Above and Beyond – Frank Salgado, Sally Vaquera, & Orlando Ortiz

Spearman resident Cheryl Meek had been considering switching her TV service to someone other than PTCI. But Frank Salgado’s attitude and helpfulness won her over. She stayed with PTCI Digital TV service and is glad she did. Cheryl also recognizes Sally Vaquera and Orlando Ortiz as being equally helpful and appreciates all of them very much. Cheryl wanted PTCI to know what great employees we have, and she thinks our service is great as well.

 

With great service and great employees like Frank, Sally, and Orlando, why go anywhere else.

PTCI Completes Customer Survey

PTCI would like to thank all those customers who participated in our 2013 e-mail survey.  We received a lot of good information that will help pave the way through the coming year in the areas of customer service, service offerings and customer communication.  Over 90% of respondents rated PTCI Excellent/Good when compared to other utility companies and most said they are very likely to recommend PTCI to friends, family, and colleagues.  

 

PTCI is committed to providing you with the dependable communications and entertainment services you want, at prices you can afford.  We do listen to what you have to say, and we do our best to address all your needs.  Your input is very important.  If you have any questions, comments or concerns, call us at 1-800-562-2556 or log on to www.ptci.net and click on “Contact us.”  You can also stop by one of our stores located at 222 S. Amhurst, Perryton and 721 W. 7^th, Spearman.

FCC Demands Accountability From Long-Distance Providers for Rural Call Completion

FCC announced that Level 3 Communications, LLC, a telecommunications provider out of Colorado, will pay a voluntary $975,000 fine to the U.S. Treasury for not completing calls to rural communities.

This announcement is a positive development for rural consumers and their loved ones who have suffered the frustration or fear of a call not completing because of circumstances beyond their control. It also marks an important milestone in NTCA’s (a rural broadband organization of which PTCI is a member) two years-plus campaign to find a solution to this problem, which has included numerous meetings with FCC staff, several Capitol Hill briefings, call completion test projects conducted with our rural allies and a successful effort by Sen. Tim Johnson (D–S.D.) to seek swift action via a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski that won the support of more than 30 senators. Today’s action not only shows the commission intends to be serious about holding companies accountable for carrying out their fundamental duty as telecommunications providers; it also displays that the commission recognizes the threats persistent call failures pose to public safety and the general well-being of rural Americans.

NTCA hopes that this announcement is the first of many to come as the FCC seeks to send a message regarding the integrity and reliability of the nation’s telecommunications networks. With continued vigilance and the commission’s intervention, there may come a time when these kinds of actions are no longer needed. But we are certainly not there yet. Therefore, in the coming weeks and months we plan to continue holding discussions with commissioners and members of Congress to lead the way forward on this issue. We also plan to file formal comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking issued last month exploring new rules and data collection efforts to combat rural call failures on a systemic basis.

911 Cell Phone Bank and PTCI

For many of us, it's hard to imagine life without cell phones. But for some senior citizens and victims of domestic violence, cell phones are not always affordable. The 911 Cell Phone Bank provides free cell phones to people who need them most.

PTCI is proud to be a partner with the 911 Cell Phone Bank. The Cell Phone Bank was created to provide a source of emergency cell phones and funds to meet the needs of participating law enforcement and affiliated victim services agencies. The 911 Cell Phone Bank has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars and provided thousands of emergency cell phones for victim services organizations nationwide.

PTCI collects discarded cell phones from the community, boxes them up, and ships them to the 911 Cell Phone Bank. The phones are refurbished, cleared of their memory card and tested to ensure they can only make 911 calls. Phones that are deemed unusable are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.  Local law enforcement can request the refurbished phones for seniors or domestic violence victims who can’t otherwise afford cell phones. The 911 Cell Phone Bank will provide monetary compensation to PTCI for each phone received. That compensation is used to fund various programs within the school systems in the PTCI service area.

If you’d like to donate a cell phone, you may bring it in to any PTCI office anytime. By donating your discarded cell phone you are doing more than just providing emergency communications for someone in need. You are also helping to provide funds that support our local schools.

For more information go to www.911cellphonebank.org.

See People You Know on PTCI's Channel 2

PTCI is the only TV provider in the Oklahoma Panhandle bringing local programming to its customers. Locally filmed and produced, Channel 2’s lineup includes local high school sports action, community events, and city council meetings, along with sports programs from downstate and area documentaries. In March, watch for the all new “Media Dashboard.” It’s a 30 minute program showcasing the newest PTCI devices in detail. You won’t want to miss it! You can check out the newest cooking show “Mixing It Up” with Lisa Beer. On the menu is jalapeno shrimp cocktail, green chili chicken soup, spicy white corn, tex-mex meatballs, mexican cornbread, and cilantro cream sauce. Who could resist? Also catch the newest “OSU Extension Monthly” and “Inside OPSU.”

We welcome your content suggestions for local events; just call Shawn Barbaree at 580-338-2556 to give us the details.

How Safe is Your Wireless Phone in an Emergency?

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the huge popularity and convenience of cell phones means that approximately “70 percent of 911 calls are placed from wireless phones”. The convenience of having a cell phone on you at all times, wherever you are, is an important factor in owning one and helps justify the expense. However, that same mobility also creates a problem.

Since wireless phones are mobile, they are not associated with one fixed location or address. While the location of the cell site closest to the 911 caller may provide a general indication of the caller’s location, that information is not usually specific enough for rescue personnel to deliver assistance to a caller quickly.

The FCC has three basic rules that apply to “all wireless licensees, broadband Personal Communications Service (PCS) licensees, and certain Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) licensees.”

1. The FCC’s basic 911 rules require wireless service providers to transmit all 911 calls to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), regardless of whether the caller subscribes to the provider’s service or not.
2. Phase I Enhanced 911 (E911) rules require wireless service providers to deliver the PSAP with the telephone number of the originator of a wireless 911 call and the location of the cell site or base station transmitting the call. However, a cell site may cover an area as large as 300 to 400 square miles.
3. Phase II E911 rules require wireless service providers to deliver more precise location information to PSAPs; specifically, the latitude and longitude of the caller. This information must be accurate to within 50 to 150 meters depending upon the type of location technology used.

Texas County has implemented Phase II wireless service. Beaver and Cimarron counties are in the process of implementing Phase II wireless service. PTCI is in full compliance with the FCC’s Phase II rules. These rules require 67% accuracy to within 50 meters and 90% accuracy to within 150 meters. Not all wireless providers currently serving the Oklahoma panhandle can provide your Phase II location information to the emergency response center. In fact, one local wireless provider has filed an exclusion for all of Texas County with the FCC because they are unable to provide Phase II location information to the emergency response center.

Seconds can be crucial in an emergency. Ask your wireless provider about the E911 Phase II location information they are able to provide if you have to use your wireless phone in an emergency.

Panhandle Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (PTCI) along with its wholly-owned subsidiary Panhandle Telecommunication Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Guymon, Oklahoma and provides high quality Home, Business and Cellular Telephone service, High Speed Internet service and Digital Television service to customers in the Oklahoma Panhandle area. For more information, visit www.ptci.net.

Capture the Moment!

Calling all photographers – amateurs and pros alike! PTCI would like to use one of your photographs on the cover of the next PTCI Regional Telephone Directory. All you have to do to participate is send us your best photograph, and keep your fingers crossed that we pick your photo as the winner!

Details for entering your photograph:

1)      Only digital files are accepted.

2)      Photos must be a minimum of 300 dpi at 8 ½” x 11” (Photos submitted with lower resolution are not judged)  This means if you were to print your photo on a letter-sized (8 ½ x 11 inch) sheet of paper, the photo itself would fill the page, and be crystal clear.

a.       To obtain a higher resolution, change your camera settings to the largest file size for each photo. This will decrease the number of photos your camera will hold; however, each photo will be a larger size and better quality. Just because your photo looks good on your camera’s display or a computer screen doesn’t necessarily mean it will print clearly.

b.      Do not use a cell phone camera as these files are too small for good print quality.

3)      Photos should NOT be manipulated with a photo editing software such as PhotoShop or Paint.

4)      CD’s and DV’s are accepted.

5)      Photos may be emailed to connie.hawkins@ptci.net or submit using the form at www.ptci.net/directorycontest.

Entries may be mailed to:

            PTCI

            ATTN: Directory Contest

            PO Box 1188

            2222 NW Hwy 64

            Guymon, OK 73942

Deadline: June 29, 2012. All images, whether emailed or sent by regular mail on CD or DVD, must be in the PTCI offices by 5:00 pm on Friday, June 29. Please contact Connie Hawkins with your questions.

Be Prepared When Severe Weather Strikes

We know that spring has arrived by the warm sunny days, blossoms on the trees, and colorful flowers sprouting from the earth. Unfortunately, the arrival of spring can also bring thunderstorms and severe weather. At PTCI, we know all too well how critical communication is when severe weather strikes. 

Here are some tips to help keep you connected during a storm:

• Have at least one simple, corded phone at home. A cordless telephone will not function during a power outage. Wireline home phone service is typically available for hours after commercial power is disrupted, and these phones will continue to operate on auxiliary or battery power.
• Keep your cellular phone and backup batteries charged up if a storm is approaching. Be aware that cell phone towers typically run on commercial and battery power. When that power is interrupted or exhausted, cellular phone service can be disrupted.
• Have a car charger adapter for your cellular phone so you can recharge the phone’s battery from your car.
• Avoid using a wireline telephone during a thunderstorm. This includes cordless telephones that transmit to and from a base unit. Lightning strikes can cause significant injury by traveling through the phone lines into your home.

Because electrical outages are common during storms, we have developed plans which include permanent backup generators in many locations, along with portable generators for emergency power generation in smaller sites. In the event equipment gets damaged, we keep materials on hand so our crews can quickly restore service where needed.    

PTCI is committed to the communities we serve, and we are prepared to respond quickly and strategically to any outage to keep our customers in touch with friends and family.

Reflecting recent Community Service in 2011

Above and Beyond- PTCI Donates to Toys for Tots

Perryton’s 7^th Annual “Toys for Tots” Toy Run was held recently to benefit several organizations such as Toys for Tots, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Perryton Crisis Center, and Area Children and Families. The required entry fee was either a toy or game. Then several people biked to local businesses and collected toys and other donations. Deblen Francis has been involved with this organization for several years. He says, “Being part of this toy run is a fun way to give back to the community. You get to ride for a good cause.” Dianne Felix and Silvia Crawley may not ride with Deblen, but they like the fact that their donations help ensure that Christmas will come to those less fortunate through the spirit of giving.

Reflecting recent Community Service

Above and Beyond-PTCI and Employees Donate to Star Tree

 Even though the economy has required everyone to tighten their budgets a notch, the Christmas Spirit is bustling at PTCI. Employee donations are matched by PTCI for a double whammy of Holiday generosity.

With these funds, PTCI “Elves” shop for toys and other necessities to gift wrap for the lucky Star Tree recipients. The City National Bank has sponsored the Star Tree program for many years. PTCI and its employees have joined together with the CNB to help make Christmas happen for Star Tree children in the community.