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September 29, 2011 — Calling Card Service decommissioned

Dear Member:

Columbus  Telephone Company has provided various calling options under our Columbus Long Distance offerings for many years.  One of these products is the calling cards issued to you.  We appreciate your business with this product, however, our current provider for your calling cards has made the decision to decommission their Calling Card Platform and no longer offer our Calling Card service.  Our calling card service will be decommissioned October 31, 2011.  After that time you will no longer be able to use your Columbus Telephone Co. calling cards.   If you are actively using your calling cards you may want to consider purchasing a pre-paid calling card.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding in these changing times. 

Thank you for your understanding & patronage.

Columbus Telephone Co. Associates
620-429-3132

September 14, 2011 — FUSC INCREASE FOR COLUMBUS TELEPHONE CO. CUSTOMERS

On September 14, 2011 the FCC released a public notice that it proposes to set the quarterly Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) contribution factor from 14.4% to 15.3% for the 4th quarter of 2011. This change will be reflected on Columbus Telephone Co. customers October 2011 billing for telephone service. Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) is a charge imposed by the FCC to help maintain reasonable local telephone service rates in rural areas like Columbus, throughout the United States. Feel free to contact our office 620-429-3132 with any questions.

June 23, 2011 — Columbus Telephone Company to Upgrade Cable Television System

Columbus Telephone Company board of directors is pleased to announce the launch of an upgrade to the current cable television service provided by the local cooperative. The enhanced service will be available to customers within the serving are of Columbus Telephone Company's fiber optic network.

The input provided to us with the survey included in your 2011 telephone directory was invaluable during the development of the cable television system. The system upgrade will include services such as DVR (digital video recorder), additional HD (high definition) channels and an interactive program guide. The cable television system upgrade is estimated to be complete by year end.

"The new cable television system will provide viewing options for the Columbus area all at reasonable rates", said Trish Carroll, Columbus Telephone Company. Details of the new service will be made available throughout the coming months.

Contact:
Trish Carroll
Columbus Telephone Company
trish@columbus-ks.com
224 S. Kansas Ave.
Columbus, KS 66726
620-429-3132

March 23, 2011 — New Channel coming

We are adding WE (Women's Entertainment) to our channel lineup April 1st. Channel is 78.

Internet Access — 9 March 2011

Dear Columbus Telephone Internet Customer:
Columbus Telephone Company has recently updated (as of 1/17/11) our terms and conditions for Internet access in an effort to protect your information and insure a safe Internet experience.  Attached is the updated terms and conditions.  All current Internet customers of Columbus Telephone Company are subject to the new terms and conditions.  We encourage our internet customers to read the enclosed terms & conditions thoroughly. 

We have had several reports of neighbors sharing their internet connection.  Our Terms & Conditions clearly state a subscriber will not resell or otherwise provide access to service offered through Columbus Telephone Co.  Clearly stated, we have the right to terminate a customer’s service if this occurs.

In an effort to help provide our customers safe surfing we have extended our free router encryption through May 1st.  Call our office 429-3132 & we will encrypt your router with a password free of charge.
Please review the information attached.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

Updated terms and conditions

Local Service Rate Increase — 1 March 2011

In 2002 Kansas Legislature passed a law establishing a method to set affordable levels for rural telephone companies' basic local service rates. Under this law rural telephone companies adjust their local service rates periodically to match the resulting target levels. The Kansas Corp. Commission has now determined these rates to be $16.25 for residential & $19.25 for business services. Effective March 1, 2011 our local service rates will be:

Current Residential Rate $15.75       March 01, 2011 Rate $16.25
Current Business Rate $18.75             March 01, 2011 Rate $19.25

We will receive no additional total revenue as a result of these rate changes.  Due to legislative and regulatory actions, our high cost support from the Kansas Universal Service Fund will be reduced to offset the local rate increase.  We remind our customers of the Lifeline Service program offering assistance for residential telephone service to qualifying limited income households. If you have any questions about the Lifeline program and whether you may qualify or about this rate increase, please contact us at 620-429-3132. You may also contact the Kansas Corp. Commission at its toll-free consumer affairs number,1-800-662-0027.

October 21, 2010 — Columbus Weather

For the latest Time & Temperature Forecast, call 429-2222

July 15, 2010 — New Telephone Manager to start October 1st

Columbus Telephone Company Board President, Wes Houser announced today, Patricia Carroll will be replacing retiring General Manager Jim Dahmen. "After a lengthy process of resume collection and interviews, the Board of Directors concluded the best candidate for the job was already working for the member-owned telephone cooperative," Houser said.

Mrs. Carroll began working for the telephone cooperative in June of 1982 and has served as Customer Service Representative, payables clerk, bookkeeper, accountant and Corporate Secretary. "Mrs. Carroll demonstrates the type of associates we like to have at Columbus Telephone Co. She has pursued, with diligence her education and will be receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Fort Hayes State University in December. In addition, she has pursued training in economic development through The University of Northern Iowa," said Houser.

Mrs. Carroll will assume full managerial responsibilites on October 1st.

April 21, 2010 — KUSF Increase June 1, 2010

The KCC staff has filed a request for the KUSF (Kansas Universal Service Fund) per line assessment rate to be increased effective June 1, 2010. The KUSF rate for Columbus Telephone Co. customers will increase per line from $1.39 to $1.51 per month effective. Please note this increase will not result in increased revenue for Columbus Telephone Co.

March 24, 2010 — Bundle Rates available 5/1/2010

Columbus Telephone Co. is now offering bundle pricing to members who subscribe to our TriOptic packages (Telephone, Internet & Cable TV). Check it out!

March 16, 2010 — FUSC rate increase effective April 1, 2010

On March 12th 2010, the FCC released a public notice that it proposes to set the quarterly Federal Universal Service charge (FUSC) contribution factor from 14.1% to 15.3% for the 2nd quarter of 2010. NECA expects to file FCC Tarriff #5 making the rate 15.3% effective April 1, 2010.

This change will be reflected on the April 1st billing received from Columbus Telephone Co. Federal Universal Charge (FUSC) is a charge imposed by the FCC to help maintain reasonable local telephone service rates in rural areas like Columbus, throughout the United States.

January 15, 2010 — Check out our new....

Community Information Channel (CIC) channel 9 on Columbus FiberVision!

Now Business & Residential customers can advertise on our 100% Fiber Network. Check out Channel 9 and call us today for a really great deal! 620-429-3132

March 12, 2008 — Digital TV & FiberVision Information

On February 17, 2009, full power analog broadcasting will end, and analog-only televisions may be unable to display full-power broadcast programming unless the viewer takes action. Sets not connected to a cable service (Columbus FiberVision) may need additional equipment (i.e. converter box) or their TV may need to be replaced. More information may be obtained by going to www.dtv.gov or calling the National Telecom Industry Assoc. at 1-888-388-2009.

March 9, 2008 — Digital TV & FiberVision Information

How do I know if my TV is ready to receive digital or HD channels? IF you have a digital TV, it must be a digital TV with a QAM tuner already installed to receive Columbus FIbervision Digital channels. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAM_tuner The only way to receive digital signals above 100 is to have a TV capable of doing so and subscribing to Columbus Fibervision Basic II package. Note: no converter boxes will be needed for Columbus Fibervision Cable subscribers.

March 4, 2008 — Digital TV & FiberVision Information

We have added new HD channels to our channel lineup. You will find them in the 100+ spots on your digital TV. We invite you to scan your TV, to verify if your set is capable of receiving these channels.

December, 2007 — Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI)

On December 08, 2007, a new policy instituted by the Federal Communication Commission, will go into effect. It will establish new rules on how we as a company are to share information on your telephone account. Here is a brief outline of what you can expect when you call to make changes or request information regarding your account.

If a customer calls the office or comes into the office, the customer must be authenticated. The person in the office or calling about the account must be listed on the account as an authorized contact. If Columbus Telephone is not talking to the customer listed on the account, we cannot discuss the account. If we have an account where the person is deceased, the spouse must change the account information to add the living customer�s name to the account. A password verification will be required before releasing any information to the customer(s) listed on the account.

Thanking you in advance for your understanding as we put you through yet another security process to protect your personal information.

February 22, 2006 — Important! APC (Battery back up unit)

Please make sure you APC (battery back up unit) remains plugged in at all times. Your service will be disrupted if there is no power to this unit. 2 hours of talk time on a corded telephone will be provided during a power outage. The APC will, however, not power your CATV or Internet during outages.