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National Broadband Plan National Broadband Plan August Sales Still Hot Old Computer Slow? US Senator Mike Johanns in Hartington Friday Aug 19 Two To View Do Mac Users Need To Worry About Viruses? Sites Of The Month Great Sites To Check Out In August Short Tutorial Creating An Account On Twitter WEBSITE COMPASS ONLINE Your Guide To Understanding The Internet |
ALERT! This issue of Hartelco's eNewsletter mainly focuses on the FCC's proposed National Broadband Plan. Please take time to read on how this plan could affect all of rural America! |
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Malware Warning – Microsoft Reports On Fake Windows Support Calls  Beware! Computer scams don't just happen on computers. A recent study commissioned by Microsoft describes how scammers are now calling people on the phone and tricking them into installing computer software designed to steal money, identities, and passwords.
Here's how it works: The scammer calls and, after sharing their "credentials," tells the victim that his/her computer is at risk. The scammer directs the victim to view a harmless error report that the scammer claims shows how the victim's computer has been compromised. The scammer then asks for a credit card number for the victim to "purchase" software that will solve the "problem." Or they direct the victim to install software that places a virus on the victim's computer, enabling the scammer to gain access to critical information. Microsoft recommends these do's and don'ts to help prevent becoming a victim: DO
National Broadband Plan - Funds for Rural America Could Be Cut
High-speed broadband Internet acces has become today's essential service, but new government rules being proposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could impact your access to broadband Internet service. You could help by lending your voice to the debate. At the onset of telephone service back in the 1930s, the federal government created a universal service policy to ensure that all Americans - including those in rural areas - have access to affordable communications services. The government decided these were essential services that required financial support to build and maintain. As a result, it created something called the Universal Service Fund (USF). Like many rural companies, Hartelco has been the recipient of USF and invested millions of dollars over the years to build advanced networks to meet the needs of customers. We've done this with the understanding that the government would continue to support our efforts through USF. Without receiving support from the federal government, it would be impossible for us to maintain our existing infrastructure as well as expand our capabilities to meet our customer needs in the future. As with our national highway system, the information highway costs money to sustain. Federal support has made it possible for our company to deliver the network that spurs economic opportunity, supports educational options and increases our ability to attract new businesses to our area. Now the government is thinking about changing the fund. But if this federal support gets cut, Hartington and outlying areas could get stuck on the wrong side of the digital divide. The FCC wants to do away with USF and other financing methods that support rural, high-cost telephone and broadband services. It wants to create something called the Connect America Fund. While this is a good idea to help facilitate the transition to support for increased broadband services in rural communities, FCC officials need to ensure that they don't destroy the funding that now delivers telecommunications services to the rural areas of America. All rural consumers need to get educated about the proposed policies and communicate to members of Congress and the White House about the negative impact this could have on our community. The current FCC proposal would penalize rural broadband providers such as Hartelco, and put existing affordable, high-quality broadband service for rural areas in serious jeopardy. Also, it would undermine our ability to upgrade that service in the future. The current USF structure has been a great success story for our country. It has enabled our country to stay connected. it has allowed Hartelco to deliver on the promise of affordable, advanced communications services for rural consumers and businesses. But the job isn't done. As consumers, you can make a difference in this debate. Your contact with policy-makers will ensure that the FCC makes the right changes to USF so that rural communities remain connected to the global world and may reap the rewards of an accessible, affordable and sustainable broadband network. To support this effort, send a letter to your members of congress and the White House by visiting www.saveruralbroadband.org. National Broadband Plan - Watch This Short Video From Former Senator Byron Dorgan Former North Dakota U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan shares his viewpont on the National Broadband Plain in this video. His rural perspective and knowledge of rural communications makes sense. You can also view his video and others at www.saveruralbroadband.org. National Broadband Plan - Local Reaction to the Plan As stated in the above articles, the National Broadband Plan is a great idea - only if implemented carefully so that rural America isn't harmed. Bill Dendinger, Hartelco's General Manager stated "This plan could be devastating to rural consumers and anyone who does business in rural areas. We try to get our voice heard through affiliations with national organizations representing rural America, but the larger telecommunication companies like Verizon and AT&T have very deep pockets and Washington lobbyists on staff that we can't begin to compete with." Over the years, Hartelco has received USF funds and has reinvested those funds to provide better service in Hartington that many metro area consumers don't have. Mike Becker, Regulatory Manager for Hartelco commented "You may ask 'Why should rural areas get more benefit?' The answer is simple. The rural areas shouldn't get better services than in the metro areas. However the reason that they do is not because the larger telecommunication companies don't get USF, but that they have served a denser population base - allowing those telecommunication companies to make a larger profit than their rural counterparts who serve high-cost areas. But there's one major difference - the metro telecom companies didn't invest in their rural areas as they should have, but instead lined the pockets of their stockholders. And now they want Universal Service Funds that have typically gone to the small rural carriers who built out their infrastructure to serve their customers, neighbors, and friends - the right thing to do!" Becker continued "You've seen in the paper that AT&T wants to buy T-Mobile for $39 billion, and Windstream wants to make a $2 billion purchase of another company. These same companies claim that they need USF to serve the rural areas...where they should have been improving the infrastructure many years ago. It seems that they have the funds, but just don't want to use them to serve rural areas which don't provide a good return on investment. Instead, they are wanting to siphon the USF funds from Hartelco and other rural telecom companies and the people and areas that Hartelco serves. This would be a huge blow to future investments in our area." So please take the time to contact our Senators and US Representative and ask them to ensure that USF remains intact for rural America! August Sales Still Hot - Walk Out of Our Office With a New Dell
We still have a few Dell 17" laptops and Dell desktops in stock. Stop by and take a look at the great deals that are still going on. Take a look at our spec sheets for these computers and you can see why many people have already taken advantage. Stop by at 103 West Centre Street or just call us at 402-254-3901.
Old Computer Slow? - We've Got Just What You Need Hartelco Computers has TWO great deals for you until the end of August. Get your PC cleaned of viruses, adware, malware while getting it optimized for faster processing - all for only $49.95. Plus to keep it running smoothly, we have Norton AntiVirus 2011 at a discount price. This includes a 12-month license key. Remember - these prices expire on August 31st. so stop by today! US Senator Mike Johanns in Hartington - Express Your Views
US Senator Mike Johanns has announced that he will visit Hartington on Friday, August 19th. He will be holding an Open Coffee at the Hartington City Library from 12:00 Noon until 1:00. Senator Johanns has been visiting rural communities throughout the state and his last scheduled stop is here in Hartington. Please attend and express your views!
Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss
This Month's FAQ – Do Mac Users Need To Worry About Viruses?  Let's start with the big picture. Worldwide, about 90 percent of the computer market is comprised of PC users with about 10 percent being Mac users. Cybercriminals are well aware of these statistics and tend to focus their virus efforts on the "bigger slice of the pie." So traditionally, Macs have been known to experience fewer viruses.
However, Mac security has been in the news again lately due to the MacDefender malware and its variants. MacDefender masquerades as antivirus software, showing a webpage that looks like a virus detection screen, and then prompting the user to complete the install process. If completed, the malware will ask for credit card information to eliminate nonexistent viruses. Do Mac users need to worry about viruses? The short answer is yes. No computer is completely immune from threats and Apple recommends that Mac users keep antivirus software updated and take precautions when downloading files, opening email attachments, etc. If you're in the 90 percent with a PC, you should be practicing these security measures as well. Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In August  Travel Fare Trackingyapta.com – If you're looking for the best prices on travel, visit this site to help you track them. You can enter information about the flight, hotel, or car you're looking for and then have the site send you email updates when the price goes down. You can also use the site to get a refund from the airline if a flight price drops after you book it.  Donate And Learnfreerice.com – This site allows you to use your smarts and help people at the same time. Answer quiz questions on a variety of topics and for every answer you get right, the site donates rice to those in need in places like Cambodia and Africa. This is a nonprofit organization, so you can also donate money or read their blog to find out more about how they're making a difference.  Summer Salad Recipesmomswhothink.com – Warm August weather is a great time for cool salads. Here you'll find recipes for all kinds of salads including classics like macaroni and potato; desserts like Jell-O and fruit; and hearty like shrimp, chicken, and taco. Explore the rest of the site to find useful articles on health, parenting, nutrition, and more topics of interest to moms and others who care for kids.  Video Educationkhanacademy.org – Before they start the new school year, do your kids need a refresher on some of what they learned last year? This free and comprehensive e-learning site has videos on hundreds of topics to choose from. Subjects include math, science, history, and finance. Even if your kids are all caught up, you might consider using the site yourself.  Best Months To Buyfreeshipping.org – From kitchen appliances to winter coats to champagne, you can spend less by knowing the right time to buy. For example, August is traditionally a great time to purchase things like computers, lawn mowers, and swimsuits. But every month has its bargains. Before your next major purchase, check this guide to figure out the best time to buy. Short Tutorial – Creating An Account On Twitter  According to Twitter, 200 million tweets are now posted daily, compared with 65 million a day just one year ago. If you aren't currently on Twitter but are ready to "test your wings," you'll be happy to know that it's easy to sign up and get started. Simply follow these instructions:
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Thanks for your business! Best regards The Hartel.net Team  Hartelco 103 W Centre PO Box 157 Hartington, NE 68739 Ph 402-254-3901  Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
Safety and security are always on our minds and the month of August is no exception. For example, you may be concerned with keeping kids safe at the pool now or while walking to school soon. As far as security goes, we share important information on two issues—a malware warning from Microsoft about fake Windows support calls as well as a malware threat to Mac users. And on the topic of safety, don't miss the beautiful seatbelt advocacy commercial in Two to View. Also in this issue, you'll find summer-savvy sites to help you make the most of August plus easy instructions on how to get started on Twitter. 
