Bandwidth and Fiber to the Home (FTTH)
Do Not Call List & Harassing Phone Calls
Long Distance
Billing
Capital Credit
Cellular Phone
BVtv
Other
Bandwidth and
Fiber to the Home (FTTH)
Q What does bandwidth mean?
A Bandwidth measures the amount of data that can be sent through a
connection (usually measured in bits-per-second). In data
transmission, the greater the bandwidth, the greater the capacity to
transmit data bits.
Q What is Fiber to the Home (FTTH)?
A FTTH is a new technology that uses fiber optic cable instead of
copper cable to deliver telephone, data (Internet, etc.) and video
services. Fiber optic cables have the capacity for an indefinite
amount of data which is becoming a necessity in today’s world. BVTC is
hoping to complete the FTTH upgrade for all of their telephone
exchanges by 2012. These exchanges include Axtell, Beattie, Centralia,
Home, Linn, Oketo, Onaga, Palmer, Summerfield, Vermillion,
Westmoreland, and Wheaton.
Q How will FTTH benefit me?
A BVTC will be able to offer much more bandwidth with this type of
network. So, not only will FTTH deliver quality services that you
subscribe to today, but it will enable BVTC to use the network for
broadband applications in the future.
Q Will this change the way my
present communication services work?
A The only change in your current services will be on the data
(Internet) level. You will no longer need a modem to receive
High-Speed Internet and you should receive more efficient data rates.
There won’t be a change in how your telephone works, however, there
will be a back-up battery supplied by BVTC to keep your phone up and
running in case of a power outage. This is different than how the old
copper plant works, but you as the customer should not see a
difference.
Q What is the big gray box (ONT –
Optical Network Terminal) for?
A An ONT contains the electronics that converts a signal of light into
usable voice, data and video services. This box will be located on the
outside of your home/business. There will be an additional box
installed inside your home/business which will power the unit. This
power supply will also contain a back-up battery in case of a power
outage.
Q Do I have to be at home when the
ONT device is installed on the outside of my home/business?
A Yes. You will be contacted by a representative of BVTC to schedule a
time to have your ONT device and power supplies installed. This
process should only take 1-3 hours depending on the home/business. An
average install should be around 1 ½ hours.
Q How will FTTH affect my telephone
bill?
A FTTH upgrade will not increase your current rates. However, if you
decide to add a service, such as High-Speed Internet or BVtv,
activation and subscription fees may apply.
Do Not Call List
& Harassing Phone Calls
Q How do I sign up for
the Do-Not-Call list that prevents telemarketers & other solicitors
from calling me at home?
A In response to consumer concerns about unwelcome telemarketing
calls, the FCC and the Federal Trade Commission established the
national Do-Not-Call Registry. The registry applies to all
telemarketers (with the exception of certain non-profit and political
organizations) and covers both interstate and intrastate telemarketing
calls. Commercial telemarketers are not allowed to call you if your
number is listed on the registry.
Consumers may register their residential telephone number, including
wireless numbers, on the national Do-Not-Call Registry at no cost by
telephone or on the Internet. To register by telephone, you should
call 888-382-1222. For TTY, call 866-290-4236. You must call from the
phone number you wish to register. You may also register by Internet
at http://www.donotcall.gov. Inclusion
of your telephone number on the national Do-Not-Call Registry will be
effective 31 days of registration.
Q How can I stop harassing phone
calls?
A Dial *57 immediately after you receive the phone call. This traps
the number of the caller. Then, immediately call your local law
enforcement office. Service Charges for this service may apply and
will vary depending on the phone company.
Long Distance
Q Why can I not get
service from certain long distance companies? And why can I not get
the long-distance rate plans I see advertised?
A Many national long-distance companies do not offer service or
their advertised rate plans in rural areas. Thus, many of our
customers find only frustration when they try to select a
long-distance company or pick an advertised calling plan. When
customers ask for an explanation, the long-distance companies usually
point to the "local" company as the reason why certain services or
advertised plans are not available. As your local telecom provider, we
would like to make it clear that we have no say in a company's
decision to offer service in our area. Blue Valley offers competitive
long distance which applies to your Capital Credit account. We are
proud that we have no hidden fees when it comes to long distance. Call
us toll-free at 877-876-1228 for more information on a long distance
plan that fits your needs.
Q I do not recognize this number
on my phone bill. Who is this person?
A Try our local directory on our web site. You can do a reverse lookup
by entering the phone number in the search box. If it is not a local
number, try http://www.anywho.com and
click on “reverse lookup”.
Billing
Questions
Q This is my first month of
service and it looks like I have been double billed. Is this correct?
A If you are a new customer or if you are getting a new service
hooked up, your bill will be pro-rated for the remainder of that month
you signed up in, plus the fees for the following month’s services.
This is due to communication services being billed one month in
advance. For example if you sign up for a $20 service on the 15th of
the month, your pro-rated portion for that month is $10, plus you will
be paying $20 for the following month, which makes your total bill
$30.
Q What does the E-911 surcharge
cover?
A The E-911 surcharge is a state/local government charge to fund
emergency 911 services, such as fire and rescue.
Q What is the Federal Universal
Service Charge (FUSC)?
A The FUSC fund assists with the costs of providing “affordable”
services to low-income individuals and to residents in rural,
high-costs areas. In addition, this fund helps schools, libraries and
rural health care providers obtain advanced services, such as Internet
access. All providers of telecommunications services contribute to the
support of these programs. The amount on your bill depends on the
services you order and the number of telephone lines you have.
Q What is the Kansas
Universal Service Fund (KUSF)?
A The KUSF charge was mandated by the Kansas Corporation Commission
to ensure all customers in rural high-cost areas of the state have
access to affordable service. This charge also supports the Lifeline
program, Kansas Relay Services, Telecommunications Access Program as
well as network enhancements and upgrades in rural areas.
Q What is the federal “subscriber
line charge” (SLC) listed on my bill?
A A flat monthly charge, established by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), assessed directly to customers to help local
telephone companies recover some of their costs in construction and
maintaining the local network. Current monthly charges are $6.50 for
residential single-line, multi-line and business single-line; and
$9.20 for business multi-line and hunt group.
Q What taxes are included on my
bill?
A Your bill includes the 3% federal excise tax levied by the federal
government that applies to all telecom services, not just local
service. In addition, many state, local and/or municipal governments
impose taxes on telecom services and, if applicable, these taxes are
listed on your bill. In some states, these charges may appear as a
"gross receipts" or "franchise" tax.
Q I have found charges on my bill
for services I did not order or authorize. How do I get these charges
removed from my bill?
A If there is a charge on your bill that is unauthorized or
fraudulent, you don't have to pay it. If you find a charge on your
bill for something you didn't authorize, call BVTC at 877-876-1228,
Monday thru Friday, office hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We will be
happy to fix it for you.
Q What is CPNI and why do I have
to have a password to obtain my billing information?
A CPNI stands for Customer Proprietary Network Information. The FCC
has implemented new rules to protect the privacy of your information
contained in your BVTC account. The new rules allow us to discuss
account information only with the person(s) listed on the account.
Also, we must be able to authenticate authorized individuals by asking
for a password or by asking a specific question.
Capital Credit
FAQ’s:
Q Who qualifies for
Capital Credits?
A A member of the cooperative is someone who lives within one of our
12 Telephone exchanges that subscribes to tariffed telecommunications
services through BVTC. These exchanges include Axtell, Beattie,
Centralia, Home, Linn, Oketo, Onaga, Palmer, Summerfield, Vermillion,
Westmoreland, and Wheaton.
Q Why is the check amount
different than the amount on the allocation notice?
A The allocation notice is based on the dollars you spent throughout
the year with Blue Valley services. The check amount is based on the
percentage voted upon by the Blue Valley Board of Directors in
October.
Q When will I receive my check?
A Checks are disbursed every December. In order to receive your check
in a timely manner, please keep Blue Valley updated on your current
address. Also, please be sure to keep your bill paid or your check
cannot be cut.
Q Can I cash out my capital
credits?
A The only time capital credits can be fully cashed out is when a
spouse dies, or when a business account goes out of business..
Q If capital credits cashed out,
what happens next?
A If you chose to cash out the Capital Credits and you are still a
current Patron, then the Capital Credit account will start over. If
you no longer live in our exchanges, then the account is cashed out
and there is no further activity to the customer.
Cellular
Questions:
Q Is all wireless
phone service the same?
A Wireless phone service is digital, which converts the voice
signals to computer "ones and zeros" that are transmitted through
electronic pulses and reassembled after delivery. Converting to
digitized voice signals allows computer processing, which eliminates
much of the static background noise, offers clearer, more secure calls
and includes more features than the out-dated analog.
Q How is wireless coverage set up,
and how does roaming work? If I am in my service area, why are there
dropped calls & dead spots?
A The area where you can make and receive wireless calls is
determined by where your carrier has a license and where it has built
out its network. You should have a coverage map of the particular
geographic area served by your wireless carrier. When you travel
beyond your carrier's area, you still may be able to use your wireless
service provided by the carrier in the area where you are traveling.
This is called roaming. Even if a wireless carrier has not constructed
towers and built out its network, roaming allows its customers to
connect using another carrier's network. If your wireless carrier has
a roaming agreement with another carrier and if your wireless handset
allows roaming, you will be able to connect with the other network to
use your wireless service.
Even within your carrier's coverage area, limitations in facilities
and capacity can cause problems in wireless call completion. If the
carrier's network fails to hand off calls in progress as a customer
travels from one coverage area to another, a dropped call results. A
large number of callers using the network at the same time can strain
capacity, so others will get a busy signal when they try to connect.
Terrain also affects coverage, causing dead spots - areas where
service may not be available because the signal between the handset
and the tower is blocked or impeded.
Q How do I “port” my number to a
wireless carrier? If I change my phone number to a wireless carrier,
how does that affect my traditional local telephone service?
A New federal rules allow customers to "port" their telephone
numbers, landline or wireless, to another carrier. In order for
customers to "port their number" the new carrier to which you wish to
port your number must send us a request to establish an agreement
process that will allow us to do that.
As a community based telecom provider with deep ties here in our
service area, we want you to know exactly what it means to port your
telephone number, and to give you an idea of some of the service
differences between landline phones and what you can expect from
wireless:
- If you port your traditional phone number to a wireless
carrier, you will be disconnecting your landline phone and
terminating your traditional local service.
- You will no longer have unlimited local calling; you will have
to keep tabs on the number of minutes that are included in your
wireless plan.
- You will have to arrange with your wireless carrier for a
directory listing and directory assistance services.
- You will no longer be able to access the Internet using a
local, unlimited dial-up connection. In some cases, you may be able
to connect your wireless phone to your PC to access the Internet,
but you are likely to need additional hardware and/or software;
also, you must keep in mind that time spent on the Internet will
count against the minutes in your wireless plan.
- In an emergency, E-911 service can pinpoint your traditional
home phone, but in most cases, not your cell phone.
- In general, a phone number can only be assigned to a single
wireless phone. With landline service, you can have additional
phones in your house that hook up to the same number.
- If your home is in an area that does not get clear wireless
reception, your calls could be unclear or have a tendency to drop.
Be aware that the type of wireless reception you get at home now is
the quality you can expect for all your calls.
Q How can I see how many minutes I
have use so far this month on my cell phone?
A To view the number of minutes used so far you have two options:
i. Call #668 from your cell phone
ii. Text the word “minute” to short code 696-467
Q How can I improve my tower
coverage?
A To improve tower coverage simply dial *228 from your phone and
follow the voice activated prompt. It will update your phone within
minutes.
Q How can I pay my cell phone
bill?
A Go to
http://www.Alltel.com and on the home page you can click on “Register
Now” to create your personal account. You can also pay by dialing #729
on your cell phone and following the voice activated prompt.
Q When will Blue Valley be
launching their cellular?
A Blue Valley plans to launch their cellular service during the fourth
quarter of 2008. However, we will not launch until the service is
reliable, has met our customers’ needs and the service area has
provided the coverage promised. We will keep you posted on the process
as progression takes place.
BVtv:
Q Why will my remote not work?
A If there are no lights lit up on your remote when pushing buttons,
you will need to replace your batteries. The remote is in lock mode,
so leave the batteries out for about 30 minutes before putting the new
ones in.
Q What should I do if my
television is fuzzy?
A If your television is fuzzy or has static, you should make sure you
television set is on either channel 3 or channel 4 and then turn your
set-top box on by pressing the STB button followed by the power button
on your remote.
Q When I press the guide button,
how do I see only the channels I am subscribed to?
A If you only want to see the channels you are subscribed to, simply
press the guide button twice. The first time you press the guide
button it will show all of the channels BVtv has to offer. Press one
more time and you are able to view only the channels you are
subscribed to.
Q Why does my television mess up
and have blocks on it sometimes?
A When your television set is messing up and it appears there are tiny
blocks all over your screen it is called micro-blocking. If this
problem persists, just reboot your set-top box by unplugging it from
the power and plugging it back in. If the problem persists, contact
our office at 877.876.1228.
Other:
Q What is VoIP
service? Will it allow me to make phone calls from my computer? Do I
need DSL or other broadband connection to use it?
A VoIP service refers to "Voice over Internet Protocol," which in a
means using Internet technology to transmit and deliver voice
communications. Rather than using the traditional analog telephone
network, VoIP digitizes the voice signal into information packets that
are sent over the Internet or computer network. The packets are
reassembled at the other end of the connection to produce the voice
signal. Until recently, IP network-delivered voice service has been
constrained by very poor quality and limited reliability. Recent
advancements in IP technology have improved the quality of digitized
voice service, and IP networks are becoming more and more capable of
carrying voice communications on a par with the traditional network.
From a technical starting point, users must have a broadband
connection to take advantage of VoIP and other IP-enabled services.
Since VoIP is Internet-based, it has developed independent of the
policy and regulatory realm that has governed the national telephone
network. There remain serious misgivings about the IP networks current
lack of E-911 capabilities and the inability of law enforcement
officials to track and "tap" packet-based voice signals. Congress, the
FCC, and state lawmakers are currently investigating how to promote
the roll-out of VoIP and other IP-enabled services at the same time as
they safeguard the universal service, emergency, law enforcement,
consumer privacy and other social policy objectives attained and
promoted through the national switched telephone network for almost a
century.
Q Are there programs available to
help make telephone service more affordable for low-income customers?
How is eligibility determined and where can I apply?
A Federal and state lawmakers believe that every person in America
should have access to quality, affordable telecommunications service.
If you participate in social programs, such as food stamps, Medicaid,
the national school free-lunch program, supplemental security income,
or if your household income is below a certain threshold level, you
may qualify for a discount on your telephone bill.
The Universal Service Administrative Co. lists full details and
state-specific Lifeline contact information, at
http://www.lifelinesupport.org. If you have questions about Lifeline,
Link-Up and TLS discounts call 888-641-8722.