ITC Newsletter Winter 2023

AUREON CONNECTIONS

A Message from Our CEO Thank You!

As we begin 2023, I want to thank you for your business and partnership during 2022. I am proud of our organization for continuing to raise the bar and elevate the quality of service we provide to our valued Clients and Partners.

Aureon is committed to investing in our people, network, and products to deliver exceptional service, connectivity, and network reliability. Occasionally issues arise that have an impact on our services. During these times, please know that our teams work around the clock to restore service as soon as possible and do postmortems to minimize impacts on our service in the future. We are excited about the planned upgrades to the network and improvements in our processes and products in 2023. We will share more details about our 2023 plans at the roundtables coming up in March.

Aureon’s standards are high, and we strive to provide the services and support you are looking for to meet your business needs. We know you have choices, and we thank you for choosing Aureon.

SCOTT BEHN, CEO

“Aureon is committed to investing in our people, network and products to deliver exceptional service, connectivty and network reliability.”

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Connect with

Northwest Communications is headquartered in Havelock, Iowa, and was founded in 1963. Northwest Communications currently has 6,000 customers, and they service approximately sixty companies. They have thirty full-time employees. The telco offers customers phone, broadband, dynamic television, and business solutions services.

Gary Petersen recently became the new CEO on May 16, 2022. Gary replaced longtime veteran Don Miller. Gary has thirty-two years of experience working in the industry. He previously worked at Farmers Mutual Coop in Harlan, Iowa. Gary said he looks forward to collaborating with his team and building the company.

Q & A with Gary Petersen, CEO

How long have you been with Northwest Communications and what was your journey to this role?

I started working thirty-two years ago in a subsidiary of Farmers Mutual Telephone Company out of my hometown in Harlan, Iowa managing their telemarketing firm. I then moved up to Plant Manager and stayed in that role until I became the new CEO at Northwest Communications.

What advice would you give to someone else considering a career in telecom?

If you are the type of person that likes variety, working in telecom always has new and exciting things to do. We don’t do the same things every day, and everything constantly changes. Being bored at work is not a factor when you are staying up to date with modern technology. A perk of working in telecom is getting the opportunity to experience new gadgets and technologies every day.

What is one of the newest forms of technology that you have been working with?

One of the newest forms of technology is smart home integration. We stay on track to help people with cybersecurity and two-factor authentication. We update routers and offer two-factor authentication on anything that could potentially let outsiders in. Those are some of the main things that we have been working on.

What excites you about your role at Northwest Communications?

We have a whole new set of goals and adventures ahead of us. Northwest Communications dabbles in a lot of different aspects of communications from fixed wireless to fiber to business solutions divisions such as firewalls. There are many different business venues and opportunities. That is one of the exciting aspects of moving to this position.

Final thoughts to share with our readers?

I would challenge all management, managers, CEOs, and decision-makers to lead through the eyes of their customers and not necessarily through the eyes of themselves. We have a lot of customers who are in their twenties and thirties, and a lot of the managers are in their fifties and sixties, so we need to think about the future and plan and build networks for younger generations. We have to make sure that we are building our networks and future proofing for those customers. That is important. Don’t have your blinders on. My decisions are not based on what I want, but they are based on what our customers and future customers want. We need to adapt to what our future customers and employees and current customers and employees are seeking. Be adaptable and open-minded.

“We stay on track to help people with cybersecurity and two-factor authentication. We update routers and offer two-factor authentication on anything that could potentially let outsiders in. Those are some of the main things that we have been working on.”

- Gary Petersen, CEO

Gary Petersen and his wife Jo

Pricing Desk

The Pricing Desk is a department that supports Aureon’s sales teams by providing timely quotes and pricing standards and delivering streamlined, enhanced Client experiences. The Pricing Desk backs Aureon’s speed-to-quote initiatives that play a strategic role in providing an excellent experience to the Clients, Partners, Shareholders, and Carriers that we collaborate with daily and align our efforts to rebuild and retain strong Partner relationships.

Learn more about Tara Boston and her team as she discusses her role at Aureon and the work she does.

How long have you been with Aureon and what was your journey to your current role?

I will mark five years with Aureon in July. I started as a Solutions Architect in July 2018, then, in September 2021, I was promoted to the Supervisor of the Pricing Desk and soon after to Manager of the Pricing Desk.

On a day-to-day level who are the key stakeholders that you interact with and what solutions does your team deploy?

My team supports the sales channels and our ITC members in quoting and analyzing maximum profitability in client solutions.

What do you love most about Aureon?

Aureon has an incredible Leadership Team. I have been empowered and challenged to be part of some positive changes. I love that we streamline processes to fit our creative needs.

What excites you about coming to work each day?

I have an amazing team – they work extremely hard at strategic pricing strategies with a focus on helping our sales team make more sales.

Describe the impact of your department’s work. We impact sales on opportunities by utilizing our shareholders’ partners to achieve client solution pricing needs.

What are some goals your department is focusing on?

We are continually focused on sales support, increased revenue, and EBITDA.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with the shareholders?

We focus on new processes and initiatives to streamline quoting, orders, and billing that will impact ease and accuracy for all parties. One improvement is the implementation of the Aureon Bid Request Portal that many use for ease of bidding. Another is the addition of a Vendor Relations Specialist role to my team. This position will focus on growing and fostering relationships between Aureon and our ITCs. We are excited about the updates and growth 2023 will bring for our organization and ITC partners.

CML Telephone, CRMC, and Other Local Partners Help the Community Secure $360,000 for Future Projects

On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, Bruce Johnson with CML Telephone and Gary Jordan with the Cherokee Regional Medical Center met to close a USDA Rural Economic Development loan totaling $360,000. This is a unique loan program designed to grant rural communities revolving loan fund (RLF) money after the completion of a local project. CRMC agreed to use the new Cherokee Regional Ambulance Station as the initial project, receiving the funding in the form of a loan to finance a portion of the construction. Selecting a catalyst project such as the Ambulance Station is a requirement by the USDA for the program. When the loan for the Ambulance Station is paid off, funds will not go back to the USDA. Instead, funds will remain in the community for future projects. The USDA program requires that a local utility provider sponsor the loan application process. CML Telephone volunteered staff time and effort to be the sponsoring utility, ensuring that the $360,000 was made possible for the Ambulance Station and other projects. The granted funds from the program will be added to an existing RLF that is administered by Cherokee Area Economic Development. The USDA requires a 20% cash match from local partners to complete the program. To fulfill this requirement, the following organizations pitched in to meet the $60,000 match: Central Bank ($10,000), Cherokee State Bank ($10,000), State Savings Bank ($2,500), United Bank of Iowa ($5,000), Farmers State Bank ($2,500), and the Cherokee Industrial Corp ($30,000). In 2018, CML Telephone and their telecommunications partner, Aureon contributed $30,000 each to help establish the original RLF for the community using the same USDA program and a similar project with CRMC when they built their new medical clinic on the CRMC campus. This was a major team effort that would not have been made possible without the contributions of all those involved. Once the original loan is paid off, the total funds in the RLF will be $720,000. Organizations and businesses are welcome to apply for low-interest loans from the RLF to help finance community and business projects. The interest generated from RLF projects will be deposited back into the RLF to help grow the funds. For more information about the RLF, please contact Jana Utesch, Executive Director of Cherokee Area Economic Development: director@cherokeeia.com.

KCTC, Pleasantview, and Aureon Help the Community Secure $297,899 for Future Projects

On Wednesday, September 18, 2022, KCTC and Pleasantview, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Kalona met to close a USDA Rural Economic Development loan totaling $297,899. This loan program is designed to grant rural communities funds after the completion of a local project. Pleasantview offers skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living services. They are expanding and remodeling their facilities and have offered a portion of their expansion costs to help secure the money for the City of Kalona and surrounding communities. Selecting a catalyst project such as the Pleasantview expansion is a requirement by the USDA for the program. Pleasantview will receive the funding in the form of a 0% loan. As loan payments are made, revenue will not go back to the USDA, instead, funds will remain in the community for future projects. The USDA program requires that a local utility provider sponsor the loan application process. KCTC volunteered staff time and effort to be the sponsoring utility, ensuring that the $297,899 was made possible for the initial project and other future projects. The USDA also requires a 20% cash match from local partners to complete the program. To fulfill this requirement, KCTC pitched in $24,824, and Aureon contributed another $24,824. Once payments are made on the original loan, organizations and businesses are eligible to apply for low interest loans from the revolving loan fund to finance community and business projects. The interest generated from the projects will be deposited back into the revolving loan fund, and the account will be held and administered by KCTC.

Pictured l-r: Jennifer Ryen (CRMC), Gary Jordan (CRMC), Bruce Johnson (CML Telephone), Rick Mongan (Cherokee Area Economic Development and Cherokee Industrial Corporation), Jana Utesch (Cherokee Area Economic Development), Ethan Pitt (Iowa Area Development Group), Steven Gardfrey (CRMC), JD Siebert (Aureon).

Pictured l-r: Ethan Pitt (Iowa Area Development Group), Jim Hershberger (Pleasantview), Luke Horak (KCTC), Jeffrey Schmidt (Pleasantview), Steve Yotty (KCTC), Larry Swartzendruber (Pleasantview), Casey Peck (KCTC), Steve Rich (KCTC).

Ripple Effect Helps Develop a Legacy in a Small Town

On Monday, November 21, 2022, members from South Slope Cooperative Communications, Aureon, Main Street Legacy, LLC, and the Iowa Area Development Group met at Ely City Hall. A $10,000 check was presented to the City of Ely. The funds were granted through Iowa Area Development Group and Aureon’s Ripple Effect program. The Ripple Effect grant funds will be used to help cover design and architectural costs for a new two-story mixed-use commercial and residential facility with businesses and indoor parking on the first floor and condominiums on the second. The property remodel design is in conjunction with the City of Ely’s downtown revitalization project. The plan is to design the building to be consistent with Ely’s existing historic downtown and highlights architectural design from the late Victorian era. “We would really like to keep with the character of Ely,” said Mark Krob with Main Street Legacy, LLC. Krob’s family has owned the property since 1910 as a fourth-generation family-owned grain elevator business. The primary office located on the property closed permanently in 2021. Krob said that his families land seemed like a perfect fit for this kind of project. Through the Ripple Effect community development program provided by Aureon and the Iowa Area Development Group, South Slope Cooperative Communications donated $5,000 and Aureon also donated $5,000. The overall project is expected to be completed sometime in 2024.

“We really want to attract restaurants and cafes, places to eat and hang out,” said Erin Krob with Main Street Legacy, LLC. “We are a small business trying to attract other small businesses.”

- Erin Krob, Main Street Legacy, LLC.

Ripple Effect Brings the Hearts of a Community Together

Aureon and IADG’s partnership with the Ripple Effect program brings hearts and a small community together. The Friends of Sharon Center High School and Community Center applied for a Ripple Effect grant and received funds from Sharon Telephone Company and matched by Aureon. In total the non-profit organization received $7,000 through the Ripple Effect program. The funds will go towards the restoration of a historic high school located in the rural area of unincorporated Sharon Center, now a part of Iowa City. In 2020, Preservation Iowa named the school one of Iowa’s “Most Endangered Properties.” Locals joined together to create a nonprofit organization called the Friends of Sharon High School and Community Center with the goal to bring the building back into use as a community center. “Our hearts are in this community,” said a local resident. Sharon Center High School was originally built in 1899 and served the community as a school for students to continue their education after attending country school which typically only went to the eighth grade. The school was often rented by traveling magicians, entertainers, and members of the community to hold events and parties. In 1918, the Frank Pierce Masonic Lodge purchased the building for $275. The Lodge held meetings on the second floor of the building until 2021. Katie Miller, STC’s Development Manager said, “The Ripple Effect grant allows us to get this project off the ground. We’re excited to be a part of it and really pleased with everything that Ethan at IADG did to make this possible. ”STC has ties to the building as their offices used to be in an adjacent building next to the school. Ethan Pitt, Ripple Effect Program Director said, “The finance committee loved the project, especially with STC’s tie to the building and the community center aspect to it all made this a great project.” The Friends of Historic Sharon High School and Community Center has taken great strides to raise money for the restoration of this important community gathering place. Local resident, Roger Strutsman has been vigilantly helping with fundraising efforts. Strutsman says, “We have been raising money for about a year and we have a long way to go yet. Our goal was to have about $65,000 and we have about $130,000, so we are ahead of our goal,” The nonprofit group will also be applying for grant money from Riverside Casino located in Riverside, Iowa. Once the remodeling process is completed, the building will provide space for educational, entertainment, cultural and community events, as well as offer a museum to display how important the landmark is, not only to the town and surrounding communities, but to the entire State of Iowa.

Butler-Bremer Communications

Pictured l-r: Scott Havel (Sharon Telephone Company General Manager), Katie Miller (Sharon Telephone Company Customer Development Manager), Phil Winborn (Friends of Historic Sharon High School and Community Center Chairman), Cheryne Yoder (Friends of Historic Sharon High School and Community Center Vice President), Howard Pewitt (fundraiser volunteer), Cathie Strutsman (Friends of Historic Sharon High School and Community Center Board Member), Meg Nagel (Friends of Historic Sharon High School and Community Center Board Member), Gene Miller (building committee), Ethan Pitt (IADG, Ripple Effect Program Director) and Roger Strutsman (fundraiser volunteer).

Ripple Effect and Butler-Bremer Communications Donates $10,000 to the Butler-Grundy Development Alliance. Other contributors were the Butler County REC and Corn Belt Power Cooperative.

Pictured l-r: Todd Van Epps (Aureon), Andrea Hansen (Butler-Bremer Communications CEO), Ethan Pitt (Ripple Effect Program Director), Katie Labree (Butler County REC Business Development Manager), Roger Kregel (Butler-Grundy Development Alliance President), Brittany Dickey (Corn Belt Power Cooperative), and Jeff Kolb (Butler-Grundy Development Alliance Executive Director).

Pictured l-r: Ethan Pitt (IADG, Ripple Effect Program Director), Adam Thompson (Ely City Administrator), Erin Krob (Main Street Legacy, LLC), Mark Krob (Main Street Legacy, LLC), Jessica Larsen (Communication and Owner Experience Specialist, Aureon), and Bre Horstman (South Slope Business Development Manager).

“We’d like to leave a legacy,”

- Mark Krob, Main Street Legacy, LLC.

Ripple Effect Program Grants Funds to Help Local Swimming Pool

On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, members of the Butler County Alliance, Allison Swimming Pool Committee, Dumont Telephone, Aureon, and the Iowa Area Development Group met at the Butler County Development Alliance office in Allison, Iowa. Aureon and Dumont Telephone presented a twenty-thousand-dollar check to Cassie Bangasser, a member of the Allison Swimming Pool Committee. Through Iowa Area Development Group’s and Aureon’s Ripple Effect program Dumont Telephone contributed $15,000 and Aureon donated $5,000. The funds will secure quotes, renderings and design work for repairs and upgrades to the swimming pool located in Allison, Iowa. The Swimming Pool Committee is currently raising funds for the swimming pool project. “We will be doing a Christmas bake sale,” said Bangasser. “We have done the bake sale for the last couple of years.” The committee also has a round up program at J & C Grocery store located in Allison. Customers can round up their grocery bill to donate funds towards this project. “We have been doing this program with the grocery store for a couple of years and so far, have raised $25,000,” explained Bangasser. The public owned swimming pool was constructed approximately forty years ago and needs significant repairs. The bathhouse and mechanical buildings will be retained and remodeled to help with overall costs. The outdoor pool is used in the summer for recreational swimming as well as for Red Cross swimming lessons. The pool provides active summer activities for the community. The projected costs to maintain the swimming pool are one million dollars. Construction on the project will begin in 2025.

Stewart Memorial Hospital Expansion Webster-Calhoun Coop Telephone Association (WCCTA)

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association (WCCTA) awarded the Stewart Memorial Community Hospital (SMCH) grant funds to support their Putting People First campaign. WCCTA and Aureon each granted $5,000 to the hospital, totaling $10,000, through the Ripple Effect program. The funds will cover engineering costs associated with the expansion. Once the Putting People First campaign is complete, the ER and rehab services department will be three times larger and have private treatment rooms. The new ER location will be closer to the patient wing, increasing availability for nursing staff. There will be new entrances and a dedicated helipad to increase the efficiency of emergency traffic flow. The hospital has made significant strides toward completing the project. With plans to have construction completed in late 2023, SMCH has raised over $2,000,000 in local funds.

Network Updates

2022 is in the rearview mirror, and it is hard to believe it passed by that quickly. With that being said, even though it went by so fast many accomplishments were made in the network.

We continued to add fiber plant. Two hundred and fifteen total construction miles were tallied for transport fiber additions. Some of the projects were to replace small-count fiber that was originally placed in the late eighties and early nineties. The other was placed to close rings. Overall, the OSP projects for 2022 were a success.

Scott Johnson Senior VIce President –Engineering Operations

We also continued to invest in our existing PoP sites. We had fifteen sites that required upgrades to the transport or IP network equipment. Many of these upgrades continue to be driven by the number of bandwidth increase requests we continue to receive. We also added five new PoP sites in the state. This is part of our effort to continue to drive our services closer to our shareholders and deliver reliable large pipes.

One of our larger projects, as mentioned in past updates and round table meetings, is our migration out of our downtown PoP site, Merchants, to our new 616 data center. 2022 was year one of a two-year project. This included turning up a new voice tandem switch so we could then start moving voice traffic from the DMS at Merchants to 616. There were countless hours spent in meetings planning that conversion as we worked closely with a few early adopters that were willing to take the first step. This process assisted greatly in finding those “secrets” that were hidden. By the end of 2022, we were migrating three to four telcos a day. Thank you all that have made that move already!

Looking forward to our goals in 2023 with the largest being the final year of the Merchants to 616 migration. Our goal is to turn the lights off and lock the door for good no later than December 31, 2023. This year will focus on finishing the voice migrations along with getting DET and transport services moved completely out. We are also upgrading more PoP sites to continue to stay ahead of the bandwidth curve along with a few more PoP site additions.

The most important goal we have at Aureon is our continued effort to improve and maintain network reliability. All of our projects are designed to do that and to help Aureon grow. I am looking forward to seeing you all at our future round tables across the state.

Pictured l-r: Todd Van Epps (Aureon), Jeff Kolb (Butler-Grundy Development Alliance Executive Director), Brexton Bangasser (Allison Swimming Pool patron), Cassie Bangasser (Allison Swimming Pool Committee member), Roger Kregel (Dumont Telephone General Manager), Ethan Pitt (Ripple Effect Program Director).

Legislative Update

By Ray Warner, Manager - Industry Affairs

Iowa Senate Forms New Technology Committee in 2023

The Iowa Senate created a committee focused on technology to address challenges, needs, and impact on the state. Senator Chris Cournoyer chairs the newly formed committee. The technology committee will be instrumental in evaluating and shaping legislation related to technology, cybersecurity, connectivity, telecommunications, and other related policies.

Technology Related Proposed Legislation

Video Franchise

This bill updates the Video Franchise rules that no franchise is needed for OTT services.

House File 250

Consumer Data Protection

These bills provide consumers with the right to know what companies have processed of their personal data. The bill would be applicable to Iowa businesses that control/process personal data of over 99,999 consumers or control/process personal data of 25,000 consumers with 50% of their gross revenue obtained from the sale of personal data.

House Version - HSB 12

Senate File 262

Ransomware

These bills make ransomware use illegal in Iowa and outlines criminal penalties of doing so. The bills make exceptions for law enforcement, training, education, and research purposes.

House File 143

Senate File 203

CYISM

This bill establishes a cybersecurity simulation training center at Iowa State University to conduct cyber threat and mitigation research and training. The center will be available to businesses, state agencies, students, and educators for training exercises, case studies, competitions, and cybersecurity workforce development efforts.

House File 139

Affirmative Defense

This bill creates a cybersecurity unit within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, including reporting requirements for cybersecurity incidents.

Senate Bill Study 1095

OCIO Cyber Unit

This bill creates a cybersecurity unit within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, including reporting requirements for cybersecurity incidents.

House Study Bill 15

View other legislative updates at the federal level by viewing Aureon Core.

SOLUTION HIGHLIGHTS & UPDATES

CONNECT AND PROTECT WITH AUREON MANAGED FIREWALL SOLUTIONS!

Is your firewall truly protecting your business assets? You need a robust solution capable of deflecting persistent external attacks that can seriously damage your business. We can help.

Our Managed Firewall Solution can expand as your business adds new employees, locations or business partners needing access to your tools and systems, including:

∙ Option to extend contract if needing to grow beyond current service tier during contract term

∙ Adding new users or SSL VPN

∙ Changing web filtering rules

∙ Adding additional services or protection

∙ Adding a new location to a site-to-site VPN

∙ Application control

∙ Web content filtering

Every business is different, with unique strengths and vulnerabilities. We offer customized solutions with worry-free support.

“We switched to Aureon’s Managed firewall and ProCare offering in the first quarter of 2021. Aureon’s team was very professional, and all issues were resolved in a timely manner. Day to day operations are seamless with VPN access and IP tunnels setup to cloud servers working as expected. Weekly security analysis reports keep us informed of daily network and VPN usage. We are very happy knowing our network is secure and if we need to make any access changes Aureon is just a phone call away.”

Kirk Lacquement Combination Technician Minburn Communications

Let’s Do More with Better

By Todd Van Epps - Director of Shareholder Relations

Aureon held a series of in-person round tables during the early part of December. Gracious hosts were Sharon Telephone, Cascade Communications, Farmer’s Mutual Communication Telephone Company, and Northwest Communications. Two hours flew by with an agenda centered on rate cards, building lists, wireless testing, and video. Cara Walker led our first set of topics about rate cards and lit building lists.

As Aureon and our Partners continue to get pressure to provide quicker turnaround on quote requests from national carriers. What does this mean; a company like AT&T will simply look in a tool like Connectbase, find a service provider in a community, and send a quote request to them or even an order if their rate card is available. Today, Aureon and its Partners may not be considered for these larger accounts if our fiber map and rate card is not in or up to date in the tool they are using. Our goal is to change that so that we all win business together. Aureon’s continued request of fiber maps and lit building lists to make sure that we all stay in the game.

Chad Tracy spent some quality time discussing wireless testing, which was especially helpful to the technical people present. Testing parameters were discussed as well as NIUs and committed burst size. The demand continues to increase; I applaud all of you for stepping up and proving that Iowa’s telcos are the best around. Our combined commitment to quality has continued to boost Aureon (and you) up the list of top-tier providers.

Chad also covered video; past, present, and future. Past and present plans call for the removal of EOL equipment, bandwidth increases, and a migration out of our Merchant’s building. The present and future show Aureon battling 5G interference and the sought-after demand for quality video. This battle never ends, we thank you for your input and patience.

Thanks to those that attended. Let’s do more, with better.

Frequently Asked Questions from the Roundtables

Q: What can ITCs do to win more business?

A: Provide a list of lit buildings and near net buildings. Aureon considers “near net” anything that is 500 ft. or less and can be turned up within 30 days. Additionally, provide a rate card for those locations.

Q: Should cell sites be included on the lit building list?

A: Any site that can be added to the lit building lists is going to give you more opportunities to win business. As other carriers go on a tower, they will look to see who has fiber at that tower. Please feel free to put the rate as ICB if you want to include them.

Q: What rates do I use for ILEC versus CLEC?

A: Rates are up to the ITC for all their areas. Providing the most competitive rate you can may help you win business. Our goal is to simply “receive orders” and turn up revenue quickly. We do that by having building lists with rate cards so that it makes it “easy” for carriers to do business with Aureon and our Partners.

Aureon Charity Grants

Through the Aureon Charity grant program, non-profit agencies from participating ITC communities can apply for grants for community-based projects that will create a positive impact. Read more about the organizations that are Quarter 4 Aureon Charity Grant recipients on Aureon Core.

Q4 Charity Grant Recipients

Organization Sponsor Project

Amana Benefited Fire District South Slope Communications

Fire department gear and equipment.

Barnes City Fire and Rescue Association Barnes City Coop Telephone Company Batteries for the fire truck.

Belmond Historical Society Communications 1 A new computer printer/copier.

Casey Fire Fighter Foundation Casey Mutual Telephone Company Industrial fans and bug zappers. Casey Public Library Casey Mutual Telephone Company New computers for the library.

City of Arcadia Breda Telephone Corporation Park playground equipment.

City of Denison – Parks & Recreation Department Breda Telephone Corporation Building a new playground.

City of Grand Mound GMC Grand Mound Communications A new splash pad.

City of Irwin Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Co. New chairs.

City of Palo Palo Communications New banners and wood signs.

Colo Community Food Pantry Colo Telephone Company New shelving and a table.

Elgin Emergency Medical Services Alpine Communications New laptop and iPhone.

Gowrie Police Department Webster Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association A Panasonic CF-55 Toughbook.

Hawkins Memorial Library LPC Connect Dolly Parton Imagination library book program. La Porte City Recreation Department LPC Connect Concrete.

Lake View Foundation Corn Belt Telephone New banners.

Lawton-Bronson CSD Wiatel Western Iowa Telecom New shelving.

North Liberty Community Pantry South Slope Communications A desk, sorting table, shelving, rack, and storage bins.

Palo United Methodist Church Palo Communications Supplies for the food pantry.

Ruthven Community Care Center Villa River Valley Telecommunications Coop An Electro-Magnet for a door.

Wall Lake Public Library Corn Belt Telephone

Materials to replace soffit and wood columns.

Wishes for Wildlife South Slope Cooperative Communications Landscaping and trees.

Woden Community Center Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association LED lights and air conditioner for the community center.

March Roundtable Discussions

Our March Roundtable Discussions are right around the corner! Please make sure to register before February 28. We ask that you bring a technical expert in on these discussions as well. If you have not registered yet you can register here. If you did not receive an email from us regarding this please reach out to Todd Van Epps. Discussion date, time and location can be found below.

Odebolt Public Library

Tueday, March 7

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Aureon Scholarship Program

Scholarship Overview

Aureon HQ

Wednesday March 8

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

*This will also be available via Microsoft

South Slope Community Center

Thursday, March 9

9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Aureon Scholarship Program is available to students pursuing a STEM-related course of study after high school graduation and residing in a home with service from an Iowa Independent Telecommunications Company (ITC). The program will award a total of $10,000. Individual scholarships will range from $1,000 to $3,000. The application deadline is midnight March 1, 2023.

Eligibility

∙ Residing in a home with active phone, internet, or TV from an Iowa ITC.* (See disclaimer below if you are unsure.)

∙ Iowa high school junior or graduating senior in the 2022-2023 school year.

∙ A citizen or permanent resident of the United States or one of its official territories.

∙ Accepted and plan to enroll at an Iowa-based, accredited four-year college or university, community college, or vocational-technical school and be pursuing a STEM–related course of study.

∙ Have a minimum 3.33 GPA. A copy of a recent transcript may be requested.

Application Instructions

Complete a scholarship application in full, including the following:

∙ A short essay describing why you are pursuing a STEM-related field (1,000 words or less).

• A summary of your high school and community service activities, including leadership roles (500 words or less).

Important Information

∙ To be considered a candidate for the Aureon Scholarship, please complete, and submit the application by no later than midnight March 1, 2023.

∙ Scholarship awards will be announced by late May 2023. Winners will be notified by phone, email, or letter.

∙ All students meeting the eligibility requirements and submitting a complete application will be considered.

∙ Questions regarding the Aureon Scholarship Program should be sent to Giving@Aureon.com

∙ Link to apply: www.surveymonkey.com/r/TRWPFRV

Teams

Security Corner

By Jordan Neal - IT Security Engineer

It’s a new year, meaning the start of new projects/budgets and we want everyone to step into 2023 on the best foot possible. Due to recent trends, there are some methods that we would like to remind you about that can prevent you or your organization from being victimized. When working with financials, it always helps to make sure the person requesting money is who you think they are. When receiving account information in an email, take a few minutes and contact the other party to verify the numbers. This can protect against impersonation or even just errors in typing that can cause money to be lost or held up in transfers.

For example, you get an email claiming to be a utility company. In the email, it states that they will be receiving all future emails to a new account number. In this case, the expected email is from accounts@stateelectric.com; this time the email is accounts@ statelectric.com. If this slight change is made and no efforts are made to validate the change in accounting, you could end up seeing thousands lost to a phishing campaign, and still end up on the hook for your normal billing. Another example: You receive a call from “your” cellular provider. They tell you that you are late on your bill, and they would like to work with you to get it paid. They ask you to validate your SSN, and address before confirming the amount of your bill. After providing the amount “late on your bill” the caller requests your payment card information – In this case, consider all the information that you may have provided.

∙ Name . Address . SSN . CC information

Remember that Multi-Factor Authentication isn’t just software. The best way to protect yourself is to always verify who you are talking to. Here are some helpful tips:

Something you ARE.

∙ Individual contacting you is your main contact, i.e., company owner, technical director, HR, etc.

Something you HAVE.

∙ Known good phone numbers, mail from the correct address, and email from the correct domain.

∙ If it’s a bank, utility company, or broadband provider, feel free to call them back.

Something you KNOW.

∙ Passcode, pin, and even PII works.

∙ Check to make sure the “company” calling you is one of your providers. You wouldn’t want to pay T-Mobile for your AT&T bill.

WISPAMERICA

MARCH 6-9, 2023

LOUISVILLE, KY | Kentucky International Conv. Center

WISPAMERICA Louisville brings over 1,500 people together to learn, experience innovative technology and network with colleagues, all geared toward growing the vibrant and evolution WISP industry. Centrally located in the heartland of the country, the budget-conscious, four-day gathering features 90+ expert sessions and demonstrations, over exhibitors and access to more than 1,200 industry leaders.

Association of Business and Industry Business Day

MARCH 7, 2023

DES MOINES, IA | Embassy Suites by Hilton DSM

Join us for the first annual Business Day in Des Moines. This event will bring together business leaders from around the state. Attendees will hear updates on the 2023 Legislative Session from ABI and featured legislative leaders. Special Guest Governor Kim Reynolds has been invited. You will hear a geopolitical update from Kavi Chawla, Baton Global.

Iowa Hospital Association - Critical Access and Rural Hospital Forum

MARCH 9, 2023

DES MOINES, IA | Iowa Hospital Assoc. Conf. Room

One of Iowa’s largest annual rural health conferences, this event is designed for individuals involved in the strategic direction and operations of critical access and rural hospitals.

Iowa Bankers AssociationAg Bankers Conference

MARCH 20, 2023

AMES, IA | Gateway Hotel

This conference focuses on the unique needs of ag bankers and the need for quality information and training to better serve your customer base. With sessions on the ag economy, managing crop risks, the farm bill, and more. The conference includes two days of educational sessions led by experts in the business of banking and farming. Prepare yourself for the future with the best advice and most up-to-date knowledge available.

Iowa Communications Alliance Annual Meeting & Expo

MARCH 20 – 22, 2023

DES MOINES, IA | Community Choice Conv. Center

This event features a world-class Expo Hall, numerous educational sessions, and amazing networking opportunities. The Annual Meeting & Expo is held on March 20-22, 2023. Registered exhibitor personnel are invited to participate in all scheduled events, including education, food, and networking.

NTCA Telecom Executive Forum

APRIL 2 – 4, 2023

ST. PETERSBURG, FL | Vinoy Renaissance Resort

The annual Telecom Executive Forum (TEF) is the ultimate event for rural broadband executives to convene in a secluded setting and to bring topics including business growth, opportunities and leadership to the forefront.

Technology Association of Iowa Technology Summit

APRIL 3 – 4, 2023

DES MOINES, IA | Community Choice Conv. Center

The Iowa Technology Summit unites TAI members in an event that highlights Iowa’s Technology industry, educates, and connects current and future IT leaders in the state.

Fortinet Accelerate 2023

APRIL 3 – 6, 2023

ORLANDO, FL | Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort

This is the only conference that promises Fortinet partners and customers an exclusive, in-depth experience like no other. Gain critical competencies to intensify your security expertise.

Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities

APRIL 5 – 6, 2023

JOHNSTON, IA | Stoney Creek Hotel & Conf. Center

Join us for the 2023 IAMU Spring Broadband Forum! Representatives of Iowa’s growing municipal broadband community gather for networking and learning, and to talk to YOU during our Expo.

Iowa Rural Summit

APRIL 11 – 12, 2023

AMES, IA | Gateway Hotel

Almost 400 rural leaders from every corner of the state descended on the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center at Iowa State University April 12-13, 2022, for the 6th annual Iowa Rural Summit. In addition, the Summit was a chance to recognize a group of remarkable rural leaders, who were presented the inaugural Rand Fisher Rural Leadership Award, sponsored by IADG Community Foundation. The honor recognizes long-time IADG CEO and IRDC Vice-Chair Rand Fisher.

Association of Business and Industry Connecting Statewide Leaders

APRIL 13, 2023

SIOUX CITY, IA | Venue TBD

Join ABI members, Leadership Iowa alumni, community leaders and the Leadership Iowa class for an engaging conversation about Economic Development and Workforce. Plan to stay for our networking lunch to follow the programming.

EVENTS CONT.

NTCA Legislative & Policy Conference

APRIL 16 – 18, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

The NTCA Legislative + Policy Conference contributes your voice to lawmakers in Washington, D.C. You will be trained how to advocate effectively when presenting your high priority items, hear directly from legislators and policy makers, and meet with NTCA’s influential advocacy team.

Global Insurance Symposium

APRIL 18 – 20, 2023

DES MOINES, IA | Community Choice Conv. Center

The Global Insurance Symposium offers an educational and networking opportunity that brings together over 500 insurance and financial services company executives, national and international regulators, state and federal government representatives, entrepreneurs, and tech firms.

Connect IT 2023

APRIL 24 – 27, 2023

LAS VEGAS, NV | MGM Grand Resort

Connect IT Global is designed for leaders and experts in the IT service industry looking to help build systems, evolve their companies, and help lead the industry into a stronger tomorrow.

NTCA Marketing & Sales Conference

APRIL 30 – MAY 3, 2023

AUSTIN, TX | Hyatt Regency Austin

The annual Marketing + Sales Conference is the only conference of its kind, combining all aspects of marketing and sales for the rural broadband industry into one robust, high-value event.