DATES TO REMEMBER BEK BILL PAYMENTS ARE DUE ON THE 20TH OF EACH MONTH

MARCH 10 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS WATCH THE BISMARCK BUCKS AWAY GAME ON BEK SPORTS – TUCSON BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE MARCH/APRIL 2019 SUGAR SKULLS MARCH 15 & 16 BMHBA HOME SHOW IN BISMARCK THE NEED FOR SPEED CHEER ON THE BUCKS MARCH 16 FOR THE HOME GAME OPENER BISMARCK EVENT CENTER SIOUX Reprinted with permission from NTCA mix, it was good that we had a fi ber FALLS STORM - To read more of Shirley’s blog articles, broadband product in our home ST. PATRICK’S DAY visit http://ceoblog.ntca.org. that allowed for all of the capacity MARCH 17 D.C. had another one of our classic that we were using today. I had MARCH 30 recently upgraded our package and snowstorms yesterday. The predictions BISMARCK BUCKS VS NEBRASKA my provider was only too happy to were higher than the reality, pretty DANGER – BISMARCK EVENT CENTER typical for this region, but the mess make that upgrade super easy to of snow, sleet and freezing rain was do…another benefi t of fi ber since all APRIL 6 certainly enough to keep people off the it took was a click of the computer BISMARCK BUCKS VS SIOUX FALLS roads and schools and offi ces closed for mouse to select the next package. STORM – BISMARCK EVENT CENTER the day. But all of that got me thinking APRIL 14 Remember when a snow day meant when I saw the news this morning BISMARCK BUCKS VS IOWA that you dug the sled or saucer out of that Google Fiber is leaving their BARNSTORMERS – BISMARCK EVENT the garage and took the kids to fi nd a Louisville market. Cited by some CENTER media as Google Fiber’s biggest hill with enough vertical for sledding? APRIL 15 TAX DAY Or when you dug out the chocolate failure, the company will turn chip cookie recipe and dusted off your off service after trying some APRIL 19 GOOD FRIDAY, BEK new technology that led to fi ber baking pans? Or when you woke up to a OFFICES CLOSED winter wonderland and rolled back over installation failures and now the and went back to sleep? consumers are faced with returning APRIL 20 to the other large provider with WATCH THE BUCKS AWAY GAME ON Hmmmm – I’ve been slower service and higher speeds. BEK SPORTS – BISMARCK BUCKS VS Aside from the trenching snafus CEDAR RAPIDS RIVER KINGS too long with either kids that Google faced, it also continues EASTER SUNDAY or dogs or both to ever to face the challenge of providing a APRIL 21 remember that one. high value product in competitive APRIL 22 EARTH DAY markets because frankly the costs Either way, in the age of always being are high and trying shortcuts can APRIL 28 connected, those days are gone. Now a lead to even higher costs. However, BISMARCK BUCKS VS QUAD CITY snow day is simply a day in the virtual I admire their recognition that fi ber STEAMWHEELERS – BISMARCK offi ce with a diff erent view. Of course, is the future-proof technology of EVENT CENTER my view was pretty comfy and included choice and wonder what would MAY 4 a dog hanging around at my feet. have been the market outcome had they been able to negotiate pole WATCH THE BUCKS AWAY GAME ON BEK SPORTS – BISMARCK BUCKS VS But as I plowed ahead with iPad and attachments in their market. We’ll GREEN BAY BLIZZARDS iPhone in hand, Don was in the family certainly be seeing more innovative room on his two laptops and holding eff orts by carriers in the near future MAY 18 conference calls on his iPhone speakers. and hopefully can glean some BISMARCK BUCKS VS. TUCSON It got me thinking that if we chose to “lessons learned” as innovation tries SUGAR SKULLS – BISMARCK EVENT throw a streaming Netfl ix show into the to match demand. CENTER FROM THE CEO

WHY LOCAL EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT MATTERS MARCH/APRIL 2019 The BEK Beacon is a bimonthly newsletter DERRICK BULAWA published by BEK Communications, Chief Executive Officer © 2019. It is distributed without charge to all customers.

BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE Google Fiber has been a darling of the technology press over the last eight years. was founded in 1952 as a local It’s a product Google brought to more than a dozen urban markets. Selection telecommunications cooperative serving Burleigh, Emmons and Kidder Counties. of Google Fiber locations was closely tracked by media and online followers, Since then, we’ve invested in state-of-the- with continuous splash and fanfare, at least until 2016 when Google halted new art infrastructure, developed new products and services, and expanded to serve new construction. areas. BEK has changed quite a bit in 67 years, but we’re still a small-town As an international technology giant, Google has the resources to play in new cooperative at heart. markets with minimal risk to their core search and advertising business. New experiments come and go, sometimes even after nurturing a large and dedicated BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE user base. Side projects that stumble or shut down with little notice often leave 888-475-2361 customers shaken and disillusioned. This is especially true with critical services P.O. Box 230 like internet connectivity. 200 East Broadway Steele, ND 58482 In January, a large snow storm knocked out internet service to thousands of 325 2nd St. NW homes in Kansas City. It affected customers from several ISP’s. The smaller, local Valley City, ND 58072 providers quickly reassured customers and worked to restore services. But more than two weeks later, many Google Fiber customers were still without internet. It BOARD OF DIRECTORS didn’t take long for the story to hit the local and national news. DISTRICT I The common complaint among Google Fiber customers was the lack of clear Shane Morris communication and status updates from the company. A close second was the Regan quick buildup of cell phone bills for families who needed online connections for Sanford Williams work, education, health concerns and more. Wing DISTRICT II I can’t speak to the technical specifics of the outages, or Google’s internal Doug Kalianoff conversations. I can only go by media reports, interviews, and Google’s public Steele words. The bottom line is that customer perception took a sharp downturn. President Brett Stroh Tappen Where it was once centered on Google’s wherewithal as a forward-thinking force of innovation, it now views the company as lacking readiness and personal, local DISTRICT III service. Vice President Kevin Bernhardt Linton Google’s Kansas City stumble came with a heavy cost – national embarrassment Vickie Martin and loss of customer trust. Linton Leo Meier Telecommunications cooperatives like BEK Communications are built on local Hague trust. Our founders chipped in to connect themselves, their families and their DISTRICT IV neighbors to the outside world. A handshake and a head nod sealed the contracts. Secretary/Treasurer William (Bill) Becker Everyone mattered, and nobody was treated as an experiment or side project. Wishek Gerald Burlack BEK Communications still runs on this philosophy. Although we adhere to Wishek modern standards of legal agreements and regulatory frameworks, we still greet our customers like any small-town neighbor. And while we build state-of-the- art fiber optic infrastructure and products, we never forget that the human connection is the most important.

2 BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEKTEL.COM MEMBER NEWS NON-DISCRIMINATION GRANT RECIPIENTS STATEMENT BEK COMMUNICATIONS ¢OMMON ¢ENTS GRANT BEK Communications Cooperative is the recipient of Federal fi nancial assistance from the BEK is honored and delighted to give back to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). local communities. Part of that eff ort is our BEK ¢ommon ¢ents Grant Program. Below, we The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its congratulate the recipients who were awarded a programs and activities on the basis of race, grant. We award ¢ommon ¢ents grants twice a color, national origin, age, disability, and where year – application deadlines are January 15 and applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, July 15. For more information or to download an parental status, religion, sexual orientation, application, go to www.bektel.com. Or, you may genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, call our offi ce at 1-888-475-2361. or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) $500 Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) Strasburg Fire Department Strasburg, ND should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). The person responsible for coordinating this $500 organization’s nondiscrimination compliance eff orts is Derrick Bulawa, Chief Executive Offi cer of BEK Communications Cooperative. Steele Fire Department Any individual, or specifi c class of individuals, Steele, ND who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations $500 listed above from and/or fi le a written complaint with this organization or write to The Abused Persons Outreach Center USDA, Director, Offi ce of Civil Rights, 1400 Valley City, ND Independence Avenue S. W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0703, or call (800) 787-8821 (voice) and select Option 2, or (202) 692-0107 (TDD). USDA $500 is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Marketplace for Kids Mantador, ND

$500

Sterling Lions Club Sterling, ND

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEKTEL.COM 3 NOMINATIONS FOR DIRECTORS ANNOUNCED

The 2019 Nominating Committee of BEK Communications NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS Cooperative met on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, to nominate members of the cooperative to run for the Board of Directors OF BEK COMMUNICATIONS for District I, II, III and IV. BEK Communications Cooperative member-owners residing in Districts I, III and IV will elect one COOPERATIVE director from each district to serve a three-year term. Member- TELECOMMUNICATIONS owners residing in District II will have a special election to fill the one remaining year of Director Doug Kalianoff’s term due to his SERVICE upcoming June retirement. The election of directors is an integral part of the BEK Communications Cooperative’s Annual Meeting. The Public Service Commission of North DISTRICT I Dakota designated BEK Communications Cooperative the “Eligible Telecommunications (Wilton, Regan, Wing, McKenzie and Sterling) Carrier” for its service area for universal Shane Morris, Regan (incumbent) service purposes. The goal of universal service DISTRICT II is to provide all citizens access to essential telecommunications services. (Pettibone, Tappen, Robinson, Steele and Tuttle) BEK Communications provides the supported Corey Fanta, Steele service – voice telephony service – throughout Bob Subart, Robinson its designated service area at rates which start at $ DISTRICT III 18.95 per month for residential customers and $27.95 per month for business customers. This (Linton, Kintyre and Strasburg) supported service includes: Vickie Martin, Linton (incumbent) • Minutes of use for local service provided DISTRICT IV at no additional charge. (Lehr, Zeeland, Wishek and Napoleon) • Access to emergency services provided William (Bill) Becker, Wishek (incumbent) by local government or other public safety organizations, such as 911 and enhanced Serving on the 2019 Nominating Committee of BEK 911, to the extent the local government in Communications Cooperative are Steve Fettig, Wishek; Sarah BEK Communication’s service area has Gratton, Wilton; Randy Kapp, Medina; Bob Subart, Robinson; implemented 911 or enhanced 911 systems. Holly Will, Hazelton; Mary Ann Gefroh, Linton; Ronald Volk, • Toll limitation for qualifying low-income Strasburg; Mike Welder, Napoleon; and Burnell Paul, Wing. consumers (toll blocking). There are two ways to be nominated for Director; nomination by the nominating committee or by petition as provided in the BEK Communications offers qualified Cooperative’s bylaws (Article IV, Section 4) which are printed in customers Lifeline Service. If you are a low- the BEK/West River Missouri Slope Telephone Directory. income customer, you may qualify for BEK Communications’ Lifeline Program. This means The Annual Meeting of BEK Communications will be held on you may receive a monthly discount for your Thursday, June 13, 2019, at the Kidder County School Gymnasium basic phone charges. in Steele, ND. This service also includes free toll blocking for qualifying customers.

BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE WOULD BE PLEASED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SPECIFIC RATES FOR YOUR AREA UPON REQUEST. CALL 1-888-475-2361.

4 BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEKTEL.COM 2019 APPOINTMENT OF VOTING REPRESENTATIVEVOTING APPLICATION

If2019 you are atAPPOINTMENTtending the Annual Meeting OF of VOTING REPRESENTATIVECompleted forms may be dropped off at the BEK BEK Communications Cooperative as the Voting headquart teele by noon on June 13, 2019. Representative of a church, school district, Forms may also be mailed to the following address: CooperativeMembers attending or other the o annualrganization, meeting the as f aoll votingowing Formsers may office be indropped S off or mailed to: representative of a church, school district, cooperative or “Appointment of Voting Representative” form BEKBEK Annual Annual Meeting Meeting other organization must complete the “Appointment of BEK Communications Cooperative must be completed. This form may be submitted BEK Communications Cooperative Voting Representative” form found on BEK’s website at P.O. Box 230 to BEK Communications Cooperative anytime PO Box 230 www.bektel.com. Click on About Us, Board of Directors, Steele, ND 58482-0230 beandfo rscrolle 12:00 to the noon bottom on June of the 13, page 2019 and (the click d theay oflink for Steele, ND 58482-0230 thethe Annualform. It mayMeeting). also be obtained by contacting the BEK Be sure to mail office at1-888-475-2361. Be suyourre to forms mail early.your forms early. ThisThis isis notnot a proxyProxy statement. Statemen Residentialt. Residential and and sole soleproprietorship proprietorship business business customers cus tcannotomers use cannot this form. useThey this must form. vote Th ine persony must at v othete inannual person meeting. at the AnnualCompleted Meeting. forms may be submitted to BEK Communications Cooperative any time before noon on June 13, 2019, the day of the annual meeting.

Submit Appointment of Voting Representative Form anytime before noon - June 13, 2019.

2019 Appointment of Voting Representative Form

A membership in the BEK Communications Cooperative may be held in the name of a church, school district or other political subdivision, corporation, cooperative, association or other organization. If your organization is to be represented at the Annual Meeting, complete this form and deliver to BEK Communications Cooperative anytime before 12:00 noon the day of the Annual Meeting.

______is appointed the voting representative

Thisfor the certifies following that organization ______at the June 13, 2019 BEK Communications Cooperative Annual Meeting.

Said voting representative is authorized to cast the vote of, and otherwise represent this organization in all matters at the Annual Meeting of the members of BEK Communications Cooperative or any adjournment thereof. Only ONE Appointment of Voting Representative Form per organization is allowed.

Signed:

Title: BEK Annual Meeting BEK Communications Cooperative PO Box 230 Date: Steele, ND 58482

2019 Appointment of Voting Representative Organization’s Business Phone No. : WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW DO-NOT-CALL REGISTRY

The National Do-Not-Call Registry gives you a choice about whether or not to receive telemarketing calls at home. The registry applies to all telemarketers with the exception of businesses with whom you have an existing relationship and certain non-profit and political organizations. Commercial telemarketers are not allowed to call you if your number is listed on the registry. Consumers may register their residential telephone number, including wireless numbers, on the National Do-Not-Call Registry at no cost, either by telephone or via the Internet. To register by telephone, call 1-888-382-1222. For TTY, call 1-866-290-4236. You must call from the telephone number you wish to register. To obtain additional information or register online, please go to www.donotcall.gov.

SCAM PHONE CALLS – USEFUL RESOURCES

Scam phone calls are not only a nuisance, but they also frequently prey on vulnerable populations. If you suspect a call is a scam, or if you think a friend or family member has fallen victim to a scam, these websites can help. Consumer Information at the FTC www.consumer.ftc.gov Inclusion of your telephone number on the National Do-Not-Call Registry is effective 31 days The FTC website has a number of articles listing the following registration. You may remove your telltale signs of scam calls and all the unscrupulous ways number from the list at any time. they try to steal your money. You’ll also find links to the Do No Call registry and information about how to block BEK Communications is happy to provide you scam phone calls. with this information each year as required by the Federal Communications Commission. USAGov www.usa.gov/common-scams-frauds NATIONAL DO-NOT-CALL REGISTRY This page gives up to date information about the common 1-888-382-1222, scams happening today and how to defend against them. TTY: 1-866-290-4236 OR It also guides you to reporting tools, such as the “Report WWW.DONOTCALL.GOV Caller ID Spoofing” page at the FCC. Most importantly, if you suspect a phone call is a scam, do not engage. Often, the best defense is to simply hang up. 6 BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEKTEL.COM NEW PHONE LISTINGS

NAME PHONE CITY NAME PHONE CITY

Dramstad, James 769-3350 Binford Adams, Olmstead 475-2650 Steele Pinks, Corrine & Charles 255-3478 Bismarck Enzminger, Kari 475-4940 Steele Schramm, Matt 355-1133 Bismarck Friez, C. and D. 475-4901 Steele Zingg, Carol 258-6842 Bismarck Martin, Erna 475-2978 Steele Johnson, Bonnie 332-6694 Braddock Huber, C. 336-7533 Strasburg Peterson, Don 633-5373 Buffalo Lauinger, Jerry 336-7954 Strasburg Red Trail Vineyard 633-5392 Buffalo Minick, Benjamin 749-2250 Tower City Guzman, Sanjuanita M. 327-2387 Dawson Richey, Curtis 867-2925 Tuttle Hjelle, Chris 646-6549 Dazey Braun, Raymond 845-8732 Valley City Sherlock, Justin 733-2263 Dazey Davis, Gladys 845-8713 Valley City Berg, Korena 387-4314 Driscoll Gullickson, Connie 490-3566 Valley City Moore-Otto, Nikki 668-2462 Erie Handt, Irene 490-3228 Valley City Brown, Travis 924-8479 Fingal Hungry Pelican, LLC 490-3735 Valley City The Good, The Bad, The Ugly 782-4331 Hazelton Interstate Equipment Inc. 845-0013 Valley City Toavs, Vickie L. 782-4530 Hazelton Kroll, Donald 490-3328 Valley City Bauman, Wayde 336-7754 Linton Maine, Mariann 845-4249 Valley City Deile, Brandon 782-4239 Linton Nelson, David 490-3162 Valley City Inspired Beauty by Jess 254-5116 Linton Nice, Kade 490-3475 Valley City Jahner, Leo 254-5755 Linton Norby, Dennis 490-3467 Valley City Johs, Bernhard 254-5749 Linton Oberlander, Anna 490-3236 Valley City Masset, Albert 254-5842 Linton Prosby Body Shop 845-5944 Valley City Maverick Ag 254-5714 Linton Stearns, Mavis 490-3535 Valley City Payne, Betty 254-5193 Linton Trautman, W. L. 490-3454 Valley City Reinbold, Randy 254-5589 Linton Vagle, Tom 845-2181 Valley City Vetter, Dan & Marie 254-5534 Linton Vanorny, Thomas 490-3479 Valley City Burck, Tammy 415-0320 Mandan Watkins Jeanie 845-0881 Valley City Oedzes, Neil 415-0323 Mandan Milligan, Larry 734-2181 Wilton Primeaux, Jovan 415-0321 Mandan White, E. W. 734-2567 Wilton Teiken, Chad 415-0322 Mandan George, Robin 943-2879 Wing Gross, Wilma 754-2118 Napoleon Hepper, Rudie 943-2850 Wing JM Autobody & Paint 754-2420 Napoleon Hepper, Tom 943-2485 Wing Miller, Dennis 754-2055 Napoleon Johnston, Scott 943-2861 Wing Schumacher, Elizabeth 754-4136 Napoleon Flegel, Lyonel 452-4694 Wishek Splonskowski, Paul 754-2019 Napoleon Parker, David H Jr. 452-4669 Wishek Kroll, Sandy 668-8556 Page Porterfield, Violet 452-4689 Wishek Feder Properties 668-5529 Page Weigel, Anthony Jr. & Pauline 452-4486 Wishek Pettibone Longbranch 273-9390 Pettibone Wishek Collision, Glass 452-4603 Wishek Willson, Gerald “Jerry” 646-6397 Rogers & Restoration Franklin, Lyle Jr. 646-6288 Sanborn Parker, Crystal 423-5325 Zeeland Reece, Annette 646-6493 Sanborn

BEK COMMUNICATIONS | BEKTEL.COM 7 BEK COMMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE PRSRT STD 200 East Broadway, PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482 U.S. POSTAGE PAID BISMARCK, ND PERMIT NO. 433

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BEACON TRIVIA

True or False: The Annual Meeting is Thursday, Season Tickets 1 June 13, 2019? On Sale Now

How many ¢ommon ¢ents grants were awarded 2 in this round? 3 Name two features of BEK Connect.

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 1, 2019. Name: ______

Phone Number: ______

Town: ______

Clip and send to BEK at PO Box 230, Steele, ND 58482. You can also email answers to [email protected]. We will be drawing for fi ve $5.00 credits to be applied to the winners’ bill.

CONGRATS! BEACON JANUARY/FEBRUARY WINNERS. Allen Koth – Bismarck Delores Thurn – Wishek Charlene Shrock – Nome Jerome Rutschke – Call 701.595.0771 Helen Garnaas – Linton Zeeland BISMARCKBUCKS.COM