Sept. Oct. WK&T Connection

The WK&T

connection September/October 2012

Published for the members of West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative

Digital Democracy Broadband grants greater access to local governments

WK&T announces

Fiber Project

Dress up your

3 new channels Hits Major Milestone Chicken DInner

Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative Vol. 4, No. 5 • September/october 2012

connection The WK&T

is published by West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative, © 2012. It is distributed without charge to all members of the Cooperative.

is your cooperative serving West Kentucky and Northwest Tennessee across more than 15,000 access lines.

The company is dedicated to using technology to keep its members connected through local and long distance calling, high-speed Internet, digital television and beyond.

Board of TRUSTEES Joe Thompson President Jerry Holloway Vice President Beverly Taylor Secretary/Treasurer Bob Barnett Jeff Davis Algene Goatley Tony Goodman Delbert Newsome Jerry Stephenson Ricky Littleton Send correspondence and address corrections to: WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative P.O. Box 649 237 N 8th Street Mayfield, Kentucky 42066 Telephone: 877-954-8748 www.wktelecom.coop On the Cover: Howel Carr, property valuation administrator for Graves County, and assessment clerk Molly Hudspeth check property tax information online.

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| September/October 2012

We’re creating new stories

I

love a good story. Through the years, I’ve heard many stories from people who remember life before telephone service.

They talk about the difficulties of connecting with family, sharing important news and staying plugged in to their communities. Then they talk about how basic telephone service improved their quality of life.

Some have even admitted that, early on, they thought the telephone was a pointless device that really had no practical purpose in a home. It didn’t take long, however, for them to see the convenience, safety benefits and practicality of being connected. Like electric service before it, reliable telephone service made life — particularly rural life — better.

Already, people are beginning to share similar stories of life before broadband Internet access. They talk about how the “World Wide Web” appeared to be just another fad and they saw no practical use for it. They talk about how the Internet now helps their families stay connected, enables their businesses in rural areas to compete and allows them to access public services more efficiently (see the story on Pages 4 and 5).

WK&T is helping create those stories with our fiber project. On the following page you will see a report of our progress toward installing a network that will literally change the lives of our members. Better telephone connections. Enhanced television services.

Faster Internet speeds. Superior overall quality. These are the promises of a fiber network.

I love hearing the stories, like you’ve read in the past several issues of this magazine, of how people are using WK&T’s services to compete in business and enhance their lives.

With the connectivity we’re putting in the ground today, we are enabling our members to improve how they interact with one another socially and commercially.

Some of these new stories are already

evident, and quite dramatic. For example, the Internet has opened vast new markets for local businesses. At the same time, members have more shopping choices than ever before.

For example, research firm comScore reports that U.S. consumers spent more than $35 billion online during the 2011 holiday shopping season — a 15% increase over 2010. (See Page 6 for some online shopping safety tips.)

Of course, this trend has caused concern for government officials, who worry about the loss of sales tax revenue. But as with any new technologies that cause a shift in consumer behavior, our leaders are making adjustments. You may have read in the news that beginning in 2014, Internet retail giant Amazon.com will begin collecting Tennessee state sales tax for orders shipped to destinations inside the state. This has been the case in Kentucky for some time.

As you enjoy the fall (my favorite season) and the approaching holidays, I encourage you to share your own stories as you gather with family and friends who live in larger cities. Tell them about the speed and reliability you’ll have with fiber connected to your home or business. Many times you’ll find that the service you enjoy right here in rural West Kentucky and Tennessee is better than that available in “the big city.”

And that’s a story all members of this cooperative can be proud of.

Trevor Bonnstetter is CEO of WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

Fiber installation hits 1,000-mile mark WK&T crews and contractors have laid 1,000 miles of fiber in local communities — enough to stretch from Washington D.C. to Miami. But’s that’s not the only recent milestone in the project. Workers have also now completed twothirds of the mainline construction. Crews are hard at work laying as many as 20 miles a week. The most significant progress was made in Brazil, Cottage Grove, Folsomdale, Lynnville, Mason Hall and Sedalia.

But mainlines don’t help anyone without that critical last step connecting them to our members’ homes and businesses. Crews have been busy on that aspect of the project as well. In all, 1,014 homes and businesses have been connected, primarily in Fancy Farm, Farmington and Puryear. Crews are connecting as many as 100 new members each week.

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Mainline Completion Percentages (where work had begun as of Aug. 31)

Farmington......................100% Fancy Farm.......................100% Mason Hall.......................100% Puryear.............................100% Sedalia..............................100% Yorkville............................100% Cunningham...................... 96%

Trimble................................ 94% Wingo................................. 88% Folsomdale........................ 46% Cottage Grove................... 44% Lynnville............................. 42% Brazil.................................. 17% Lowes................................... 2%

Overall............................................................... 50%

Three new channels added to TV lineup WK&T is committed to giving our members a great value for every dollar they spend on television, and that means having a great selection of channels. Recently, we added three channels to our lineup to take another step forward in this commitment.

Members now have access to two additional shopping networks: QVC on Channel 13 and ShopNBC on Channel 15. These stations were added in large part due to numerous requests from members. See Page 6 for more details.

Viewers also have a new HD news option. Channel 851 is now MSNBC HD which will allow WK&T members to watch shows like Hardball with Chris Matthews with top-notch image quality.

Channel 13

Channel 15

Channel 851

WK&T Sports is the only place to get live local games, whether they are on the field or on the court. Here’s what’s coming up:

October 12: Fulton Co. @ Mayfield – Channel 68 October 26: Marshall Co. @ Graves Co. – Channel 68 November: Playoffs – TBA

November 26 Hickman Co. @ Graves Co. — Channel 51 November 27 St. Mary @ Carlisle Co. — Webcast November 29 Livingston Central @ Graves Co. — Channel 51 November 30 CCA @ Carlisle Co. — Webcast December 1 Paducah Tilghman @ Carlisle Co. — Webcast December 4 Paducah Tilghman @ Mayfield — Channel 68 December 7 Hickman Co. @ Carlisle Co. — Webcast December 11 Marshall Co. @ Carlisle Co. — Webcast December 13 Lone Oak @ Mayfield — Channel 68 December 14 Calloway Co. @ Graves Co. — Channel 51 Mayfield @ Carlisle Co. — Webcast December 18 Paducah Tilghman at Graves Go. — Channel 51 *Schedule subject to change September/October 2012 |

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Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

The power of Broadband:

Digital Democracy

M

ike Miller can remember typing out or handwriting a letter, licking a stamp and waiting on the postman any time he needed to contact his senator or representative.

Now, the Marshall County (Ky.) Judge/ Executive and other citizens of West Kentucky and Tennessee only have to wait for their computer to launch. “Now you just send them an email,” Miller says.

“Broadband has changed the way govern-

ment works.”

Miller and other local leaders say that broadband not only allows their offices and agencies to work more efficiently, but it gives residents quicker access to government information than ever before. Agencies now share tax data, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, parcel maps and more online.

“Getting that data in a quick period of time 20 years ago was impossible,” says

Miller, who has been the Marshall County executive since 1974. “Now you’re just a click away. It’s made it a whole lot easier for citizens to know what’s going on.”

Calloway County Judge/Executive Larry Elkins says times have changed from the days when residents and county staff had to dig through stacks of forms, maps or binders. “Now we reach for the mouse on our computers,” he says. “That’s the place most people are looking for information.”

Reaching residents

When Elkins wants to get information to local residents, he has several options.

He can mail them a letter. He can post notices or run an ad in the local newspaper. He can email people. Or he can post the information to his Facebook page. “I really enjoy it now that I’ve learned,” he says of Facebook.

Calloway and other counties are developing ways to notify residents of important information through social media, email and mobile alerts. But for that to work, residents must be connected to a reliable network such as WK&T’s. “It’s essential now to what we do,” he says.

The same is true in Marshall County.

“Everything right now is high-speed Internet, getting the information out quickly,” Miller says. “Where we used to use phone and mail for correspondence, now everything is electronic. We use email. We use Internet. We use everything that’s available. It just speeds things up so much.”

In Graves County, the property valuaLee Martin, chief deputy in the Graves County property valuation office, shows how banks, appraisers and real estate companies can quickly access property information to serve citizens faster.

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WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

tion office makes parcel maps, tax information and other data available online so residents can access it from home on WK&T’s network. “Most of our information is online presently,” explains Howel Carr, property valuation administrator.

“It’s a good way to reach out to people.

Realtors use it. Appraisers use it. I even know of property owners who use it on a regular basis.”

But Carr, Elkins and Miller aren’t the only officials to realize broadband’s potential. The California-based Center for Digital Government has noted that local governments around the country are using the Web with increasing regularity, especially in a recession when tax revenues are down. “Many [governments] have found ways to provide better information security, transparency and citizen engagement with innovative uses of social media and advanced decision support tools,” says Todd Sander, the Center’s executive director.

Beyond the speed of digital information, Carr says it’s cheaper for his department to provide information digitally than with hard copies. “It saves us money for sure,” he says.

Once again, these local efforts are part of a national trend. In a recent Center for Digital Government report, Sander says there are significant cost savings in moving documents online. “Counties across the country are aligning technology initiatives with executive strategic priorities to provide vital cost savings and administrative efficiencies,” he says.

Laying the groundwork

Local leaders say broadband is not going away, and its importance will only increase in the future.

Miller and Elkins expect governments to find new ways to interact with residents.

Carr says his office is in the process of digitizing all of the deeds in the county, with plans to add more information to the county’s site. He also plans to equip appraisers with wireless tablets they can

use to submit reports back to the office.

“The sky’s the limit,” Elkins says. “With new technology emerging every day, I wouldn’t be surprised by anything.”

One thing they’ve already seen — the industries and corporations looking to build in West Kentucky and Tennessee are planning for a future with broadband. And because of that, the counties are fortunate to have broadband and fiber networks like WK&T’s in place. “It’s essential today,” Elkins says. “In this technical age, you have to be capable of doing what everyone else does and hopefully do it a little better.”

WK&T CEO Trevor Bonnstetter says WK&T will be ready to provide whatever broadband services are needed next.

“Through the network we are building today, our members will be connected to the same technology we ran the whole telephone company on just a few years ago,” he says. “That same speed and level of service will be in their homes and businesses — and that will have a huge impact on this region.”

Top: Larry Elkins is the Judge/Executive for Calloway County, Ky. His office has embraced technology to help citizens interact with the county offices. He even uses Facebook to connect with constituents and keep track of community events.

Bottom: Howel Carr, property valuation administrator for Graves County, Ky., says having county property information accessible online helps taxpayers receive better service. He is pictured here with Molly Hudspeth, assessment clerk.

September/October 2012 |

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Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

WK&T helps you get the jump on holiday shopping It’s that time again — the time when you start to look at your Christmas shopping list and wonder how you are going to get it all done. Luckily, WK&T offers plenty of options allowing you to shop from your home, whether it’s from your TV or computer.

Shop on your TV with WK&T Digital TV

QVC (Channel 13) — QVC became the world’s leading video retailer by sticking to the principles that make up its name: Quality, Value and Convenience. Founded in 1986, the TV retail giant shipped more than 163 million products in 2011 and is known for shoes, handbags, jewelry, beauty products, kitchenware, housewares and electronics.

Home Shopping Network (Channel 14) — Also called HSN, the Home Shopping Network was the first-ever cable network to launch nationally in 1985. Product offerings include jewelry, apparel, shoes, handbags, kitchenware, electronics, decor, health products, home solutions, crafts and team logo items. The network is known for brand name items, exclusive deals and entertaining programming.

ShopNBC (Channel 15) — ShopNBC seems like a newcomer to the TV shopping game since the brand launched in 2001.

But the same network operated for 10 years prior to the relaunch as ValueVision Media. ShopNBC specializes in jewelry, apparel, beauty products, collectibles, electronics and fitness products. The network prides itself on premium and unique products, exciting on-air presentations and celebrity guests.

As a bonus, ShopNBC’s fulfillment warehouse is in Bowling Green, so not only are orders likely to arrive quickly, but customers can also know they are supporting Kentucky jobs.

Shopping Channels

or shop online with WK&T Broadband

Most every major retailer and many small shops have websites selling many of the same items found in their physical stores. Add online-only retailers such as Amazon and Zappos, and shoppers can eliminate most of their trips to the mall this holiday season.

But while there are many legitimate e-merchants, scam artists can also hack into shopping sites to steal your information. Follow these tips to avoid falling for their tricks.

• Trust your instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable on a site or if you are pressured to buy a product immediately, it might be best to look elsewhere.

• Know the rules. Be sure to read return policies, bidding rules and warranties before making a purchase.

• Check shipping costs. Some merchants offer low prices, but 6

• • • • • •

inflate shipping costs to compensate for the discount.

Pay with credit cards. Most credit cards companies are better at forgiving fraudulent charges than the banks that back debit cards.

Inspect your purchase. Take a close look at your item when it arrives to be sure it is what you ordered and that it is not damaged.

Know the retailer. Find the vendor’s physical address and phone number before buying.

Beware of “free.” Free gift cards or other prizes can be scams, and free software or digital media can contain computer viruses.

Monitor your accounts. Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements to be sure there are no unusual charges.

Avoid shopping on public computers. Hackers can more easily access your accounts if you use a shared computer or unprotected Wi-Fi network. -Sources: Safeshopping.org and FTC.gov

| September/October 2012

WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

Quick dinners with a rotisserie chicken Between ball practice, dance lessons, carpools and work, you have little time to cook. But you still want to feed your family something warm and nutritious. Take a few minutes to stop by the store, pick up a rotisserie chicken, along with a few ingredients, and dinner is in the bag.

Rotisserie Chicken Tetrazzini

Rotisserie chicken and store-bought Alfredo sauce make this a winning dish on a busy day.

1 rotisserie chicken 8 ounces dry linguine, broken in half 1 jar (16 ounces) Alfredo sauce 8 ounces sliced mushrooms 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 cup chicken stock (canned or homemade) 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper, to taste Heat oven to 350°. Bring 2 quarts water to boil; add linguine. While pasta is cooking, sauté mushrooms in olive oil until golden.

Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes longer.

Remove mushrooms and garlic from pan and add chicken stock. Over medium heat, stir up browned bits. Then add Alfredo sauce. Remove from heat. Drain pasta and toss with chicken and Alfredo sauce with mushrooms. Pour into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until top is golden.

Rotisserie Chicken Casserole This casserole is pure comfort food.

1 stick butter or margarine, melted

1 bag seasoned stuffing mix, divided

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded or chopped

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream 1 to 1 1/2 cups chicken stock, canned or homemade Preheat oven to 350°. Pour melted butter into bottom of 9- by 13-inch dish, then sprinkle with half of stuffing mix. Place shredded or chopped chicken on top of stuffing mix. Combine cream of chicken soup and sour cream, then spread over chicken. Sprinkle remaining stuffing mix over sour cream mixture. Pour chicken stock over top. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until casserole is hot and bubbly. 

Rotisserie Chicken Chili Chili that tastes as if it’s cooked for hours, but it takes just minutes using rotisserie chicken.

1 (29-ounce) can white beans 1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil 1 jalapeno pepper, minced 1 onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoon good quality chili powder 4 cups chicken broth 1 rotisserie chicken (skin removed and meat shredded) 1/4 cup chopped cilantro or parsley Sour cream and crushed tortilla chips for topping Drain and rinse the canned white beans. In a medium bowl, mash half of the beans with a potato masher until chunky. Reserve the beans until needed. Add the oil to a large Dutch oven and heat it over medium-high heat.

Add the jalapeno, onions and garlic; sauté until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the cumin, coriander and chili powder and continue to sauté for 1 more minute to toast the spices. Stir in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Add the beans and continue to simmer for 20 more minutes, tasting for seasoning as you go. Stir in the shredded chicken and cilantro; simmer until heated through, about 5 more minutes. Ladle the chili into bowls and top with a dollop of sour cream and crushed tortilla chips.

September/October 2012 |

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West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative 237 N. 8th Street Mayfield, KY 42066