Get the Right Electronics, Right Here at Alpine Communications

Help make your family vacation more comfortable, and connected, with gadgets and services from the Alpine Communications. Our Retail Center in Elkader is stocked with carefully picked products
and personal service you won't find in the big-box stores. The Retail Center is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm for your convenience. Check out the summer vacation essentials that you shouldn’t leave home without:

• Kingston 2GB SD Cards - $7.95
• Belkin iPod Rock Star Headphone Splitter - $16.95
  Connect up to five headphones, and your iPod, to start sharing.
• Samsung 10.1" Black Netbook with Wi-Fi - $439.95
  Netbooks gives you the power to accomplish more wherever you are. The 6 cell lithium ion battery lasts for up to 9.5 hours, so you'll have more time to shop online, surf the web and chat with friends.
• Zap Portable AC/ DC Chargers - Starting at $15.95
  Powers and chargers Blackberry, cell phones, iPhone, iPods
• TuneBuds Earphones - $11.95
• Flip Video Ultra Camcorder  - $149.95
  The Flip Ultra camcorder makes it easier than ever to shoot
  and share video. With 120 minutes of record time,
  you'll never miss another minute again. And because
  of Ultra's pocket-sized portability, you'll truly be
  able to capture video anytime, anywhere. HD model
  available for $199.95. 
• Portable DVD Players - We can special order the
  right portable DVD player and accessories.
• Voice Mail - When you are on vacation, you’ll always
  get your messages with Voice Mail.
• Find Me - Link your home, office, and wireless
  phone so callers can reach you no matter where you
  are. A call to your home can ring up to five different
  telephone numbers all at the same time or in any
  order you decide.

Don't forget to print your vacation memories instantly
at the Alpine Digital Photo Center . We use quality Fuji processing.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE this summer and save time with these convenient services from Alpine Communications.

Cut down on paperwork and save on postage by managing and paying your Alpine bill online. With eBill, you can view electronic versions of your current and past statements anytime, check your payment history, and see service details. Then instantly pay your Alpine bill online using the bank account or credit card you designate. No more looking for a stamp or worrying about payments arriving late.

Visit ebill.alpinecom.net for instant access.

WIRELESS HOME NETWORKING

WEB MAIL

ONLINE DATA BACKUP

Updating the last mile in America's telecommunications networks with high-bandwidth, direct fiber optic connections to homes and businesses will deliver substantial environmental benefits in the short term - according to a study released by the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Commissioned by the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council, the study looked at the environmental costs of running fiber optic cables all the way to the subscriber premises, and balanced them out with the sustainability benefits that faster, next-generation connections will bring - particularly with regard to gasoline saved when more people are able to use those connections to work from home.

"This conservative estimate from a widely respected firm says essentially that supercharging  bandwidth in American homes with FTTH, by enabling more telecommuting, is an environmentally sustainable activity that goes 'green-positive' in six years," said Joe Savage, President of the FTTH Council. "For telecom providers, it means that upgrading to fiber to the home is not only a good business proposition, but it is also a good way to go green."

Learn more about Alpine Communications' Fiber To The Home Network - The Fusion Network

Five green things you can do today

1. Pay your bills online. You not only save paper by not writing checks and mailing envelopes, but you also reduce fuel consumption by the trucks and planes that transport the checks. Sign up for Alpine eBill today!
2. Adjust your thermostats. This applies to heating and air conditioning units as well as water heaters.
3. Change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use one-quarter the electricity of regular light bulbs and last several years longer.
4. Buy locally grown food. Whenever possible, reduce the amount of fossil fuels it takes to get your food from the farm to your table.
5. Start a carpool. Cut down on fuel emissions and save yourself and a few other people a lot of money on gas.

Did you know that if you are having phone or internet trouble when our office isn't open we can still help you?  If your phone isn't working at night or on the weekend, our on-call technician can help you.  Just call our office at 245-4000 or 800-635-1059, then press 2 when you reach the recording, and leave a message.  Our on call technician will call you back shortly to troubleshoot your issue before an on-site visit.

If you are having internet trouble, we have two numbers that can help you after hours.  If you are having e-mail trouble or trouble connecting to the internet, you can call Internet Technical Support at 1-888-264-2908 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you have SecureIT anti-virus protection you suspect your computer is infected, you can reach SecureIT support at     1-877-373-3320, find answers in the support forum, or chat live with a support rep here.

The Alpine Communications crew makes every effort to stay up to date on the latest technology so we can better assist our customers.  Recently a couple employees have installed Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) was release in March of 2009.  It has had mixed reviews.

Our finance department installed IE8 and has encountered many issues with third party secure sites, such as government filing websites and online banking. In most instances, simply uninstalling the software and going back to the old version would take care of this. However, Internet Explorer 8 leaves a portion of the software behind.  Unfortunately this portion continues to cause issues with the secure third party sites.  Even after restoring to Internet Explorer 7, this computer is still not able to access those websites.

Our network technician, Jim Springsteen, installed IE8 on his Windows XP machine. When asked how he likes the new version, Jim said he doesn’t use IE8 much and hasn’t had any issues with it.  Jim prefers  Mozilla FireFox as his Web browser of choice.

You will find many technology forums giving the same advice on Internet Explorer 8 issues.  You might want to wait a while before downloading the new version of Internet Explorer. As with any new software releases, it can take time to find and fix the bugs.

Want to know which version of Internet Explorer you are using? Follow these steps:

• Click on the Help menu on the Menu Bar
• Choose About Internet Explorer
• Anew window will open giving you the version you are currently running.

Recent issue with Internet Explorer 7
Our staff has recently encountered an issue with Internet Explorer 7.  IE7 has been increasingly closing down and sometimes automatically restarting. This problem has been occurring not only in the office, but also on employee’s personal computers. We took the time to work with Security Coverage to determine how to help eliminate this problem. Internet Explorer settings were reset which deletes all temporary files, disables browser add-ons, and resets all the changes settings.

After restoring these settings Internet Explorer seems to be more stable and we have not encountered the browser shut downs like before the restoration.  Click here to see how to reset Internet Explorer settings to default. 

Lori Keppler, Alpine Customer Service Manager

Become a Fan of Alpine Communications' Facebook page before August 30, 2009 and earn a chance to win six months of Alpine High Speed Internet Gold. Alpine Facebook Fans will have access to special coupons and contests, plus exclusive content.

Five Simple Steps to Register

1. To be eligible, you must be an Alpine Communications customer.
2. Visit Alpine Communications' Facebook Fan page.
3. Become a Fan (which requires that you have a Facebook account).
4. And your name will be entered into a random drawing for six months of Alpine High Speed Internet Gold.
5. Stay tuned. We will post the giveaway winner as a wall update after August 30th.

Don't miss out – become a Fan! Already an Alpine Facebook Fan? We appreciate your enthusiasm and will add your name to the giveaway automatically. However, the rules will apply.

The Rules
The Alpine Facebook Fan Giveaway is open to Alpine Communications telephone, Internet, and PC security customers, 13 years or older at the time of entry. Please see Facebook's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities for registry and account security rules. Employees of Alpine Communications, and the immediate family members of, and any persons domiciled with such employees, are not eligible. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., C.S.T. on August 30, 2009 to be eligible for the giveaway. Only one entry per customer accepted. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning are dependent on the number of eligible entries submitted that day. This giveaway has no cash value and is not redeemable for cash. Alpine Communications reserves the right to terminate, suspend or modify the giveaway, in its sole discretion for any reason.

Studies show landlines are the preferred choice over cellular phones in terms of voice quality, reliability and consistency of service.

Need 911? Help Finds You Faster with a Landline

A call to 9-1-1 that's placed from a non-cordless, landline phone provides potentially lifesaving benefits by providing reliability and accurate emergency response information for at-home emergency calls. With a landline phone, an emergency dispatch center in an enhanced 9-1-1 service area will automatically receive your location - saving time and sometimes lives. And having a non-cordless phone is essential to keep you connected during power outages.

Landlines are Secure

Never use your wireless phone to give out credit card or other critical data. (No kidding, this is serious business!) Did you  know that some cellular phones use radio frequencies, which can be easily intercepted? Eavesdroppers use simple devices, (e.g., scanners or other cell phones) to intercept the analog radio waves that carry wireless calls. Then, they listen to your private conversations, write down your credit card  information, and find out when you'll be away to plan their evil deeds.

Your Number is in the Book

Without a landline, your telephone number will not appear in area telephone books, many online directories, and  iformation. Cellular companies do not publish telephone numbers in  directories. Your friends, family, business associates, and the community would not know how to reach you without your number listed where most people go to first to call people, the phone book.

It's the most reliable connection to 911. For your safety, is going without a landline worth the risk? Call Alpine Communications today and let us help you see if we can save you money with a bundle or to apply for Lifeline assistance for i ncome-eligible individuals .

Alpine Communications' business office will be closed Friday,  July 3rd in observance of Independence Day.

For Emergency Telephone Troubles - Call Alpine at (563) 245-4000 or  1-800-635-1059 and leave a message with a description of the problem. An Alpine Technician is on call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and will be paged.

For Internet Troubles - Call Alpine Internet Technical Support at 1-888-264-2908. Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For SecureIT services or Online Backup Troubles - Call SecurityCoverage Technical Support at 1-877-373-3320. Support and assisted installation for SecureIT and SecureIT Plus is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Independence Day Links

• Read and view the Declaration of Independece from the National Archives
• Fun Facts about the 4th of July from the US Census Bureau
• Flag Facts - Learn more about the history of our flag

If an email offer seems too good to be true, it probably is a scam.  Each day Alpine Communications customer service and technical support reps field calls and emails from customers about email scams.  FoxNews.com just released an article today titled, "Nine Nasty Online Scams You Need to Be Aware Of".   You may have heard of some of these scams, others might be new to you.  Please click through the links to read the article in full.

1. Asian Invasion
2. Mystery Shopping Scam
3. Hit Man Scam
4. Million Dollar Scam
5. Grandparents Scam
6. Military Wheels
7. Jury Scam
8. Border Bust
9. FBI Scams

Do not become a victim of fraud, protect your computer from malicious viruses and spyware with SecureIT services from Alpine Communications. 

Alpine Communications customers recently cutover to the Fusion Network were surveyed gave a 90% positive satisfaction rating for the handling of the repair/trouble issues, installation of Alpine's fiber service , and overall satisfaction with Alpine's fiber optic service.

Put your fiber-fast Fusion Internet service to the test.

• Download your favorite TV shows at www.hulu.com
• Connect with friends and family at facebook.com
• Download Paul Blart: Mall Cop in less than an hour from www.itunes.com

Alpine Communications' fiber to the home network was the first in Iowa, and one of the first in the nation, to be certified by the FTTH Council.  Call Alpine today at 245-4000 to find out how you can benefit from a Fusion Network fiber optic connection.

The goal of the staff at Alpine Communications is to help our customers customers communicate through the effective use of technology.  Kiesling Associates, Alpine's auditing firm, recently shared the following tips for effective communications on the job. If you find yourself struggling with juggling emails, phone calls, and typical everyday tasks, the following are some suggestions may be helpful to you. 

• Batch calls and e-mails, rather than use your phone and e-mail randomly.
• Schedule a time to make calls and check and respond to e-mail (e.g., first thing in the morning, just before or after lunch, and again at the end of the day).
• Prioritize calls and e-mail so that you have the information or get the action you need when you need it.
• Think about what you're going to say or write so that you don't forget pertinent details or special requests.
• Say what you need to say on the phone distinctly and slowly (especially when figures are involved). No eating, drinking, or chewing on the phone, please!
• Write e-mail carefully, organizing your thoughts in a logical sequence and using short, clearly worded sentences.
• Be ready to hold a two-way conversation on the phone should voice mail not pick up. Be cordial but businesslike to keep the call brief. For e-mail, be sure to indicate whether a reply is necessary and what information you need in reply. As with the telephone, be cordial but businesslike and keep your e-mails brief and to the point.

"What is an icon?", is a common question for beginning computer uses. An icon is a small picture that symbolizes a program, file or command on your computer.

There are icons for the type of files located on your computer such as:
Microsoft Word  

Microsoft Excel 

Microsoft Outlook

Adobe PDF 

These small pictures designate which program is needed to open the file.
If you see a generic icon like thisyou may need to install the specific software needed to open and edit that file.

Along with icons for specific programs, there are icons for locations on your computer such as:

Folder

My Computer 

Recycle Bin 

Your computer has a default (what comes on every computer) set of icons.  Check out Alpine Communication's list of MindLeaders online training courses for self-paced learning or attend one of our free Internet workshops held at our business office in Elkader.

It may be hard to believe, but many people in the United States do not have phone service in their homes. Often this is because they do not have the money to pay for the initial installation or to keep up with monthly bills.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, as of July 2006, approximately 6.3 million households across the country - or 5.4 percent of the entire U.S. population - did not have telephones.

So while most Americans are using their phone lines to connect to the Internet and order items such as books, CDs, and even pizzas, some residents do not even have the ability to call their family, their next-door neighbor, or 911.

But federal and state governments are working together with telephone companies to promote programs aimed at helping eligible customers get and keep phone service in their homes with Lifeline and Link-Up discounts.

The FCC and its state regulatory counterparts, represented by a national trade association, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, have been working with the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates on a national educational campaign, the "Lifeline Across America" outreach effort, to promote Lifeline and Link-Up telephone assistance programs for income-eligible households. The Link-Up program provides a $22.50 discount on new telephone service connection charges, while the Lifeline assistance program offers eligible customers a credit of $8.25 monthly phone bills.

Qualification

Lifeline can only be used for the primary telephone line in a household and the name on the phone bill must match the name of the household member participating in the eligible program with the exception of the National School Lunch free Program.

Eligibility is based on participation of the following programs:

• Federal Public Housing Assistance
• Food Stamps
• Medicaid
• Low Income home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• National School Lunch (Free program only)
• Temporary assistance for Needy Families (ANF)

Eligibility is also based on income. If the total household income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines you qualify for Lifeline. The Federal Poverty Guidelines can be viewed here.   

More information about applying for these discounts can be viewed here .  Call Alpine Communcations at 245-4000 or download a  copy of the application from the Alpine Communications' website.

Lori Keppler, Alpine Customer Service Manager

Alpine customers recently cutover to the Fusion Network were surveyed gave a 90% positive satisfaction rating for the handling of the repair/trouble issues, installation of Alpine's fiber service, and overall satisfaction with Alpine's fiber optic service.

Put your fiber-fast Fusion Internet service to the test. 

• Download your favorite TV shows at www.hulu.com
• Connect with friends and family at www.facebook.com
• Download Paul Blart: Mall Cop in less than an hour from www.itunes.com

Spam is a common concern and annoyance for many Internet users.  Have you noticed your spam emails increasing lately?  If so, you are not alone.  The Alpine staff gets emails from customers weekly asking us to verify if an email they received is legitimate or not - and for the most part - the emails in question are spam or phishing attempts.  A recent study by The Radicati Group, Inc. of Palo Alto, CA uncovered some insightful statistics regarding spam.

• In 2009, about 81% of all email traffic is spam. 
• A typical 1,000-user organization can spend upwards of $1.8 million a year to manage spam.
• Spam costs businesses $20.5 billion annually in decreased productivity as well as in technical expenses.

What can you do to prevent or minimize the amount of spam that arrives in your Inbox?  Red Earth Software published a whitepaper that discusses how to distinguish spam from legitimate messages by analyzing the messages headers and content.  The most important thing you should know is spam should be deleted immediately and you should never send a reply to a spam mail. This will just confirm that the email address is 'live' and will enable the spammers to sell the email address to other companies for further abuse.

This advise will likely reduce the amount of spam being delivered to your Inbox, but won't completely end these pesky messages all together.  Savvy users can adjust their personal  Alpine email spam settings. View the spam setting customization instructions here. 

Please contact Alpine Communications if you need assistance with your email or Internet needs.

Jim Springsteen, Alpine Network Administrator

Based on current data, most teens require 9 hours of sleep per night, and adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep.  However, most of us are not getting the sleep we need. 

Teens and Adolescents - Sleepy "Gen Y"
High-tech "sleep stealers" such as televisions, computers, cell phones and MP3 players not only cut into sleep time, but they often make their user feel active and alert when they're used near bedtime and/or in the bedroom. For many adolescents, technology is encroaching on a good night's sleep. More things are competing for their time, and in a high-tech, 24/7 world, sending instant messages to friends, talking on the phone, or surfing the Internet can be inviting outlets for teens when the day has been hectic and filled with stressors.

Internet Chat Rooms and Sleep
The Internet and chat rooms can also become a serious problem. The Internet is on 24 hours a day, giving people endless activities and entertainment long after bedtime.

Chat rooms can be found on any topic imaginable, and staying up "talking" can be addictive for some. Be careful to monitor your computer habits, though, as they can induce a waking stupor that makes it difficult to fall asleep when you finally log off.

Sleep and the Work Place

The paper Waking Up to the Insomnia Crisis: How Insomnia is Costing America More Than $42 Billion a Year and What We Can Do About It  suggests that while up to 70 million Americans might suffer from some form of insomnia, a high number of those cases are undiagnosed and untreated, even as the condition becomes a mounting financial burden on America's employers and the health care system.

The economic and social impact of insomnia is significant, according to the researchers:

• Employees with insomnia miss work twice as much as those who do not suffer from the condition.
• Insomnia costs employers about 4.4 days of wages per untreated individual over a six-month period, not including money spent on indirect costs, such as lost productivity and costs to treat the medical consequences of insomnia.

What can you do to promote healthy sleeping habits?  Keep "sleep stealers" out of the bedroom, so put the TV and computer in a common room instead of your teen's bedroom.  Consider establishing a bedtime routine that includes non-stimulating activities such as reading in a sleep-conducive environment. 

Visit Sleeping Smart from the National Sleep Foundation to get the facts about insomnia and advise for getting a good night's sleep.

With summer storms in full swing, Alpine Communications would like to remind you that lightning strikes can travel through the telephone line and electric energy can possibly be transferred. This can affect any item which may be plugged into a telephone jack. Please keep in mind these simple steps of what to do before, during, and after a storm.

Before: Unplug your electronic equipment if possible. Surge protectors cannot guarantee 100% protection.

During: Stay off the telephone unless you need to make an emergency call. Lightning does strike telephone lines and there is a chance you could be hurt if you are on the phone.

After: If you have no dial tone, please check each device in your home that is plugged into a jack. Unplug each device, one at a time, checking each time for dial tone. If you still do not have dial tone, report your trouble to our service department.

I recently read Cobank's interview with Iowa Senator Harkin concerning his views of the economy and ruralAmerica. The following question and answer caused me to pause and think about the investments and philosophy Alpine Communications has toward economic development regarding rural America.

OUTLOOK: What were the most important parts of the stimulus package for our rural communities?

Sen. Harkin: There were a number of investments in the stimulus package that were critical to helping rural communities. The act provided funding to develop vital community facilities in rural areas such as hospitals, health care clinics, water and wastewater systems and day care and elderly care facilities through the USDA Community Facility Program. To improve, develop, or finance business and industries that will provide jobs in rural communities, funding was provided for the USDA Business and Industry Program. We were able to provide additional funding for the Farm Service Agency loan programs to help farmers and ranchers with farm ownership and operating assistance.

 

I especially believe the $7.2 billion for the broadband program - of which $2.5 billion will be used for the Rural Utilities Service program at USDA - is vital to ensuring that rural communities have access to high-speed broadband service, which is important to economic growth, jobs, education and health care. 

Since 2006, Alpine has invested approximately $15 million in telecommunications infrastructure in Clayton and Fayette counties without any need for a stimulus package. These investments were made to improve the economic opportunities for both Alpine and our customers. The most recent Fiber to the Home investment in Elkader and Guttenberg has provided numerous opportunities for those communities. Our broadband network has allowed entrepreneurs to expand businesses, reduce costs and communicate with customers and vendors worldwide. Other customers have used the broadband network for education and medical reasons.

We will continue to monitor the stimulus plan and look for opportunities to aid our customers in all markets we serve. There are many organizations vying for the stimulus money from Google to Verizon and Comcast to Housing Development Groups.  In addition, we participate in and monitor all activities at the Iowa Utilities Board, State and Federal Governments to ensure our customers receive a level of service better (or at least equal to) than individuals and businesses in large metropolitan markets. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at 245-4000. 

Chris Hopp, General Manager/COO

Talk about a surprising commute home!  Craig, Alpine Communications combination tech, spotted "the biggest bear he's ever seen" on his way home today.  At approximately 4:45 p.m. Craig spotted the bear on HWY 56 near Cannon Road .  Please see the pictures below.

Update 6/10/09 - More pictures have been added to Alpine's Facebook Fan Page.  The bear was spotted today near the Edgewood golf course. 

Currently, many over-the-air stations are broadcasting in both analog and digital TV formats. By June 12, 2009, all full-power TV stations will broadcast only in digital. The digital television (DTV) transition will affect those who watch free over-the-air television (through a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears"). If you watch over-the-air programs on an analog TV, you must take action now.

During the FCC's most recent open meeting, which took place last week, the focus was on the DTV transition . Despite expansive education programs, the commission remains concerned that there will be problems associated with the transition. Some of the problems are: 

a. Procrastinators who are not yet ready

b. Viewers who have had trouble due to language or financial barriers

c. Reception problems due to propagation techniques of DTV signals

d. Extreme weather conditions may affect signal quality

e. Unlicensed wireless devices may affect signal quality

The FCC has provided some FAQ's that address the myths associated with the DTV transition. You can take a quiz to find out if you are prepared for the DTV transition, find out if your TV is a digital TV, and learn the benefits of DTV.

Alpine has just released the dates for Facebook and Twitter workshops. 

• Monday, June 29th at 6:00 p.m. - Creating a Facebook Page  - Facebook is the Internet's fastest growing social networking website for people 25 and over.  Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people.  The workshop will teach you how to use the many features of Facebook such as creating a profile, uploading photos, videos, instant messaging, and more.  
• Monday, July 13th at 6:00 p.m. - Twitter for Beginners- Learn about the social media phenomenom,Twitter. Beginners will learn how to create an account, how to "tweet", Twitter lingo, and applications for business and personal use.

Workshops will be held in our conference facility at the Alpine Communications Business Office in Elkader and are free to all Alpine Internet customers, $20.00 for non-Alpine Internet customers. Class size is limited, so early registration is suggested. Call 245-4000 to register or visit the Contact Us page.

If you would like to learn about a topic that is not listed, we also offer over 800 quality self-paced training courses via the Web. Visit the MindLeaders eLearning page for a full listing of courses .

As an Internet Service Provider, we receive questions from our customers about the legitimacy of emails that seem too good to be true.  A recent newsletter article from Central State Bank provides great tips to help you determie if someone is attempting to scam you for money.  Here is an excerpt from their newsletter:

If you can answer "yes" to anyone of the following questions, you could be a victim of fraud or about to be scammed!

1.        Are you trying to cash or deposit a check from an item you sold on the Internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?

o        Is the amount of the check more than the item's selling price?

o        Did you receive the check via an overnight delivery service?

o        Is the check connected to communicating with someone by email?

o        Is the check drawn on a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?

2.        Have you been informed that you were the winner of  a lottery such as Canadian, Australian, El Gordo, or El Mundo, that you did not enter?

3.        Have you been instructed to either "WIRE", "SEND", or "SHIP" money as soon as possible, to a large U.S. city or to another country such as Canada, England, or Nigeria?

4.        Have you been asked to pay money to receive a deposit from another country such as Canada, England, or Nigeria?

5.        Are you receiving pay or commission for facilitating money transfers through your account?

6.        Did you respond to an email requesting you to "CONFIRM", "UPDATE", or "PROVIDE" your account information?

For more information on known forms of fraud, you can visit the FBI website at http://www.fbi.gov/majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.htm

Many of you have probably received an e-mail saying that it is from United Parcel Service of America, telling you that they were unable to deliver a package you sent and asking you to print out a copy of the attached invoice.  It may look like this:

If you own a crock pot and are looking for ways to make your summertime meals simple (and keep the house cool), here are some links to easy and delicious dishes.  This is just one way to use your way to use your Alpine Internet connection . 

Crock Pot - Beef 
All Day Crock Pot Beef
Beef and Pasta Casserole
Beef Diablo
Beef Fajitas
Beef Tips
Beer Braised Beef in Crock Pot
Burritos Crock Pot Style
California Tamale Pie
Cattleman's Beef and Beans
Cheeseburger Sandwiches
Cheesy Meat Loaf
Chili Beer Brisket of Beef
Classic Swiss Steak
Complete Crock Pot Dinner
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Country Swiss Steak
Cowboy Casserole
Cranberry Pork Roast
Crock Pot Beef Burgundy
Crock Pot Beef 'n Peppers
Crock Pot Beef with Mushrooms
Crock Pot Beef Roast
Crock Pot Cabbage Rolls
Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
Crock Pot Delight
Crock Pot Easy Swiss Steak
Crock Pot Enchiladas
Crock Pot Fajitas
Crock Pot Fajitas II
Crock Pot Italian Beef
Crock Pot Meatballs
Crock Pot Rump Roast
Crock Pot Sauerbraten
Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce
Crock Pot Swiss Steak
Crock Pot Taco Casserole
Fiesta Tamale Pie
Glazed Corned Beef
Glazed Corned Beef #2
Harvest Dinner
Harvest Pot Roast with Tomato-Wine Sauce
Hot-and-Spicy Sloppy Joes
Lean Crock Pot Beans
Pot Roast Dinner
Pot Roast with Noodles
Reuben Casserole
Roast with Veggies
Sage Pot Roast
Salsa Swiss Steak
Savory Pepper Steak
Savory Stewed Beef
Slow-Cooked Beef Stifado
Slow Cooked Pepper Steak
Slow Cooked Swiss Steak Supper
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Slow Cooker Swiss Steak
Slowly Deviled Beef
Smothered Steak Strips
Spaghetti Sauce Italiano
Spicy Wine Pot Roast
Stuffed Cabbage Casserole
Stuffed Pasta Shells
Swiss Bliss
Swiss Steak
Teriyaki Steak
Three Pepper Steak
Three-Way Beef
Yankee Pot Roast and Vegetables 

Crock Pot - Pork 
Chinese Style Country Ribs
Cranberry Pork Roast 
Crock Pot Festival Sausage
Crock Pot Hawaiian Pork
Crock Pot Pork Chops Supreme
Crock Pot Sausage & Potatoes
Crock Pot Sausage and Egg Casserole
Crocked Cherry Pork Chops
Polish Kraut and Apples
Pork Chop Delight
Pork Chops and Mustard Sau ce Potatoes
Pork Chops with Corn Stuffing
Pork Stew with Vegetables
Sauerkraut Supper
Slow Cooking Pork Chops
Soy-Glazed Spareribs
Super Easy Pork Chops
Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa or Polish Sausage
Sweet 'n' Sour Ribs   

Crock Pot - Poultry  
90s Style Crockpot Coq Au Vin
Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Baked Cajun Chicken
Baked Chicken Breasts in Crock Pot
Basil Chicken
Broccoli Rice & Chicken 
Cantonese Sweet & Sour Chicken
Caribbean Chicken
Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken
Chicken & Cherries Jubilee
Chicken a la King
Chicken and Cherries Jubilee C/P
Chicken & Rice Casserole
Chicken and Artichoke Casserole
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken Breasts Supreme
Chicken Creole
Chicken Crock Pie
Chicken Curry
Chicken Curry #2
Chicken Curry Hurry
Chicken Hearts Crockpot
Chicken in the Crock Pot
Chicken Marengo
Chicken Merlot with Mushrooms
Chicken Ole
Chicken Paprika
Chicken Parisienne
Chicken Parmigiana
Chicken Sesame
Chicken Stew
Chicken Stroganoff in Crock Pot
Chicken Taco Filling
Creamy Chicken with Vegetables
Crockpot Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip
Crock Pot Chicken
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
Crock Pot Chicken in Mushroom Gravy
Crock Pot Chicken Teriyaki
Crock Pot Garlic Chicken
Crock Pot Robust Chicken
Forty-clove Chicken
Garlic Lemon Chicken
Italian Chicken Breast
Lemonemonade Chicken
Lemony Roasted Chicken
Lo-Cal Crock Pot Chicken
Low-Fat Glazed Chicken in Crock Pot
Mama's Chicken Stew
Pat's Creamy Chicken
Portugese Garlic Chicken
Turkey Casserole

Crock Pot - Fish & Seafood  
Bayou Gumbo
Bouillabaisse
Cheese-Shrimp Chowder
Cioppino (Fisherman's Stew)
Crock Pot Bouillabaisse
Crock Pot Citrus Fish
Crock Pot Clam Chowder
Crock Pot Clam Chowder #2
Crock Pot Crab Soup
Crock Pot Fish Stew
Crock Pot Manhattan Style Clam Chowder
Crock Pot Shrimp Marinara
Jambalaya

Mike, one of Alpine's techy techs, is excited to take home is new Panasonic 32" LCD HDTVs with iPod Entertainment Kit.  We love to see excited customers!  He'll be back to let us know how he likes his new HDTV.

Wow, it's been a busy week so far at Alpine Communications!  Yesterday we received the new Flip Ultra ($149.95) and Flip Ultra HD  (199.95) camcorders in yellow, pink, white, and black.  You have to try them to see how easy they are to use!  Chris, our GM, was the first employee to purchase a Flip Video camera and his family's testimonials sold the rest of us on the product.  Flip Video Ultra's are (in my opinion) one of the most stylish and fun camcorders on the market and take amazing quality videos.  Plus no extra software is required, it's built right into the camera and it's incredibly simple to share and create videos that you take.  Flip Video cameras are a must-have this summer for family vacations, ball games, birthday parties, and just every-day fun. 

Today we just received netbooks (tiny laptop computers) from Samsung and Asus. The new Panasonic 32" LCD HDTVs with iPod Entertainment Kit and Pansonic Blu-ray Disk Players are finally here.  Stop in and check out the new Flip Videos, laptops, computer accessories, Nintendo Wiis, and more at the Alpine Retail Center in Elkader.  Don't forget, tomorrow is our Summer Kick-Off Celebration from 4:00-6:30 p.m. with free hot dogs and pop for everyone!

Alpine Communications' business office will be closed Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.

For Emergency Telephone Troubles - Call Alpine at (563) 245-4000 or  1-800-635-1059 and leave a message with a description of the problem. An Alpine Technician is on call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week and will be paged.

For Internet Troubles - Call Alpine Internet Technical Support at 1-888-264-2908. Technical Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For SecureIT services or Online Backup Troubles - Call SecurityCoverage Technical Support at 1-877-373-3320. Support and assisted installation for SecureIT and SecureIT Plus is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Have a happy and safe holiday! Read more about the history of Memorial Day.

A rise in identity theft cases in the past few years has drawn attention to the topic of prevention. As more people subscribe to high-speed Internet , criminals are finding more ways to get your information. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Please join us in welcoming Tina Finley as Alpines newest employee. Tina started as the Accounting Assistant in March. Some of her duties include purchasing, receiving, assisting with general accounting duties, and you will likely see her at the Post Office each morning and afternoon. Tina graduated from Iowa State with a degree in Child and Family Services.

Alpine is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Alpine Communications Scholarship. A total of $2,000.00 was awarded to four graduating seniors who reside in an Alpine Communications telephone exchange and attend Central, MFL MarMac, Valley, or Clayton Ridge High School.

The students were asked to write a paragraph on how telecommunications technology has or will benefit them in the future. Consideration was given to students seeking higher education in the fields of telecommunications technology, communications, or computer science.

Alpine extends a special thank you to the local Dollars for Scholars program and each school district's high school guidance counselor for assisting in the selection and administration of our scholarship.

A $500 scholarship was awarded to each of the following students: 

• Central High School - Jake McGreal
• Valley High School - Naomi Hanson
• MFL MarMac High School - Allison Ries
• Clayton Ridge High School - Kimberly Nelson

After a long winter, spring has finally sprung. Are you planning to tackle a big landscaping project soon? Alpine Communications reminds you to pick up your phone before you pick up your shovel.

Many utility services such as phone, cable television, sewer, gas, water, and electricity come to your home via underground lines. In certain locations, these lines may be close to the surface and can be accidentally damaged by even shallow digging in your yard - and that can result in interruptions to service throughout your neighborhood. As a result, you may incur fines or fees to repair the damages.

It is especially important to call Iowa One Call damage to fiber optic cables can cost thousands of dollars to repair. When you call 811 at least 48 hours in advance, your local service providers will be dispatched to locate and mark these lines. It not only saves you time and protects you from potentially costly damage, it's required by law. Every digging project, no matter what size, requires a call. By calling Iowa One Call, you can proceed with your landscaping without disrupting necessary utilities or compromising safety for yourself and others.

As one of your local service providers,we thank you for your cooperation!

ZAP Portable Energy Solutions Available at the Alpine Retail Center

$22.95 ZAP Mini Lithium Recharge-It-All Battery

• Powers and charges cell phone, MP3/iPod, iPhone, other media devices and USB charged mobile electronics 
• Cell tips included: Motorola/Mini USB, Nokia New, LG New, Samsung New

$16.95 ZAP Universal AC Adapter USB
$15.95 ZAP Universal DC Car Charger USB

• Powers and chargers Blackberry, cell phones, Bluetooth devices, iPhone, iPod, USB powered devices, MP3 players, etc.
• Universal AC adapter with USB output

$29.95 Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse

• Wireless Optical Mouse is compact and ambidextrous
• Features a small receiver that conveniently stows away under the mouse when not in use, automatically turning off power and conserving battery life.

Visit the Alpine Retail Center in Elkader for all of your technology needs.

Race in and join the fun as we kick-off summer with free hot dogs and pop (while supplies last) at the Alpine office in Elkader on Thursday, May 28th from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.  If you can't join us, listen to KCTN FM 100 as they broadcast live from Alpine Communications.  

The Alpine Pit Crew will on hand to help you super-charge your Internet connection, tune up your computer with new TotalTech Services, and answer Internet and email questions.

TeamINS Racing's rear engine dragster (pictured above) will be on display and driver  Donald Kimm will be available for autographs.  Don't miss this opportunity to see this hot rod up close and personal!

Alpine Communications Awards $4,900 in Grants to Local Organizations

May 14, 2009 - Alpine Communications Charitable Giving Program awards were presented to local non-profit groups that received grant monies in the first quarter of 2009.  Alpine General Manager Chris Hopp said, "The grants this quarter helped put technology in the hands of our youth, restore our heritage, preserve our environment through education, and promote the communities we serve. We commend these organizations for such worthy causes."

• $1,000 to Motor Mill Foundation of Clayton County to help fund the replacement of the deteriorated roof on both the Motor Mill and Inn and the replacement of two missing chimneys on the Mill;
• $1,000 to Guttenberg Heritage Society to assist in purchasing posts and an electronic sign to educate and engage the community concerning events and activities;
• $600 to Guttenberg Public Library to purchase a one-year subscription to World Book Online Reference Center with access through the library’s website;
• $500 to Central Community Schools to buy 4 Flip Video Ultra Cameras to create podcasts to put on the school website that will promote the school’s initiatives, activities, and events to the community;
• $600 to Friends of the Elgin Public Library to provide both a summer reading program and Check It Out! After school program for children ages preschool through 6th grade;
• $700 to Decorah Public Library to purchase two cameras for the DigiKids program which offers technology/communications programs that teach kids about using a digital camera, manipulating images on a computer, communicate with the community;
• $500 to Clayton County SWCD to purchase a Ruby Raindrop costume to make water quality and soil erosion more understandable to youth.

The Alpine Communications Charitable Giving Program was created in September 2004 as an avenue for non-profit organizations to apply for funds which will address challenges our society faces. Alpine Communications invites public and private non-profit agencies to visit www.alpinecom.net to review the new Alpine Communications Charitable Giving Program grant application. The new application form will make applying for funding simple and efficient. Grant applications for the next quarter should be submitted to Alpine by May 31, 2009.

High-speed growth dips

From Staff and Wire Dispatches

Nearly half of all Americans now have high-speed Internet service at home, but the growth rate for broadband service is slowing sharply and it's still uncommon among poor and rural residents, according to a new study.

About 47 percent of adult Americans surveyed by the nonprofit Pew Internet & American Life Project said they have high-speed Internet service at home, up from nearly nothing at the start of the decade.

According to ConnectKentucky, a program for expanding high-speed Internet access throughout the commonwealth has helped increase broadband Internet use by 50 percent and has brought access to 518,000 previously unserved Kentucky homes in the past two years.

Currently, 93 percent ofKentucky homes can access broadband, and ConnectKentucky said last month that it expects every household to have high-speed Internet access by the end of the year.

The Pew report said the national growth rate for broadband service was only 12 percent for the one-year period that ended in March. That was down from 40 percent for the comparable period a year earlier and the lowest rate in at least five years.

John Horrigan, associate director for research at Pew, said broadband growth hasn't necessarily reached a plateau.

But clearly, many people who can afford broadband service already have it. In the future, Horrigan said, Internet providers will have to try harder to convince those without broadband that it's worth the cost, typically $20-$40 a month.

"I think we're at a point where many people in the upper socio-economic groups now have broadband," he said. "You'd expect to see growth continue, but it's going to be in fits and starts."

Horrigan said the sharp decline during the past year isn't surprising, given the rapid increase in broadband use in past years, when many cable and telecom companies offered deep discounts for new subscribers. Also, "once you get near 50 percent of the market, sustaining growth gets more challenging," he added.

Not surprisingly, high-speed Internet service is more common in urban areas and among the wealthy.

According to the Pew study, about 52 percent of urban residents and about 49 percent of suburban residents have high-speed Internet access. Among rural residents, only about 31 percent have it.

The study's findings come as the Federal Communications Commission conducts an inquiry into whether broadband providers -- primarily cable and telephone companies -- are doing enough to provide rural and poor Americans access to high-speed Internet service and all that it offers, from entertainment to educational programs.

Depending on the outcome of the FCC inquiry, regulators could set rate caps or take other steps to encourage broadband growth.

According to the Pew study, some minorities also are less likely than whites to have broadband service at home.

Only 29 percent of Hispanics, for instance, have home broadband service. About 40 percent of African Americans have home broadband service, a sharp rise from 31 percent a year earlier. Among white non-Hispanics, about 48 percent said they had high-speed Internet service at home.

Income also matters. More than three-fourths of adults with annual incomes of more than $75,000 have high-speed Internet service at home, while only 30 percent of those with incomes of less than $30,000 have it.

Americans who do have broadband service use it far more than those with slower dial-up service, according to the study. About 65 percent of broadband subscribers said they use the Internet or e-mail at home on a daily basis, compared with 40 percent of dial-up service subscribers.

Last month, U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., outlined a four-step plan to improve broadband access to the many parts of the United States where people still rely on dial-up service.

He said he would push federal lawmakers to adopt a program similar to ConnectKentucky, which uses public and private funding to promote DSL, cable, fixed wireless, satellite and other systems to blanket the state with service.

The Pew study was based on a phone survey of 2,200 adults between February and March. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.

Cox News Service contributed to this story

After languishing for years, home automation is seeing a surge of activity as new technologies, emerging standards, and the networking of consumer devices converge to develop the intelligent residence.

By Richard A Quinnell, Contributing Technical Editor -- EDN, 7/5/2007

From Inspired Business Growth:

When I was a kid, I lived in a Chicago suburb with a thriving and quaint downtown shopping area. It wasn’t a mall or a strip mall - I mean a real downtown with a train station, neighborhood bank, farmer’s market, city hall and little one-of-a-kind shops that were owned by people who lived in our town.

Although many businesses have come and gone since I was a kid (not THAT long ago!), technology and the Internet has changed the way we do business, plain and simple. Some of the shops that used to dot our neighborhood shopping areas will simply never come back to a brick-and-mortar way of doing business. Others are ‘endangered species’ - ones that with just a little more momentum will be gone in the next few years.

Sometimes the culprit was the convenience or advancement of the Internet. Others, it was the in-store technology of large chain stores that made it easier and cheaper to carry a wider variety of products.

In all cases, business found a cheaper and more efficient way to deliver in-demand products. In the end, it also meant that many small mom-and-pop stores either have had to change with the times or go out of business.

1. Record/CD Stores
2. 1 Hour Photo Shops
3. Video Rental
4. Camera Stores
5. Neighborhood Bookstores
6. Niche Art or Craft Stores
7. Travel Agencies
8. Neighborhood Grocery Stores
9. Neighborhood Movie Theaters
10. Independent Pharmacies

Maybe we are fortunate beings for our techno-gadget isolation?

Sign of the Times: iPhone Sales to Soar, Landlines to Decline  by Ron Lee

Amidst today’s iPhone launch hype and hoopla, there’s also less publicized but telling news of the impact cell phones are having (and will have) on landlines (hard-wired phones) and phone directories. It’s a sign of the times, reflecting a mobile society and technological advances.

Various reports, including ones cited by Newsweek.com/MSNBC.com, and by CTIA, The Wireless Association, have cited that more than 8 percent of American households (24 million people) today have selected wireless phones as their only phone, and that as many as 6 million more tech-savvy consumers intend to “cut the cord” in the not too distant future (and no doubt among this crowd will be some of the millions of anticipated new iPhone owners).

The number of landlines has been on the decline since 2001, due to use of email, broadband, texting, mobile web browsing, and cell-phone-number portability. That decline in landlines is also resulting in slimmed down phone directories, even in high-growth cities.

In one report by the New York Times, the big fat phone book is losing weight, even as city populations rise. In fact, the article recounts how the 2007 Verizon White Pages for Manhattan slimmed down 142 pages from the 2006 edition, even as the city grew by 10,000 people in a year.

So, if you are among the lucky ones to snag a fresh new iPhone tonight and are considering joining the ranks of the wireless-only, remember that there are pros (one phone, one number, fewer bills) and cons (reception, battery power, running up your bill) to going wireless only. 

But if you do cut the cord, just don’t lose your cell phone.