May/June 2012 WK&T Connection

The WK&T

connection May/June 2012

P u b l i s h e d f o r t h e m e m b e r s o f We s t Ke n t u c k y & Te n n e s s e e Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s C o o p e r a t i ve

Broadband making waves High-speed connections help marinas lure tourists

Rave reviews from those

First on Fiber

Connection receives

National Award

Where is WK&T’s

Fiber going next?

Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative Vol. 4, No. 3 • May/June 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 Tony Goodman President Jerry Holloway Vice President Beverly Taylor Secretary/Treasurer Bob Barnett Jeff Davis Algene Goatley Joe Thompson Delbert Newsome Jerry Stephenson Ricky Littleton Send correspondence and address corrections to: WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative P.O. Box 649 237 North 8th Street Mayfield, Kentucky 42066 Telephone: 877-954-8748 www.wktelecom.coop On the Cover: Neal and Charlotte Parker, owners of Lakeview Marina on Kentucky Lake, say a broadband connection from WK&T allows them to reach potential visitors on the Web and offer Wi-Fi to their guests.

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Reaching a major milestone with first members on fiber After all of the planning, design work and construction, the big day is finally here: the first WK&T members are connected to the new fiber optic network.

Not only is this a significant step for our cooperative, it’s a big improvement for the members connected to the service. In this issue of The WK&T Connection, you’ll see how a Graves County man uses his fiber connection to work with colleagues around the world right from his home. You’ll see the difference fiber made for one woman recovering from surgery. And you’ll see how fiber helps one local grandmother stay in sync with her grandkids.

It’s easy for us to get caught up in the bigpicture planning side of the project, so we love to hear these individual stories about our services making life better in West Kentucky and Tennessee. We absolutely realize the impact that fiber will have on our individual members. These first connections are a major milestone for your cooperative. Crews have picked up the pace of installation, allowing many more members to be connected in the coming months.

You may be asking, “When is fiber coming to my community?” On the following page, you’ll find an update on which exchanges will see fiber next. Crews are working in almost every region of our service area. If your community is not listed, do not worry. Remember, this is a relatively short project, scheduled to be finished before the end of 2014. That means that very soon everyone will have the opportunity to connect to our fiber network.

While we’re talking about milestones, I am also proud to inform you that in May The WK&T Connection magazine was honored with a national TeleChoice Award as the best telco member newsletter in its category. See

Page 3 for more information on the magazine award.

Elsewhere, on Page 6 we take a look at how marinas on Kentucky Lake and other tourism-related businesses are using broadband Internet to bring visitors to our area.

On the back page is a reminder of our upcoming annual meeting. I hope to see you there. The annual meeting is an important part of being a cooperative, but it should also be a fun time with food and entertainment.

I hope you enjoy reading this publication.

Communicating with our members is part of our mission, and we will continue to do so — at an award-winning level. After all, that is the same commitment to excellence that we bring to delivering you the best in telephone, digital TV, broadband Internet and security services.

Trevor Bonnstetter is CEO of WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

Connection magazine

receives national award In May, The WK&T Connection received a TeleChoice Award as the nation’s best member newsletter in its category.

The TeleChoice Awards are given by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association as part of their goal to “honor excellence in independent telco public relations and marketing.” The contest is open to all NTCA members, which puts our magazine up against many other publications around the country.

Marketing manager Michael Lee says he is proud of the honor, but more proud that members are getting a quality product. “WK&T works hard to be one of the leaders in our industry,” he says. “That means a commitment to excellence whether we’re talking about customer service, technology or the member magazine.” 

Joey Jones, le ft, Skomp of Nav and supervisor Matt -T Folsomdale as ech Drilling bore conduit in part of the fib er installation .

WK&T Marketing Manager Michael Lee says the magazine is an important tool for keeping members informed about the progress of their cooperative.

Annual Meeting is July 21 WK&T’s Annual Meeting on July 21 will feature fun for the whole family.

This year’s meeting at Graves County High School will feature a fish dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., along with games for children, live entertainment and giveaways. During the business meeting at 7 p.m. members will get an update on the fiber project and other cooperative business. We hope to see you there!

What: WK&T Annual Meeting When: Saturday, July 21; Doors open at 4:30 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m.

Where: Graves County High School, 1107 West Housman Street Who: All WK&T Members RSVP: Members must RSVP for the fish dinner

Fiber crews busy across region Fiber crews are working in nearly every region of the service area in their ongoing effort to connect all WK&T members to the new network.

The Fancy Farm exchange (prefix 623) and the New Hope area are the farthest along, with some customers already connected (see Pages 4 and 5). Construction is underway in Wingo (376), Cunningham (642), Farmington (345), Folsomdale (856) and Sedalia (328). We will begin work shortly in the Lowes area (674).

In Tennessee, crews will soon begin installing service for members in the eastern region of the Puryear exchange (247), Mason-Hall (673) and Cottage Grove (782). Crews are almost finished installing fiber in the Yorkville (643) and Trimble (297) exchanges.

Remember, only those who currently have a WK&T broadband connection will get the fiber service, but everyone — even members with phone service only — will have a buried fiber line installed on their property. In the future, WK&T plans to switch all services, including telephone, to fiber.  May/June 2012 |

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Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

First on fiber:

‘Fiber opens doors’ say first WK&T members connected to fiber

F

or Gloria Hearn, fiber optics makes recovery from surgery a little easier.

For Brannon Thompson, fiber allows him to video chat with colleagues in India without being affected by his sons’ video games or his wife’s streaming music.

And for Jeanette Mills, a fiber connection helps her stay one cool grandma.

FIBER ENVY — Jeanette Mills says her grandkids are jealous that she had a fiber connection before they did.

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In May, WK&T began cutting a small fraction of its members over to new fiber connections. Those on the new network are already finding plenty of new uses for the ultra-fast connections. “You can do so many things on the Internet now that you couldn’t do before,” says Mills.

CEO Trevor Bonnstetter says these first few connections mark a major milestone for WK&T. “It’s both exciting and rewarding to see the first of our members enjoying the lightning speeds of the fiber network that we’ve been planning and working on for the past three years,” he says. “We’re working hard to get all of our members connected to fiber. I think it’s evident from the stories of these first customers that fiber is definitely worth the wait.”

Mills, who retired from FNB Bank in Mayfield, says she primarily uses the Internet for banking, insurance, searches and email.

While she noticed immediately that photos in her email downloaded more quickly, she didn’t notice the biggest improvement until her grandkids came over with their game system. “They were like, ‘Oh my gosh grandma, this is fast!’” the Fancy Farm resident says.

“They’re jealous that I have the really highspeed Internet.”

Hearn, who lives between Mayfield and Fancy Farm, has also enjoyed her new connection. She underwent surgery about the time WK&T crews connected her home. “It’s just perfect,” she says. Doctors told her to rest and stay off her feet, so she has watched plenty of Netflix and Amazon movies on her Roku streaming media player. With her old connection, streaming movies was occasionally too much for the connection and she’d have to restart the box and her router when the picture would freeze. Since connecting to the fiber network and renting a new router from WK&T, that hasn’t been an issue.

“I haven’t had to get up and reboot once,” she says. “That’s what I love best about the new router and fiber optics.”

But streaming movies is only part of what the Thompson family demand of their connection. Brannon Thompson, a chemical engineer with GE, counts at least 16 con-

WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

nected devices that the family uses regularly, from phones to computers to game systems.

Thompson works from home on a secured virtual private network that runs over the connection. During a normal workday he shares large files among several colleagues, holds virtual meetings and constantly chats about projects with coworkers in Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania and even overseas. “I network with people literally all over the world,” he says.

Even with a fast DSL connection, the home network reached its limit if his wife was also working from home or if one of their sons wanted to stream a movie or play games online. After a few weeks with a 15 Mbps fiber connection, they’ve yet to find that limit no matter how hard they try. “I don’t know if we’ve ever topped it out,” Thompson says.

“One of the boys can be playing a game, the other is streaming Netflix and I can be in here working. It’s not crowded anymore.”

What’s amazing, he says, is that he’s got such a speedy connection in the middle of rolling green hills in Graves County. You can barely see another house from his property.

He credits WK&T for offering the connection that allows his family to stay in a place they love. “As the metro areas got faster connections, those of us in rural areas wouldn’t have been able to keep up,” he says. “We would have had to move somewhere with a faster connection.”

And with fiber, Thompson says, the connection can be increased to even faster speeds for whatever needs come next. “As the infrastructure continues to improve we have more and more options,” he says. “With the fiber, I’ve got options. I can keep going up and up and up.”

Bonnstetter says stories like these are exactly why WK&T is investing in a fiber network. “We’re so proud to be able to offer top-of-the-line Internet connections to our members,” he says. “For some members it means quick, convenient downloads — but for others it truly opens doors to all sorts of possibilities.” 

STREAM ON — Gloria Hearn says the new fiber connection allows her to quickly and easily watch streaming movies from Netflix and Amazon.

FIBER FAMILY — Brannon Thompson says fiber allows his family, including Dylan, 5, and Logan, 8, to use their favorite connected devices at the same time.

May/June 2012 |

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Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

Bass, bream & broadband:

CONNECTION WITH A VIEW — ­­ Lakeview Marina in New Concord is able to offer Wi-Fi to guests because of WK&T.

WK&T service helps local marinas, tourist spots

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or decades, fishermen visiting Kentucky Lake have tried different lures, bait and techniques to help them snag some of the local bass, crappie and bream.

Now, thanks to WK&T, some of the anglers have a new tool in their pursuit. Fishing cabins, marinas and campgrounds on the west side of the lake have started offering high-speed Wi-Fi to visitors, which the anglers use to check weather, fishing reports, maps and lake levels. “The fishermen can get on there and see what tomorrow’s going to bring,” says Charlotte Parker, coowner of Lakeview Marina Resort in New Concord. “They’re really happy to have that and be able to get online.”

But while broadband can help fishermen find fish, it can also help tourism-related businesses like the marina reel in visitors they would have had trouble reaching without a high-speed connection to the world. “It’s huge for us,” says Erin Carrico, executive director of the Murray Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The Internet is our best tool.”

Hotels, attractions and restaurants use broadband to promote their offerings to visitors of all ages, Carrico says. “Most people assume it’s just the younger generation but that’s not true,” she explains. “Those quilt ladies, don’t let them fool you — most of them are pretty tech savvy.”

At Lakeview Marina, Parker and her husband Neal upload photos of cabins to their website and post fishing reports on Facebook. They do it to reach their far-flung customers, 75 percent of whom come from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Missouri. “We don’t even have brochures anymore because we direct them to the website,” Parker says. “I have no idea how we would work without a high-speed connection. For one thing it would cost me a lot in postage.”

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BAIT AND BROADBAND — Neal and Charlotte Parker say they can’t imagine working without a high-speed connection.

Ranell Swygart, who runs Missing Hills Resort on the lake, uses WK&T’s network to maintain her website and even order parts for customers’ boats that need repair. “That’s the way most people find the place,” she says.

Even in rural areas like Western Kentucky, tourism is an important part of the local economy even if it’s not as obvious as it is in bigger cities. “Just because you’re a smaller town doesn’t mean that tourism isn’t important,” Carrico says. 

WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

Nutty, creamy, cheesy dishes WK&T employees share their favorite recipes Ranch Cheese Ball

Submitted by: Amanda England (Account Representative)

2 packages cream cheese (softened)

1 package dry ranch mix

1 package shredded cheese (mild)

1 package bacon bits (real) Mix all ingredients well. Let mixture sit overnight in refrigerator under plastic wrap. Serve with crackers or chips the next day.

Banana Nut Cake

Submitted by: Ellen K. Thomas (Director of Human Resources)

1 yellow cake mix 4 eggs 1/2 cup oil

1 cup pecans

1 package instant banana pudding

1 package frosting of your choice Mix all ingredients well. Place mixture in baking dish. Bake at 350째 for 30 minutes.

After baking, add frosting and chopped nuts to the top of the cake.

Sour Cream Potato Casserole Submitted by: Lori Dobson (Accounting Department)

4 cups instant mashed potatoes 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

4 cups hot water

1 cup milk

6 tablespoons butter 1-3/4 cups sour cream

6 ounces cream cheese paprika

2 tablespoons additional butter Stir potatoes, water, milk, butter (6 tablespoons) and salt in large microwaveable bowl until moistened. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and microwave for 6 to 7 minutes on high until bubbly. Blend with electric mixer until smooth. Add sour cream and softened cream cheese. Mix again until smooth. Turn into greased 2-1/2 quart casserole dish. Dot with paprika and additional butter (2 tablespoons). Bake uncovered at 350째 for 30 minutes. Serves 8 to 10. ent)

Want to be a featured cook? with three to four recipes, Send your name, address and phone number, along free to tie recipes to a specific and you could be chosen as a featured cook. Feel to: holiday, event or theme. Send your information

WK&T Attn: Michael Lee P.O. Box 649 Mayfield, Kentucky 42066

Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Vegetables Submitted by: Chris Adams (Media Technician)

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 large red bell peppers, diced

2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths

2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound raw shrimp, (26-30 per pound), peeled and deveined

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 teaspoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons lemon juice parsley for garnish (optional) Directions: 1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, asparagus, lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to soften, about 6 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl; cover to keep warm.

2. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp and cook, stirring for 1 minute.

Whisk broth and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth and add to the pan along with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the shrimp are pink and just cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat.

Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve the shrimp and sauce over the vegetables.

or email to: mlee@wk.net

May/June 2012 |

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

2012 Annual Meeting Saturday, July 21, 2012 Graves County High School 1107 West Housman Street Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Business Meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Fun for the whole family! fish dinner served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Kids Zone with inflatables and games Live entertainment Product Information booths Prizes and giveaways