An old router may slow down your FiberFast connectionWith the addition of new devices from the holiday season, you may be experiencing issues with your Internet connection. Many times, an old wireless router can cause these issues. To find out if your router is the cause of your slower connection, try doing the following:

1. Restart your router. Unplug the power to your router and slowly count to 100. Now, plug it back into the outlet.

2. Restart all devices connected to the Internet. Make sure the issue is not with the device(s). Restart any that are connected to the router.

3. Conduct a speed test. To conduct a speed test, visit http://www.netins.net/speedtest. This will help you determine if the bandwidth is what it should be.

4. Retest just one device. Shut down all devices except the one that has been experiencing issues. Phones will continue to use internet even if you are not actively using them. Retest the one device.

5. Check for firmware updates for your router. First update the router firmware. Next, configure the router with any recommended changes from the computer manufacturer. For example, set the router to a 20Mhz channel width to address performance issues with Apple devices.

6. Upgrade your router. Depending on the age and type of your router, you may need to upgrade to a new model. It may not be able to keep up with the number of devices you have connected to it.

If you have added devices or are streaming more and have been experiencing issues with buffering, you may need to switch to a higher internet package. Call us and we’ll upgrade you within minutes.

Regardless of the issues you’re experiencing, we can help you. Just give us a call at (641) 332-2000. We’ll schedule time for our team to check out your router and set it up properly.

Many times, an old wireless router can cause a slower Internet

connection . . . Regardless of these issues, we can help you.

Just give us a call!

VOLUME 16 ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2017

The ConnectionOne Community

This ‘N ThatScholarships - 2017 Senior Class We will soon be sending our information for annual scholarships for Guthrie Center high school seniors.

Scholarships are available from Guthrie Center Communications, Iowa Network Services, Iowa Communications Alliance and the Foundation for Rural Service.

Check with your school’s guidance counselor or call our office for more information as the school year proceeds.

Valentine’s Day Stats in the US• $448 million is spent on candy• 58 million pounds of chocolate• 150 million cards & gift sets sold

The ConnectionFebruary 2017 l page 2

FiberTV is the new version of cable TV – only better. There are hundreds of channels, High Definition, movies, sports, education, travel, children’s programming and much more. Plus, here are some other perks:

Whole Home DVR – you can record a show or a series of shows on one TV and watch them on any TV, tablet, or smartphone in your home. Simply use the on-screen guide to find and set up your recordings. It’s like having your personal Netflix library!

Watch TVEverywhere – at no additional cost, you can watch selected shows from your FiberTV lineup on any device

anywhere. To avoid data overage charges from your cellular carrier, it is best to Watch TVEverywhere using WiFi.

Pause/Rewind Live TV – if you have our

Whole Home DVR, you can pause any

show you are watching, and start right where you left off. You can even ‘rewind’

7 things you can do with FiberTV to make life more interesting

Connect all your devices. The keys for happy network users are speed and reliability.

Your network may be suffering because your router

is outdated. Contact us for a free evaluation.

Purchase a router from us, we’ll configure it for FREE!

Speed up your network!

Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm 641-332-2000 guthriecentercom.com

403 State Street in Guthrie Center

Ryan receives national certificationBoard Member & Secretary Dave Ryan recently received a Director Core Curriculum (DCC) Certificate from The Rural Broadband Association, which is affiliated with the National Telecommunications Cooperative (NTCA).

The objective of the program is to expose directors to the principles and concepts, which help them become highly effective members of their board.

In order to obtain the certification, Ryan completed 14 credit hours, over several years, in four study areas - policy, technology, business and governance.

These courses were offered in-person at NTCA events across the United States and via online trainings. Dave has been a member of the Panora Telco board since 2005.

Congratulations Dave on this great accomplishment and thank you for your commitment to our members!

Ron Reynolds (right) presents DCC Certificate to Dave Ryan.

any show to catch a missed line or review a great play in the big game.

Caller ID on TV – it’s just like it sounds. Your TV will display the name and number of incoming calls. So, you can decide whether to take the call or let it go to Voicemail.

Local Weather – knowing the weather is vital for work and play. The one touch

buttons on your FiberTV remote deliver local weather forecasts and local radar instantly on your TV screen.

ManageMyTV app – you can manage your TV recordings from your tablet or smartphone. Simply, download the app. Then, you can set recordings while away from home, and even watch your home TV remotely. It’s sort of like magic!

In the past, some programming was free, because the television stations needed to be part of our network. Their key revenue stream was advertising. And, advertisers

needed the audience we could provide them.

Over the years, this has changed. Television stations are no longer dependent on advertisers for the majority of their profit. Instead, they rely on

fees from cable companies and satellite providers. Approximately 73 cents of every dollar from Panora Telco and Guthrie Center Communications is allocated to programming fees. This means we use the remaining 27 cents to make necessary upgrades and run the company.

As you’ve seen in the news recently, cable companies and satellite providers have been struggling to negotiate acceptable rates with programming stations. This has caused a disruption to service for some unlucky customers. Because of this recent activity, I thought it would be a good time to explain a little more about programming and how it works.

Programming is a big deal. So much so, that the cost of programming has a direct impact on what we charge our customers. If you have attended our annual meetings, you’ve heard me talk about the cost of content in relationship to television programming.

Programming is a big deal

AndrewRandolGeneral Manager

“Programming is a big

deal. So much so, that the

cost of programming has a

direct impact on what we

charge our customers.”

Curtis ThornberryTechnology Development Director

Tech Corner

Cyber security, hacking and keeping you safeAs the news has shown, no one is immune from hacking or data breaches. That’s why online security is important for both individuals and businesses.

We take data security and privacy seriously because it’s our responsibility. In fact, we meet a number of regulatory requirements, which help us stay on top of potential threats and keep systems as secure as possible.

We want you to be safe too. So, here are some tips to keep your identity and your information safe: 1. Use strong passwords and don’t

use the same one for every account.

2. Keep your defenses up. Do not

email personal information. Also, be cautious about providing personal information to callers, unless you’ve contacted them.

3. Be cautious about the apps you use on your tablet or smartphone. Some are not as secure as they should be.

4. Back up your data, using a trusted provider. You will not regret taking time to get this right.

5. Be cautious of public WiFi networks. Yes, they are can convenient, and can keep data usage off your cellular plan, but some public networks are unsecure.

Don’t ever shop, do banking or other financial work on a public network. To be safest, use your secured home or work WiFi or a physical connection as much as possible.

Charity Grant awarded to Panorama 5th grade studentsPanora Telco awarded Mrs. Downing’s 5th Grade with a grant in the amount of $895. The grant will be used for flexible/alternative seating.

Offering flexible seating allows students to have more movement even when sitting. It also allows students to work and learn in a more collaborative and social setting.

Shown in the picture above is Panora Telco’s Jaime Waddle (back left) and Courtney Redfern (back right), along with Mrs. Rachel Downing (next to Jaime) and members of her class.

Eligibility for this grant is offered to communities served by Panora Telco or Guthrie Center Communications. For more information, visit our office or website.

We understand that rate increases translate into higher bills for our customers. For many years, we have been a member of the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC). This strategic alignment helps us gain position and negotiate better rates. Even so, rates continue to escalate.

However, we will continue to seek out ways to meet our goal - provide you with quality programming at affordable prices.

Facebook.com/guthriecentercom

403 State Street

Guthrie Center, IA 50115

Phone 641.332.2000

Fax 641.332.2001

Email gccom@netins.net

Web guthriecentercom.com

Guthrie Center Communications . . .

a partner in your future

Have you setup an eBilling account?

eBilling is the fastest, most economic way to view & pay your bills. Set up your free account at www.guthriecentercom.com

Congratulations!Congratulations to Betty Clouse

who was the winner of our November newsletter contest.

Complete the form at left, send it in and you could be

the next winner!

Hav

e w

e go

t a c

onte

st fo

r yo

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

Besides TV, list an additional feature of FiberTV. ___________________

It is ok to have the same password for multiple websites. p True p False

List one thing you can do with FiberTV. ___________________________

You may need a new router if your Internet is slow. p True p False

Name _____________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________

Phone____________________________ Email ____________________________

Clip and return with your bill, drop off or mail by February 25 to: Guthrie Center Communications 403 State Street, Guthrie Center, IA 50115One winner chosen at random per quarter. Contest open to all GCC customers 18 & over. Applicants can win once in a 12 month period. Other restrictions may apply.

The National Do Not Call Registry allows you to choose whether or not you receive telemarketing calls at home.

Register your home or mobile phone numbers for free at www.donotcall.gov or call their toll free number 888-382-1222.

After registration, unsolicited calls should diminish in

about 30 days. All unwanted calls should cease within 90 days.

The Do Not Call Registry does not apply to: calls on behalf of political organizations, calls made by charities, surveyors and companies with whom you’ve done business or with whom you’ve made inquiry or submitted an application.

N AT I O N A LD O N O T CA L L

R E G I S T RY

•Createdin2003•RegulatedbytheFCC&FTC

•RegistrationisFREE

Do Not Call Registry UpdateConstruction projects will soon be underway. There are many underground utilities, especially fiber, that may present a problem if disturbed.

Unmarked services may be dangerous if hit.

It is important to call Iowa One Call at 800-292-8989 or 811 at least 48 business hours in advance, so underground services can be located and marked.

If damages occur and Iowa One Call was not notified, you may be liable for related charges. The service is free and available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Call before you dig. You’ll be glad you did.

Call before you dig!

Experience it on a Big Screen!

Stop by our Panora Solutions Center to purchase your complete set-up today!

Supersize your viewing experience

with our lineup of Samsung Smart

TVs, wall mounts and sound bars.

Plus! Installation is FREE with the purchase

of a TV & Mount!*

*Basic installation included.