E-Mail Scam Social Security Administration Warns of E-mail Scam Customers Thrilled Bundling of Services Saves Money and Boosts Broadband Speeds USF - Universal Service Fund What It Is - How It Works - Why It's So Vitally Important to You Workshops in February Digital Photography....Tree Grafting -- Read More Daylight Saving Time Time "Changes" in March as New Law Takes Effect Ask The Help Desk How Do I Get a Web Page to Refresh with Updated Information? Local Website Of The Month Our Featured LOCAL Website Of The Month is... Sites Of The Month Great Sites To Check Out In February! Short Tutorial Burning A Folder Of Photos Onto A CD

Hello Hartel.net Subscribers! We're right in the middle of winter and this month's newsletter brings you a flurry of information and ideas. Be sure to read the warning about fraudulent Social Security e-mail messages making the rounds, and check out the passport site regarding new air travel regulations. You'll also find instructions on how to refresh web pages to get updated information, and how to burn CDs containing your holiday photo files. To celebrate the snow season, visit the Great Sites section and discover more about the Iditarod race, ski resorts around the world, and International Polar Bear Day. The goal of each of our monthly eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. To meet this goal, each monthly newsletter will usually contain information related to: Warnings on a recent virus, e-mail hoax or security issue that may affect you An update on new services and other local interests An answer to a frequently asked Internet related question Some fun, seasonal websites to check out A short, step-by-step tutorial on an e-mail or browser related task We think you'll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, click HERE. To see what's inside this issue, take a look at the index to the left and thanks for reading! - The Hartel.net Team

E-Mail Scam - Social Security Administration Warns of E-mail Scam

The Social Security Administration has received reports of an e-mail message being circulated with the subject "Cost-of-Living for 2007 update" and purporting to be from the SSA. The message provides information about the 3.3 percent benefit increase for 2007 and tells the e-mail recipients to update their personal information or their account will be suspended indefinitely. They are then directed to a phony site designed to look like the official Social Security website.

Once at the bogus website, individuals are asked to register for a password and to confirm their identity by providing personal information such as their Social Security number, bank account information, and credit card information.

Patrick O'Carroll, Jr., Inspector General of Social Security, reminds the public to always take precautions when giving out personal information. "You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the Internet or by telephone unless you are extremely confident of the source to whom you are providing the information," O'Carroll said.

You can report receipt of the aforementioned fraudulent e-mail message or other suspicious activity to Social Security's Office of Inspector General by calling the OIG Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. A Public Fraud Reporting form is also available at OIG's website at www.socialsecurity.gov/oig.

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Customers Thrilled - Bundling of Services Saves Money and Boosts Broadband Speeds

Customers of Hartington Telecommunications have signed up by the dozens and dozens for Service Bundles to save them money and reap the benefits they've asked for.

Service Bundles provide the opportunity for customers to save money, receive the fastest Broadband DSL service in the Hartington area, and the lowest long distance rates offered by Hartington Long Distance!

When you signup for any Bundle package, after your first 100 minutes of Hartington Long Distance, any additional long distance minutes are only $0.08 per minute! That's the lowest long distance price that we offer!

And if you signup for either our Broadband Bundle or VIP Bundle (Video, Internet, Phone), get up to 1.5Mg (1500k) download speeds!! We've never offered a faster DSL package! And on top of that, we're offering FREE DSL Installation and a FREE DSL modem with a 12-month contract! If you've ever thought of switching from dialup to DSL, now is the time!! Broadband DSL saves you time because of the enormous speed increase, it doesn't make your phone line "busy", plus there's no hourly package limits!

And if you already have DSL, call or stop by to see how you can double or possibly even increase your broadband speed by nearly 12 times if you're currently a 128k DSL package customer!!

All bundles include three Calling Features of your choice to make your life easier! Click here to see a list of available Calling Features.

Plus the bundles are discounted to save you money over what you'd pay for all of these services separately! Be sure and call our office at 254-3901 or stop by our office at 104 W Centre St for more details! Signup NOW and immediately take advantage of the improved service offerings!

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USF - Universal Service Fund - What It Is - How it Works - Why It's So Vitally Important to You

What is universal service? The goal of universal service was established by the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure all consumers in the country receive the same affordable, quality telecommunications services, regardless of geographic location. The breakup of AT&T in 1983 and the ensuing competitive environment resulted in the establishment of the federal universal service funding mechanism, the Universal Service Fund, to ensure all Americans can receive affordable telephone service, no matter where they live. The concept of universal service is as valid for future telecommunications services as it is for telephone services. (In 1998, Nebraska established the Nebraska Universal Service Fund to better address consumer needs within the state.)

Is the fund just for remote areas? USF consists of four programs. In addition to the High Cost Program, which offsets the higher cost of deployment of network infrastructure to serve those in rural and insular areas of the country, USF consists of the Low Income Program, the Schools and Libraries Program and the Rural Health Care Program. These three programs ensure that all Americans can connect and stay connected to the telecommunications network as well as ensuring affordable advanced telecom services are available to schools and libraries and provides rural Americans' with access to state of the art health care services.

Why is universal service so important to you? Universal service support is critical to our nation’s ability to meet commerce, national security and public health and safety goals and to the availability and affordability of advanced telecommunications services for all Americans regardless of geographic location or socio-economic status.

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is one of the most effective initiatives Congress has ever enacted for consumers. In fact, the benefits of USF reach virtually every consumer and community in every state in America. 95% of Americans are connected to the world through a communications service; 99% of public schools have internet access to enhance educational opportunities; every consumer pays affordable rates, regardless of where they live; and rural communities enjoy advanced medical technology and care that would otherwise only be available in urban settings. These benefits are due in large part to the USF and its programs.

Eliminating or drastically altering the USF would have serious, negative impacts on millions of consumers and communities across the country. For instance, an average Nebraskan living in a rural community could see his or her phone bill increase by $235 annually, and Hartington Telecommunications studies have shown that their average customer would see an increase of between $600 - $900 annually if USF was eliminated.

Recently, there have been newspaper articles attempting to spread a myth that cell phone customers subsidize "landline" phone companies. In the articles, the writer assumes that wireless calls depend only on a wireless network -- and that cellphone calls work much like a "walkie-talkie" system. Nothing could be farther from the truth!

Virtually every wireless phone call traverses the landline network after it is received through a cell tower. This occurs whether a landline number or a cell phone user is called; the landline network provides underlying transportation capacity for all calls, including wireless. Without the landline network, wireless calls would simply drop off of towers and never reach their destination.

The article charges that landline phone companies benefit unfairly from Universal Service Fund payments. The reality is that the amount traditional landline telephone companies receive from the federal universal service fund is decreasing (down $70 million from 2005-2006) while support to wireless telephone companies is growing—an increase of about $322 million during that time period.

The bottom line is clear: The landline network is the foundation on which future communications networks are built; all phone users depend on a highly integrated landline and wireless network; and those who use that network should contribute to its upkeep and expansion through the Universal Service Fund.

For more information, visit our webpage on universal service funds by clicking here.

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Workshops in February - Digital Photography, Tree-Grafting

A Digital Photography workshop will be held at the Hartington City Library on February 26th and includes how to use a digital camera, downloading pictures to your computer, and printing services. Click here for more information.

A Tree Grafting workshop will be held on February 23 in Hartington. Grafting of trees allows you to save or propagate a "heritage" or older type of tree. This technique is especially useful with fruit trees. Click here for more information on this workshop.

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Daylight Saving Time Begins March 11th - New Law Takes Effect

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 takes effect this year that changes the date that Daylight Saving Time (DST) goes into effect. In previous years, DST took effect on the first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October.

Beginning in 2007, DST begins on the second Sunday in March. That date falls on March 11th - nearly a month earlier than other years. DST also ends later in the fall. In fact, the new law requires DST to end on the first Sunday in November. This year DST will end on November 4th.

Be sure to check your clocks on your computers on that morning, especially if you have an older computer with an older operating system. Some older PCs might not update the time automatically.

So don't forget to set your clocks one hour ahead on Sunday, March 11th. The official time changes at 2:00am.

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Ask The Help Desk - How Do I Get a Web Page to Refresh with Updated Information?

Question: Sometimes I go to a web page that I know updates their content frequently (with stock reports, weather, news, etc.) but I can't get it to refresh/reload with new information. Is there anything I can do?

Answer: Yes, there is a trick you can try when this happens to you. When typing the site's URL (web address), add a question mark (?) to the end. Your web browser will think it's a new web page and will "refresh" it for you, displaying the updated content. If you need to keep "refreshing" on subsequent visits to the same web page, simply add a different letter(s) behind the question mark each time (i.e. ?glp) and the page will be downloaded with the most current information.

Why does this trick work? Your browser only downloads information in front of a question mark. However, since the whole URL changes (by adding the question mark and possibly other letters behind the question mark), the browser provides a complete "refresh" of the web page.

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Local Website Of The Month - Our Featured LOCAL Website Of The Month is...

This is a series of monthly articles featuring local websites. Please contact us by clicking here if you want your website to be featured in an upcoming issue. You supply the information and we'll put it in our eNewsletter. What a great way to get your website known throughout the Hartington area!

Filips Eye Clinic
http://www.filipseyeclinic.com - Filips Eye Clinic has a new web address: www.filipseyeclinic.com

This easier-to-remember address still has links to information about the office, staff, and vision information. Dr. Filips has posted his training and experience online as well as that of his staff. Hours and phone numbers are available, as well as a vision library which explains most eye conditions and their treatment.

Dr. Filips has also posted updates on office news including new equipment and services, and his eye care mission trips. Visit www.filipseyeclinic.com today.

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Great Sites To Check Out This Month

New Passport Site a Hub for Travelers
http://getapassportnow.com -  In an effort to enhance security and efficiency at U.S. borders, new passport requirements went into effect on January 23, 2007. All air travelers entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) must now show a passport, even if they are U.S. citizens. The Travel Industry Association recently launched this "one-stop shopping" site to simplify the process for passport applicants. It features links to appropriate agencies for U.S., Canadian, and Mexican citizens and explains how and where to get a passport.

Hit the Slopes
http://skicentral.com -  If you want to go skiing but aren't sure where, this site is a great place to start. There's a mountain of information including links to nearly 8,000 sites offering ski resort details, snow sports news, and vacation-planning resources. You can get current conditions at virtually any ski resort in the world and view snow cams at locations from Aspen to Zermatt.

International Polar Bear Day
http://polarbearsinternational.org -  February 27th is International Polar Bear Day, a great time to learn more facts about our furry friends. For example, the five "polar bear nations" in which the bears are found include the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. Explore this site to check out common myths and misconceptions about polar bears, see the photo and video gallery, and find out how you can support polar bear conservation projects.

Hot Recipes for Cold Weather
http://busycooks.about.com/od/favoriterecipes/tp/top10winterreci.htm -  Gathered here are 10 favorite recipes for winter meals — hearty comfort foods guaranteed to warm up your spirits on even the coldest days. There's Mexican Pizza, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, Swiss Eggs, Herbed Oatmeal Bread, Monte Cristo Sandwiches, Crock-pot Beef Stroganoff, Indulgent Mac & Cheese, and more. If you're not hungry now, you will be after getting a taste of this site.

Iditarod: Get Ready for the Race
http://iditarod.com -  The Iditarod trail sled dog race is unlike any other event in the world. Each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover 1,150 miles across mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forests, desolate tundra, and windswept coastline. The adventure begins on Saturday, March 3rd. To get ready for the action, check out the official site of the Iditarod now. You'll find an interactive trail map, information on this year's teams, a history of the event — even a glossary of mushing terminology. Become an Iditarod Insider and you'll also have access to daily video clips throughout the race and live streaming video events.

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Short Tutorial - Burning A Folder Of Photos Onto A CD

Remember all those heartwarming family photos you took over the holidays? Where are they now? If they're stored in a file on your computer and if your computer is equipped with a CD burner, make sure you also burn a CD as a backup in case of hard drive failure. (Note: If you have a DVD burner, the procedures are the same.) Here's how to do it:

Burning Images From Your PC To A CD Using Windows XP

1. Open the "My Photos" folder or whatever folder your pictures are in.
2. On the folder window's sidebar, look for the "Picture Tasks" area.
3. Click your cursor arrow on the link "Copy all items to CD." You'll see a progress bar.
4. A bubble will appear at the bottom of your screen that says, "You have files waiting to be written to the CD. To see the files now, click this balloon." Go ahead and click on the balloon. The CD Drive window will appear.
5. Under the "CD Writing Tasks" area on the right side of the window, click on the link called "Write these files to a CD." The "CD Writing Wizard" will start.
6. Type a name for your CD and click the "Next" button.
7. Insert a CD into your burner and click "Next."
8. You'll see a progress bar as pictures are burned onto your CD.
9. When the project is completed, the CD will be ejected. Click "Finish" to close out of the wizard.

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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on the happenings here. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, click HERE.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards,

The Hartel.net Team





Hartington Telecommunications
104 W Centre
PO Box 157
Hartington, NE 68739

Ph 402-254-3901

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