Pickett's Charge
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ConnectedJuly/August 2013 Published for customers of PICKETT’S CHARGE Fyffe’s FFA String Band State Champions MINOR LEAGUES Enjoy a day at the ballpark JUST PEACHY Delicious summertime recipes Industry News Growth in the face of uncertainty FCC regulatory changes are creating challenges for rural telecommunications providers planning network expansions By Stephen V. Smith, Editor n the May/June issue of this magazine, Consumers in these rural markets benefit You don’t just put broadband in and walk Shirley Bloomfield talked about the from this offset in terms of the actual cost away, saying “job well done, now we have Inewly unified NTCA, the associa- of providing that service. It’s important broadband.” There is so much more to tion for which she serves as CEO. In a to note that Universal Service is a support consider. Maybe a provider offers DSL, but continuation of that interview, Bloom- mechanism supported by other carriers. It how do they get to a point where they can field describes how changes in federal is not a tax. It is not government support. do fully interactive service? How do they regulations are creating an atmosphere of It is a fee that other carriers pay into the provide enough bandwidth to allow rural uncertainty among rural telecommunica- Universal Service Fund, or USF. hospitals to do diagnostics using fiber? tions companies. How can they support distance learning SMITH: How will rural telecommuni- programs so schools can aggregate and SMITH: The telecommunications cations providers be affected by these share their resources? Broadband that was industry is in a state of transition. What cuts and caps to the USF dollars they installed 5 to 10 years ago isn’t going to challenges are rural providers facing? depend on? do the trick. Networks need constant up- BLOOMFIELD: There are regulatory BLOOMFIELD: It’s going to impact grades and new deployment. And there are proceedings going on right now regard- them in two ways. One, they are going to still people in some parts of rural America ing Universal Service, which is regulated have a lot less money, and that’s going to who don’t have access to broadband yet. by the FCC. They have essentially turned mean a lot less investment. Two, the FCC on its head how this regulation works. wants to reassess every single year, which SMITH: NTCA and its members work So far, they have cut and capped a lot of means providers won’t know until that hard to strengthen and protect the rural the support the rural telecommunications next year if they are going to be able to telecommunications industry. Why are providers have been getting. recover any of their costs. Providers will these providers so important to the be paralyzed, because the FCC has created rural markets they serve? SMITH: What is Universal Service, and this environment of regulatory uncertainty. BLOOMFIELD: I can’t stress enough the how does it work? This is a capital-intensive industry. You importance of local telecommunications BLOOMFIELD: Universal Service can’t make investments if you don’t know providers and what a difference they make allows carriers who provide service in if you can recover your costs. in their rural communities. They are so rural, high-cost areas to essentially have innovative and willing to try new things. support from the rest of the industry to SMITH: Are we seeing this impact now They are incredibly creative about the keep their monthly subscription fees low. in the industry? services they offer to their consumers. The BLOOMFIELD: We are. In NTCA people they serve are their neighbors and surveys, several rural telecommunications friends. The idea of customer service is providers have told us they have actually important to them. For the consumer, it’s cut back or eliminated an upgrade to their great to know you can pick up the phone network or an investment in new construc- and get help immediately, or sit down with tion that they had planned on making. folks who know you who can answer your questions as you look at new products. I SMITH: Why is it so important for pro- can’t overemphasize what it means to be viders to continually invest in improv- served by a locally owned and controlled Shirley Bloomfield ing and expanding their networks? telecommunications provider in this day NTCA CEO BLOOMFIELD: Telecommunications and age, and what a driver that is for the networks are living, breathing operations. rural economy. 2 | July/August 2013 Do you know Digital the rules of Citizenship the road? By Carissa Swenson e all know the Internet can kids, but are we making sure they know connect us to the world, but do the rules? After all, there is no Internet Wwe really understand what that “drivers ed” or test to pass. Lifeline means? Understanding the power behind Knowing the rules of digital citizenship that connectivity is critical to becoming a will help young users reap the rewards of ‹‹ safe, productive digital citizen. a connected world. Being a good digital Service What is digital citizenship? It is the citizen means you: “rules of the road” or guidelines we follow • Understand the impact of your digital When you need help paying when interacting with others in the digital footprint and your future for telephone service world. • Know the risks involved with cyber- The Internet is much like the roads we predators, cyber-bullies, sexting and Is your annual household income at or drive on every day. Each connection pro- other high-risk behaviors below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty vides access to people, places and things • Discover ways to protect your identity Guidelines for a household of its size? all over the world. The devices we use to when going online Do you or someone in your household access the Internet, such as smartphones, participate in any of the following low- tablets, computers and gaming units, are RAISING DIGITAL CITIZENS income government assistance programs? much like the cars we drive. Some are As adults, it is our job to teach our If so, you may qualify for Lifeline Service. fancier with more buttons, but they all can young people the rules of the digital road. get us to our destination. They may be able to text under the table • Medicaid Driving a car is a rite of passage that during dinner and customize an iPad in • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance our youth anticipate and even study for. record time, but do they understand the Program (SNAP) They stay awake at night dreaming about ramifications of their digital behaviors? • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) the places they want to go and things they As adults, we don’t need to know how all • Section 8 Federal Public Housing want to see. Meanwhile, parents stay up these pieces of technology work, we just Assistance (FPHA) at night worrying about what their sons need to make sure we are teaching and • Low Income Home Energy Assistance and daughters will do once they have that practicing good digital citizenship. Program (LIHEAP) freedom: Yes, there are risks to accessing the • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families • What if they make poor choices while digital world. And topics like cyberbully- (TANF) behind the wheel? ing, sexting, identity theft and other online • National School Lunch Program’s Free • What if their friends pressure them to risks can make a parent want to keep their Lunch Program do things we don’t approve of? child unplugged. The idea, however, is not To find out whether you qualify for Lifeline assistance, • How are we going to prepare our child to disconnect, but to be aware — and to customers must fill out standard forms, available at your local to become a responsible driver? raise responsible digital citizens. telephone company’s office, as mandated by the Federal and/or State government. Your telephone company is not responsible Despite these concerns, teenagers are for determining who qualifies for these programs or who getting behind the wheel every day. Why In our next issue, Carissa will share ways receives assistance. Customers must meet specific criteria in do parents let their kids drive when there to protect your reputation, because “you order to obtain assistance with their local telephone service, is so much risk? Because the rewards can’t take back what you post online.” and qualifying is dependent upon government-established guidelines. To qualify for Lifeline credit, each customer must ap- outweigh the risks. ply and provide proof that he/she, or a household member for Carissa Swenson whom he/she is financially responsible, participates in at least RULES AND REWARDS is the owner and one of the programs listed above or that the customer meets the income-based requirements. Additional eligibility require- The Internet should be treated the same technology specialist of TechTECS, ments may also apply. Customers must choose to apply the way — yet often we aren’t asking these Lifeline discount to a landline or a wireless number, not both. same types of questions when giving our a technology training, education, For more details about Lifeline Service and youth access to the world via the Internet. to apply for assistance, please contact your consulting and We are buying Web-ready devices for our local telephone company. support company. July/August 2013 | 3 From the General Manager “We Keep You Connected” is a member-owned corporation Feel deeply dedicated to providing communications technology to the people of Northeast Alabama. The company has more than It’s been an emotional week at the Johnson 15,000 access lines, making it the state’s household. Those of you with children will relate largest telecommunications cooperative.