blessed are the spineless. Yuk! most productive and truly important (read ing it the state’s largest telecom- In his book Eye of the Storm, my favor- fulfilling) areas of your life? As I have said munications cooperative. ite Christian author Max Lucado points before, one of the best life lessons anyone Board of Trustees out that the [Greek] term translated into ever shared with me was never to take Randy Wright, President English as meek “does not mean weak. myself too seriously. How are you doing Flat Rock Exchange It means focused. It is a word used to with that? Make no mistake about it; life describe a domesticated stallion. Power will throw an immense landscape at you Gary Smith, Vice President under control…” WOW! Doesn’t that make that will always tend to be as fuzzy AND Fyffe Exchange a difference? Blessed are those that have DISTRACTING as it possibly can. Your Danny R. Richey, Secretary learned to harness their power. task is to achieve clarity of purpose. It will Geraldine Exchange The word "focus" can also be aptly be incredibly hard work. That, I can abso- Lynn Welden, Treasurer rendered as obtaining a sense of clarity; in lutely promise. It is perhaps, in one sense, Bryant Exchange this case, clarity about what is important, your greatest life challenge. But do your what needs to be done, how to do it. How best. After all, Blessed are the Focused.n Robert B. Burkhalter is your life coming? Are you focused? Do Pisgah Exchange you have a sense of clarity about what is Greg Griffith really important to you, to your family, to Henagar Exchange your job? Randy Tumlin There’s an old adage that says if you Rainsville Exchange want to get something done, give the task to a busy person. Ever wonder why? People who are productively busy (as Connected opposed to those who are just furiously Vol. 13, No. 5 September/October 2009 running around in a meaningless circle) is a bimonthly magazine have learned the importance of getting published by Farmers Telecom- munications Cooperative, © 2009. things done, of staying on track. In other It is distributed without charge to words, they’ve learned to stay focused. To all member/owners of the Coop- be sure, in this, as in all of life, balance is erative. Send address key. There is always a possibility of be- corrections to: coming so focused on an objective that to Farmers Telecommunications your detriment you ignore all that is going Cooperative, Inc. on around you (tunnel vision). But that is P.O. Box 217 really an incident of narrowness of vision Fred Johnson 144 McCurdy Ave. N. and not of focus. Remember, focus implies is General Manager Rainsville, Alabama 35986 clarity, clarity of the whole picture. of Farmers Telephone: (256) 638-2144 Certainly, we here at FTC try to remain Telecommunications www.farmerstel.com focused on our objective of keeping you Cooperative, Inc. Produced for FTC by: WordSouth Public Relations, Inc. www.wordsouth.com Connected magazine is available anytime, from anywhere. Search feature stories and recipes, then print or even email them to family and friends. Login today and On the Cover: It’s ALL ONLINE! stay connected! Visit FARMERSTEL.COM and click on the Connected icon. Digital Television service from FTC is now in the testing stages. See the story on Pages 8 - 9 to learn about package prices and the channels that will be available. 2 Connected - September/October 2009 NATIONWIDE UNLIMITEDCALLING Telcom Enhanced 1 Max 2 Plus UNLIMITED UNLIMITED NATIONWIDE CALLING NATIONWIDE CALLING (Local & Long Distance) (Local & Long Distance) Voice Mail Basic, plus Voice Mail Basic, plus UNLIMITED Calling Features UNLIMITED Calling Features High-Speed High-Speed Broadband Internet Broadband Internet with speeds up to 10MB** with speeds up to 6MB** $ .95 $ .95 109 Per Month 99Per Month Telcom Telcom 3 Enhanced 4 Essential UNLIMITED UNLIMITED NATIONWIDE CALLING NATIONWIDE CALLING (Local & Long Distance) (Local & Long Distance) Voice Mail Basic, plus Voice Mail Basic, plus UNLIMITED Calling Features UNLIMITED Calling Features High-Speed High-Speed Now included in Broadband Internet Broadband Internet with speeds up to 3MB** with speeds up to 1.5MB** $ .95 $ .65 FTC Bundles! 89Per Month 74Per Month Restrictions on Use of FTC’s Unlimited Long Distance Service - FTC’s Unlimited Long Distance Service is available to Residential customers only and is provided subject to FTC’s Standard Terms and Conditions and FTC’s Price List (subject to any advertised discount).* These can be found at www.farmerstel.com . Unlimited Long Distance Service, whether purchased alone or as part of an FTC Bundle, is for typical domestic voice use only. It does not include 900 calls, 800 services, Calling card calls, International calls, Directory Assistance, Operator Assistance, multi-line conference calls, chat services, or data services – standard rates apply for these services. All long distance calling areas are limited to the 48 continental United States plus Alaska, Hawaii, and select U.S. Territories. Long distance is not intended for use to connect to Internet service providers, data providers, or information services. Commercial facsimile, auto-redialing, resale, telemarketing, and general business use are strictly prohibited. While FTC does not apply arbitrary limits on typical long distance usage per month, should FTC determine, in its sole discretion, that usage is not consistent with typical Residential voice usage patterns and is abusive of the Service, FTC reserves the right, after giving notice of its intent, to immediately suspend, restrict or terminate the long distance service, or to bill future excessive usage charges at the per minute rate included in the FTC Price List, without further notice. FTC reserves the right to block permanent Call Forwarding in connection with the use of Unlimited Long Distance Service. Customers must subscribe to FTC Long Distance. All rates are subject to change. FTC reserves the right to eliminate its Unlimited Long Distance Service offering or any FTC Bundle that includes Unlimited Long Distance Service at any time upon appropriate notice to all customers subscribing to the Service or Bundle, consistent with then existing Alabama law and the rules and regulations of the Alabama Public Service Commission. Additional requirements and restrictions may apply. *The rate does not include applicable taxes and fees. “We Keep You Connected” Johnson reports to members on progress of their cooperative at FTC's Annual Meeting Farmers Telecommunications Co- As a true economic stimulus, John- operative held its 55th Annual Meeting son said FTC has returned $1 million of on Saturday, Aug. 1 at DeKalb County members’ equity to them this year. That Schools Coliseum in Rainsville. Fred brings the total to more than $14 million Johnson, FTC General Manager and in capital credit refunds that FTC has Executive Vice President, told members returned since the early 1990s. that the company had committed to a “FTC has continued in the past three-year, $36 million project to build a year to strengthen this cooperative and world-class network across the region. provide the best service possible for the Johnson announced that Digital communities we serve,” Johnson said. Television was now available in some A total of 764 members registered for areas, and that FTC was expanding its the meeting. Members voted to return FTC BOARD OF TRUSTEES—Members of services into Crossville and Section, as the incumbents to the Board of Trustees: the FTC Board are, left to right: (seated) Lynn well as parts of Fort Payne in the coming Lynn Welden, representing the Bryant ex- Welden, Treasurer; Randy Wright, President; Gary months. He discussed the new system- change; Robert Burkhalter, representing Smith, Vice President; Danny Richey, Secretary; wide calling plan announced recently, as the Pisgah exchange; and Danny Richey, (standing) Randy Tumlin; Greg Griffith and Robert well as unlimited nationwide calling. representing the Geraldine exchange. Burkhalter. Co-op Couples Conference Cory & Misty Palmer of Flat Rock were among 24 young couples sponsored to the 2009 Alabama Co-op Couples Conference, which is hosted by the Alabama Council of Coopera- tives. The Hilton Beachfront Garden Inn, Orange Beach, Ala., held the 34th annual conference. Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative sponsored the Palmers to this three-day confer- Using Technology to Support the Community When a major historical event was being planned on Sand Mountain, Farmers Telecommunications Co- ence where participants had an opportunity to operative became involved to support the technology.