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GOPIONEER
May 2020
Moving communities forward in a
changing world
MY INTERNET
IS DOWN!
Or is it? Learn tips and
tricks to get your Internet going
A NEED
FOR SPEED
Learn how Fiber can solve
all your Internet problems
CIRCLE OF
EXCELLENCE
Find out what Gary Coy
brings to Pioneer
S
ince the inaugural issue Welcome to GoPioneer !
O
of GoPioneer Magazine ur mission is to help the
we have experienced communities of Pioneer learn,
many changes not evolve and move forward in the ever-
only at Pioneer, but in changing world of technology.
our communities as well. We welcome feedback, story ideas,
or any questions relating to this
With the closing of our schools
magazine, previous articles, or even
and many of our local shops your personal inquiries.
and restaurants, we have seen
Baffled by your teen’s obsession
a drastic increase in Internet
with emojis? Confused on why you
usage among our Customers. get Wi-Fi in the garage, but not in
We are constantly updating and adapting our your bedroom? Let us know! This
magazine is just as much yours as
business response to COVID-19. Pioneer knows
it is ours and we are excited to help
these are uncertain times and many of our you become more adept in the tech-
community members may be out of work or world.
staying home with their children. We do not want
This magazine is released every
them to lack the connection to stay informed
month excluding February, April,
and, of course, entertained. August and November.
In case you did not know, here are some of the Contact Us
steps Pioneer has taken to keep our Customers Edi to r
connected. Madison McCollum
GoPioneerOK@ptci.com
405-375-0274
• Pioneer Cellular Customers will have their
data overages forgiven during the crisis to S tandard Mai l
ensure every Customer stays connected Pioneer Telephone
P.O. Box 539
• Hotspot limitations for our Cellular Kingfisher, OK 73750
Customers will be temporarily removed
S o c i al Me di a
to allow mobile devices to become Wi-Fi @GoPioneerOK
hotspots
To p i c o f M a y 2 0 2 0 :
• Pioneer is temporarily waiving late fee I nt e r ne t
penalties and has suspended all disconnects
One out of three American’s don’t
of unpaid service know how the Internet works— yet
it’s one of the most useful tools of the
• All Pioneer retail office locations will have
century.
open Wi-Fi networks to the public to create a
free drive-up hotspot This issue, learn all you need to
know about the Internet and the
We do not know how long COVID-19 will effect tools that help us access it. We’ll
our businesses, but I want to assure you we are teach you the tools of the trade when
here for you during this time of uncertainty. Our it comes to troubleshooting at home
and why it might be time to upgrade
services are considered essential and we are
your Internet— especially now that
committed to providing you with the best care the kids are home.
we can.
Speed, Fiber and a whole lot of Tips
I wish all of our customers the best and hope and Tricks. We’re excited to teach you
you and your families are in good health. Please about them all!
stay safe.
Richard Ruhl
CONTENTS
F e a tures
My Internet is Down!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 01
Or is it? Find out just how the Internet
works and why it rarely actually goes
‘down’. Plus, some troubleshooting
tips that might get you up and running
without calling your provider.
Why does Speed Matter?. . . . . . . . . . . . 03
Find out why your Internet Speed
matters to the whole family.
A Need for Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05
Find out why Fiber Internet is the
solution to all your Internet speed
problems.
Slow Wi-Fi is Worse Than No Wi-Fi. . . . 07
Learn about your router and how to
maximize your home Wi-Fi performance
I n s i d e Pioneer
Circle of Excellence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09
Gary Coy, who’s recognized by this
issues Circle of Excellence, may describe 09
himself as ‘boring’...but how boring can
a dog fanatic be?
Pioneer Fiber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Find out what Pioneer’s doing for your
communities as we push to bring Fiber
Internet to our rural areas.
C o mmunit y
Become a Pioneer Scholar . . . . . . . . . . 13
Now’s your chance! Scholarship
applications are open. Find out how to
apply.
Family Recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
15
What’s better than brownies? Six-Layer
Brownies. Find out how you can be the 05
hero of desert with Renita Cantellay’s
Six-Layer Brownie recipe.
Community Events Postponed. . . . . . . 16
With the spread of COVID-19, most
events have been postponed.
However, we’ve given a fun twist to our
Community Events section.
Anniversaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back
Help us celebrate the 25+ year
anniversaries in our communities
11 01
My Internet is Down!
What is the Internet?
F
rom day-to-day streaming, working or even Provider, but making sure that the wrong information
proving yourself right in a family squabble, the stays out.
Internet is one of the most prominent tools we
have in the world. So the second a web page Step 3: We’re Off
isn’t loading or a video has an error, we’re quick Your request is submitted to your ISP who looks
to call the Internet out. However, most of the time the through it’s servers to find Netflix.com’s IP address,
Internet isn’t truly ‘down’. Knowing the basics of the which is a fancy name for ‘long stream of numbers’.
Internet and the tools that help you use it is essential to Every server and device has it’s own special address,
being able to properly troubleshoot and explain which is important for getting information where it
problems to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). needs to go.
What is the Internet? Step 4: Mapping it out
The Internet isn’t a magic floating cloud full of With the address identified, your ISP finds the
information, it’s actually a huge network of computers quickest way to reach the server with that IP address. It
connected by satellites, telephone lines, cell-towers travels through the ‘cloud’ of other ISPs, servers, and
and even wires buried underground. All of these routers— AKA, the Internet! With each ‘stop’ your
possible pathways make it so that when one path gets request picks up another address, which is wrapped
‘blocked’ (rather by national disaster or human error), around your initial address.
the data that‘s trying to get to your computer should be
able to take another path. Your computer is actually a Step 5: Establishing a connection
part of the Internet and has it’s very own ‘address’ that Once your request reaches the target server
helps information get back to you. (Netflix.com), a connection is established with that
website and your computer.
How does the Internet work?
To put it in the most basic of operation, there are Step 6: Coming Home
seven steps involved when you access anything on the Using the ‘addresses’ visited on the way to
Internet. Netflix.com, the information requested comes back
even quicker than before and gives you the website full
Step 1: The Request of data, pictures, and even video.
When you type any site name, like Netflix.com, into
your browser your computer typically sends out the Pretty neat, right?
data via radio waves, AKA, Wi-Fi.
Sure! But I’m still having trouble with my
Step 2: Information Received Internet.
Your computer is connected to the Internet through Most of the time, it’s not your Internet. There can be
a modem/router which connects to your wall and your outages when the line that leads to your home from
Internet Service Provider (ISP). Your modem is the your ISP is damaged. But this is rare!
access point to other networks in the world. Your
modem is responsible for not only getting your Find the top three reasons your Internet typically is
information out to your Internet Service slow/unresponsive below and some troubleshooting
tips on the next page!
Your Router isn’t You don’t have the speed You have too
working properly: (bandwidth) you need: many devices:
Your router is responsible for the data Internet Service Providers like Pioneer We used to only have one thing connected to the
packets between computer networks. have been using a method of service Internet at home: the computer. Now almost anything
called a digital subscriber line (DSL) electronic is— phones, watches, even refrigerators.
This is the most important piece to you which gives each home its own
accessing the Internet, but there is much bandwidth and makes sure you have It is important to make sure that you have the
that can go wrong. your own speed of Internet that doesn’t bandwidth to support them all. The more devices
depend on your neighbor’s use. using the Internet, the more bandwidth you need.
To learn more about your router, visit
page 8! Your Internet speed depends on many To learn how your devices effect your bandwidth,
factors. To learn more visit page 3! visit page 3!
1 GoPioneer
Problems with your Wi-Fi?
Try this before calling your Internet Service Provider!
Reset Your Router
Usually when your Internet goes down, a soft reset to your router will fix many connection problems.
To do a soft reset, skip the power button. Go ahead and unplug the router from the power outlet and wait 15
to 20 seconds, before plugging it back in.
Restart your computer
It sounds silly, but restarting your computer fixes a lot of minor issues you might be having, especially if you
go weeks upon weeks of just shutting the laptop lid. Restarting your computer ends all the background
processes including Internet browsers, apps and other programs you use every day. Sometimes your computer
needs a break...even if it’s just for a few seconds before starting with a clean slate.
Try and find the problem
Is everyone in the house having trouble connecting to the Internet or just you? Are some people connected
via ethernet (the computer is directly connected to the router) and some via Wi-Fi? Is everyone sitting in the
living room able to watch Netflix, but you can’t seem to connect to Youtube in the basement?
If you can find the connection between those encountering the issue and those that aren’t, it might help you
solve the problem. For example, if only wireless users can’t connect, then it probably has something to do with
your device, not the Internet. This is important information to have handy if you need to contact your ISP.
Contact your ISP!
If all else fails, we’re here to help you. By contacting Pioneer we will be able to inform you if there’s any
scheduled or unscheduled problems in your area. And, if not, taking the steps above might help them pinpoint
your problem.
Remember, you can save time by using SmartHub to submit your trouble tickets.
No need to wait for someone to pick up— we’ll call you!
Features 2
Why Does Speed Matter?
Understanding Internet Speeds and Speed Tests
D
id you know that like you can’t force water through speed from a single device—
everything online a clogged drain, you can’t push today, there is no current web
has a minimum data more data in or out. browser capable of running that
requirement to be This means you are sharing many simultaneous connections.
able to run? YouTube, your 50 Mbps with every However, some browsers can run
iTunes, Netflix or even email have a background application, more simultaneous connections
minimum recommended speed to computer update, cell phone, than others.
do the simplest of tasks. TV, Xbox, refrigerator— anything For the best results, we
This is why your internet speed and everything connected to your recommend Firefox web browser.
is so important. Internet. While this might be okay It has the highest capability
Internet speed, AKA bandwidth, for a one person household, you of measuring the results of a
is the maximum amount of data might be straining your Internet speed test with 32 simultaneous
you can send or receive over with a family of six who only set connections.
an Internet connection, usually down the devices for dinner. If
measured in seconds. you’re experiencing slow loading Good to know! How do I know
Most Internet plans have a times or Internet issues, you what speed I need?
name like Pioneer’s ‘GoFiber 50’. might need to look at your speed. Think about what your family
The name refers to how much does from day-to-day. Are there
bandwidth is accessible to you. How can I find out my speed? people constantly gaming,
In this case, the 50 refers to 50 You can do a speed test, but streaming and social media
megabits (Mbps) per second. be forewarned, you’re not going surfing? Take what your family
When it comes to choosing an to get the exact speed, especially does and do a little research
Internet package, it’s important if you’re running the speed test on what the minimum speed
to know what you’re using the with a device connected by Wi-Fi. requirement is for it to run but be
service for and how many devices Wi-Fi speeds are far slower than aware that the minimum doesn’t
will be connected to it, because a computer that’s hooked up via mean ‘run best’. You should
you don’t get 50 Mbps. You share an ethernet cable to the Internet. always seek to have a little spare
50 Mbps. data running around. After all, we
How can I get an accurate humans are busy-bees and we
What do you mean I ‘share’? speed test? have a serious need for speed.
The Internet coming into your A true speed test requires
home is one pipe in and out. Just up to 64 simultaneous tests of
The BIG Q’s
Q My computer is slow. Is it my internet?
A: Probably not. If your cursor is lagging and
apps take a while to start up, it’s probably
Q How do I know how much bandwidth I need?
A: You can figure out just how much bandwidth you
need by looking at your Internet habits. If it’s just you
not your Internet. Your computer could be in the house and all you do is check emails or read
infected, have too many background tasks news stories, you don’t need much. But if you have a
open or various other issues. If your computer family who streams, games, video chats and messes
is slow, shut it down, then see if the problem around on social media—you’re going to need a lot
has resolved. more bandwidth.
3 GoPioneer
It’s not you— it’s
THEM. Streaming Music
2
Mbps
The ‘sharing is caring’
motto rings true with
Scrolling Pinterest 1
Internet. It’s not hard to
Mbps
point fingers at the teen
streaming YouTube videos Mom
and downloading games
while he chats with his
friends on Call of Duty. 5
Watching Netflix in HD Mbps
However, by knowing
that your son does this
and the other habits of
your household, you can Sending Email 1
easily avoid these fights Mbps
by making sure you have Dad
enough data to go around.
Your Internet habits 6-8
affect your speed
Playing Online Game Mbps
requirements because
everything done online
has a minimum speed it Streaming YouTube HD 2.5
needs to run. Don’t just Mbps
adjust for what you think
you’ll use, but also for any
Teen
background downloads,
slower-than-usual speeds Playing Online 6-8
and guests on your Wi-Fi. Game Mbps
Household 2
Internet Habits Streaming Music Mbps
Affect Speed Kid
Requirements
Household Total = minimum of 25.5 - 29.5 Mbps
recommended
Q Why am I not getting a Gig on my iPad?
A: What device you use is actually the weakest link
when it comes to receiving fast Internet speeds.
Q Should I use a wired connection or Wi-Fi?
A: For most tasks, a wireless Internet connection will
be good enough. You typically only ‘need’ a wired
More recently purchased devices can support faster connection for high speed, low latency and security—
Internet speeds than older devices. something that gamers or people who work from
Newer laptops may support up to 1 Gig speeds, home look for. If you’re just wanting to stream your
however most smartphones and tablets are limited new binge-worthy show, there’s no need for a wired
to speeds below 1 Gig. A quick Google check for your connection.
specific device can help you find its maximum speed.
Features 4
A
NEED
FOR SPEED
W H AT ’ S T H E D E A L W I T H F I B E R ?
C
ould you imagine 1. Reliability which make them hackable.
getting Internet at Fiber-optic cables are made Fiber’s glass-based wires make
the speed of light? of thin glass, making it a more it impossible for hackers to
Sounds impossible, reliable and flexible conductor “listen in” to the electromagnetic
doesn’t it? Like from the standard copper wires energy leaking through the cable
something you would hear used in DSL and cable Internet. and, with the addition of inbuilt
about in a Sci-fi movie. But the These thick and inflexible wires security software from Internet
transmission of data via the are susceptible to fire and providers, fiber-optic provides
speed of light is possible and extreme weather that can affect a well-rounded defense from
can give you the fastest Internet the back and forth of data, while online threats like viruses or
service available in the world. fiber-optic are not only flexible, malware.
but transmit data using light. 4. Bandwidth
With the average household This makes fiber-optic resistant
having 10 to 12 devices connected Bandwidth measures how
to electromagnetic interference much data can flow through a
to the Internet at all times, we’ve and environmental hazards like
officially said goodbye to the specific connection in a given
water damage and temperature amount of time. When thinking
days of a shared computer. Now changes.
we’ve started to make room for bandwidth, imagine pouring
Smart-TVs, smartphones and This gives you more uptime sand down a funnel. If you pour
even digital assistants like Alexa and reliable Internet service it all at once the funnel gets
in almost every room of the with consistent uptime and data clogged and starts to back up. If
house. The constant addition of transmissions. you pour it steadily and slowly, it
devices to your home Internet 2. Consistent Signal trickles through evenly.
creates a strain on standard With fiber-optic cables, you Fiber-optic cables can carry
DSL and cable Internet options, can have Internet at the speed more than a thousand times
making download speeds and of light, literally. DSL and cable the bandwidth of copper cables,
upload speeds slow. Internet speeds depend on meaning your less likely to
Having this strain almost several factors, like your distance get backed up and have that
promises video buffering, from your Internet provider and consistent and reliable back and
error messages and, of course, the usage in your neighborhood. forth of data.
frustration for the whole family. Fiber provides consistent There are many more benefits
There is a demand for fast upload and download speeds for to fiber Internet, including
Internet because within the next all your streaming needs. future sustainability and eco-
decade, the strain is only going 3. Highly Secure friendliness. Maybe it’s time to
to increase. This is why ISPs like Fiber Internet gives you look at fiber for your home.r
Pioneer have made leaps and the most secure Internet home, today.
bounds to lay fiber-optic cables connection. Copper connections
in rural areas. can get compromised due to
Here’s four benefits of their electric and magnetic
switching to fiber-optic Internet: signals used to transmit data,
5 GoPioneer
The Fiber Difference
In China, all new residences must Fiber is sustainable. It’s made Fiber optic cables have a
be wired with fiber technology from Silicon Dioxide, the second- small carbon footprint due to
most abundant element on Earth the reduced amount of energy
after Oxygen needed to transmit data
DSL FIBER
Up to Up to Up to
Download Speed
(Mbps)
6 50 100 1GB
H o w Fa s t c a n I d o w n l o a d ?
8 of your
favorite songs
54 6 3 .3
seconds seconds seconds seconds
(40 MB)
50 Photos 2.5 18 8 1
(100 MB) minutes seconds seconds seconds
Online Game 11 1.3 40 4
(500 MB) minutes minutes seconds seconds
2-hr HD Movie 1.5 8 4 24
(3 GB) hours minutes minutes seconds
*Speeds may vary
Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is the only technology that will
deliver enough bandwidth reliably and at low enough
cost, to meet consumer demands of the decade.
Features 6
SLOW WI-FI How to Maximize Your
IS WORSE THAN Wi-Fi Performance
NO WI-FI
F
ew gadgets in your home can make you quite as frustrated as a router with
a poor Wi-Fi signal. It’s a special feeling of exasperation when your video
finally finishes buffering, only to play for four seconds and start buffering
again. Sighing out and groaning when a web page fails to load and you have
to refresh it again.
It’s true, slow Wi-Fi is worse than no Wi-Fi. If there’s no Wi-Fi you know there’s a
problem and something needs to be fixed. However, if it’s slow most people aren’t all
that sure on how to start troubleshooting these problems.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Here’s all you need to know about routers and
the solutions to the ‘waiting game’.
How it Works
A router uses radio waves, just like cellphones,
televisions and radios do. Communication across a
Wi-Fi network is a lot like two-way radio connection:
1. Your device’s Wi-Fi adapter translates data into
a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna.
2. Your router receives the signal and decodes it,
then sends the information to the Internet using
the physical, wired ethernet connection.
The process then reverses, with the router
receiving information from the Internet, translating
it to a radio signal and sending it to the computer’s
wireless adapter.
7 GoPioneerFinding The Perfect Spot for Your Wi-Fi Router
You want the Wi-Fi to work for you, so this means knowing where and how you’re
Step 1
going to use the Internet and finding that ‘Perfect Spot’.
There are two main options when it comes to finding the spot for your Wi-Fi
Router, but each have their trade-offs.
1 2
option option
You use Wi-Fi equally throughout the house You have a primary media room
Which means your router should be placed as close You might have a room where you use Wi-Fi the
to the middle of your home as possible. most, such as an entertainment room or living room.
The router should be placed there. This allows you
The Trade-off to wire devices that require more bandwidth, like
Having the Wi-Fi router in the middle of your home streaming video or gaming systems, directly to your
means the signal will be weaker if there are too many router. The signal strength in this room will be the
barriers, but most of your coverage will be almost the strongest.
same throughout the house.
The Trade-off
If your media room isn’t in the middle of your home,
the Wi-Fi signal strength for other devices could be
Because routers operate with radio waves, you impacted the further you move from the router.
Step 2
have to watch for items that will cause interference.
Most Wi-Fi issues stem from the fact that the user
has blocked their own signal. After you find the spot,
make sure you have as little interference as possible.
LOW Potential for Interference
Wood Plaster
MEDIUM Potential for Interference
Mirrors Water Tinted Glass Bricks Marble
HIGH Potential for Interference
Cordless Concrete Microwaves Metal
Phones
Features 8CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE
Gary Coy
Recognizing Excellence at Pioneer
9 GoPioneerG Q&A
ar y Coy describes Gary knows how important this
himself as “pret t y data can be in determining company
boring ,” but his decisions. He has witnessed the
coworkers and growth of Pioneer from a standard
super v isor s would Telephone Cooperative to the
describe him as hardworking, multi-service provider it is today.
intelligent, and one of the ‘biggest “At the time I started we were What children’s character can
dog lovers’ at Pioneer. just a telephone company—which you relate with most? Why?
Gar y was nominated for the is plain old telephone ser vice Charlie Brown. He seems like he’s
Circle of Excellence and recognized (POTS). Now, we still do it for got a lot of friends, but he’s also
by Division Managers for his people that want it, but our main kind of a loner. He’s not really an
dedication, commitment and focus is pretty much broadband extrovert and he’s got a dog. But he
contributions to the Marketing Internet and wireless,” Gary said. seems like a thinker and a good guy.
team. F or Di v ision Manager “When I started cell phones were He reminds me of myself.
of Marketing, Blake Callaham, just starting to come in. If you had a
Gary was an easy choice for the car phone you were like a rich guy. What did you want to be when
recognition. Now everyone in the country’s got growing up?
“Gary truly represents the value a cell phone.” NFL Football player.
set we have for Pioneer,” Blake In his free time, Gary can be found Name one thing on your
said. “I can always count on him watching sports on TV, camping, bucket list.
to not only get what we need as woodworking in his workshop, or One thing that we are going to do,
a management team, but to also playing with his dogs, Bella and that we’ve talked about for years,
help his coworkers in any way that Lola. going to the The Rose Bowl and the
he can.” “Bella, I don’t know what she is, Rose parade. We’ve got everything
Gary is the Marketing Demand but she’s the black one—she is set up. We’re going in late December
A nal y s t for Pioneer and is 100% energy. Lola is the blonde to Pasadena.
responsible for navigating Pioneer one and she tries to keep up, but Tell us a little about your
databases and compiling data for they’re a lot more energy than any family.
various teams. we’ve had.”
“
I had a small family growing up,
Gary describes himself as “big just my two parents and my sister.
a dog lover as you can find”. His I was born and raised in Watonga,
When I started cell phones two current dogs were rescued then moved to Kingfisher, started
were just starting to by him and his wife, Sondra, after working here and met Sondra.
come in. If you had a car the death of their then 11 year-old When we got married she had two
cocker-spaniel.
phone you were like a rich
guy. Now everyone in the
country’s got a cell phone.
“ Though Gary had wanted a bigger
dog, he bargained for two small
daughters, so it was Sondra and I
and the two girls. I’ve had a small
family growing up and in married
ones with his wife and talks fondly life.
about his two rescues. What TV show/movie are you
“ My role as the Marketing “It’s coming up a year on having ashamed to admit you love?
Demand Analyst is to help Kim them both. We don’t throw them 16 Candles. It was an 80’s teenage
(Grellner, V.P. of Marketing) and a birthday party, but they usually movie. When I’m flipping through
Blake come up with the data that get an extra two treats that day,” the channels if I see it I gotta stop
we need to make decisions about Gary said. “We don’t know when and watch it.
whether we expand some lines of their birthdays are so we just made
something up for when we thought If your house was burning
businesses or not.”
their birthday might be, but they down, what’s the one non-living
For some, the concept of dealing get extra treats and stuff on their thing you would save?
with numbers can be daunting. birthday.” Probably my vehicles. We got the
Gary is responsible for pulling and
Gar y celebrated his 26th year big truck to pull the big camper with,
sorting through thousands of data
at Pioneer this April and is most the ford explorer with the back seats
points daily.
proud of how his co-workers view and the smaller truck.
“I think the most enjoyable aspect his character and work ethic. If Hollywood made a movie
of my role is being able to pull
“I can’t speak for others, but I about your life, who would you
data into a report, or any kind of
truly believe that anyone who has like to see cast as you?
format, that makes the data easier
to understand for the people that worked very closely with me at all Clint Eastwood.
need to make decisions about the has a good respect for the quality
future of the company.” of my work and how I treat anyone
I work with.”
Inside Pioneer 10Fiber in the home
39% could increase your
home’s value by
more than
3%
of rural American’s
can’t get internet.
With fiber, you could
download a 2-hour
movie in
24 seconds
Pioneer is bringing Fiber to your community!
T
he world of telecommunications is constantly and technology without the need to move away from
evolving and changing to meet the demands the communities they love.
of modern and future technology. Pioneer
is always working to stay ahead and keep When will these projects be completed?
our customers of Western OK and Western Both the A-CAM and town-overbuild projects do not
Kansas up-to-date when it comes to technology. have an exact completion date. These projects depend
This is why Pioneer is not only participating in the on many variables and time lines must be flexible
Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM), but to allow for unforeseen interruptions like weather
investing our own money into town-overbuild projects and working conditions. The entirety of Pioneer’s
to bring fiber to communities that would be left behind communities will have fiber by 2027.
and suffer drastically from the digital divide. Current projects and future project updates can be
found online at GoPioneer.com.
What is A-CAM?
A-CAM is an ongoing government initiative that How can I find out when Fiber will be coming
began in 2017 and provides companies like Pioneer to my area?
with the funds to lay fiber-optic cable in rural areas. Pioneer has a whole web page dedicated to Fiber.
Visit GoPioneer.com and click ‘Get Fiber’ to:
What are town overbuild projects? • View future fiber areas and their progress.
Pioneer has recognized a need for high speed • Sign up and register your address which:
internet in the smaller towns we serve which is why » Helps get your community one step closer
Pioneer began town-overbuild projects in 2019. Town- to being our next location for overbuild
overbuild projects are Pioneer funded and will connect » Gives you personalized updates on the fiber
our towns with rural America (A-CAM). This multi-year in your area
project is anticipated to be a significant investment of » Gives you an estimate on what your pricing
approximately $100 million, but Pioneer is proud and would look like for your chosen services
happy to invest in our communities.
How can I help?
Why should I care about fiber? By staying in the know, registering your address
Equal access to fiber broadband means rural and spreading the word! Pioneer is excited to offer
Americans have equal access to opportunities in today’s this opportunity to our communities.
information age. Fiber brings the opportunity for
businesses, families and schools to access information
11 GoPioneerStages of Fiber Installation
STAKING
01
Field Engineers will visit each location to discuss with
the property owners the location of current
underground utilities and draw a plan for the burial
of the new fiber-optic line on a Service Location
Agreement (SLA). Please call the number on the SLA
if you have questions. Buried network locations only.
CONSTRUCTION
02
Contractors begin main fiber line staking and
construction. You will notice utility markers in the
easements (right-of-way) during this stage of
construction. This phase will take several months
and will vary depending on the weather.
FIBER DROP
03
Contractors will mount the Optical Network Termi-
nal (ONT) box on each location based on the design
plan. The ONT will be placed near the electric meter
at your property.
04
SPLICING
During this phase, contractors will be splicing the
fiber-optic cables that have been installed and
preparing the fiber for your property.
CONVERSION
05
Pioneer will schedule a time to come to your
property to install a battery backup unit and
perform some rewiring of your services, if necessary,
and complete the fiber connection to the ONT.
Inside Pioneer 12THEIR TIME IS NOW....
HAVE YOUR STUDENTS APPLY FOR PIONEER
E
ducating the next generation is paramount to Pioneer and its Board of
Trustees. This is why Pioneer Telephone Cooperative announced we will
once again be accepting 2020-2021 College Scholarship and 2020-2021
Technology Center Scholarship applications.
OUR PURPOSE
The Pioneer Telephone Board of Trustees and Management are
very proud of the Scholarship Program. Our primary goal is to assist
students whose families are Members of the Cooperative with the
cost(s) associated with Higher Education.
The Scholarships
• The College Scholarships awarded will provide $1,000 per semester for
tuition and/or books for a maximum of $2,000 per year.
• The Technology Center Scholarships awarded shall cover the cost of
tuition and fees for $1,000 per applicant.
• Students will be interviewed and featured in the GoPioneer Magazine as
one of our Pioneer Scholars
How is the decision made?
Scholarship applications will be reviewed by the districts Board Member.
There will be one recipient per District for a total of 12 College Scholarships
and 12 Technical Center Scholarships. There is a 13th scholarship for
the District At-Large, which is open to dependents or children of Pioneer
Employees.
Since the inception of the
BECOME A
Pioneer Telephone Scholarship
Program in 1991, a total of
331 scholarships have been
PIONEER SCHOLAR
awarded at an investment of
$1,011,927.27.
13 GoPioneerTELEPHONE’S 2020-2021 SCHOLARSHIPS
Who’s eligible?
• Any applicant that is the son, • College Scholarship applicants
daughter or legal dependent of a who will be classified as either
residential subscriber of Pioneer a Junior or Senior beginning in
Telephone Cooperative, Inc. August 2020
• Dependents or children of Pioneer • Applicants who fully complete the
employees are eligible for the scholarship application including
District At-Large scholarship the 500 word or less essay
For specifics, visit GoPioneer.com for your particular application
Pioneer Telephone wants to invest
and support our members. This is
one of the many ways we invest in This is why YOU should apply. If you
our communities, however, it is an meet the criteria take the time to fill
opportunity which is occasionally left out an application.
unseized. We have had years where
we have had no applicants from a We are excited to meet our
district and have had the scholarship
community scholars.
lapse until the following year.
This means one of our students may
have lost the opportunity to receive
this scholarship.
When is the Deadline?
Applications are due June 26, 2020
Apply today!
Visit GoPioneer.com and click ‘Scholarship’ for the 2020-
2021 College and Technology Center Scholarship applications
Community 14Pioneer Family Recipes
“The biggest compliment you can get is never taking
any of it home.”
SIX-LAYER BROWNIE BARS
ingredients direction
1 Box Betty Preheat oven to 350. Grease bottom only of
Crocker original supreme a 9x9-in. pan w/ cooking spray or shortening.
brownie mix In a large bowl, stir brownie mix, pouch of
1/3 c. butter or chocolate syrup, butter and egg until well
margarine (melted) blended. Press into pan. Bake 14 minutes.
1 egg Top with coconut, toffee bits, chocolate
2/3 c. coconut chips and pecans. Drizzle evenly with
2/3 c. toffee bits condensed milk to within 1/2 inch of sides.
2/3 c. semisweet Bake 35-39 min. longer or until center is set
chocolate chips and golden brown. Cool completely; about 2
y
tella
ta Can 2/3 c. pecans (chopped) hrs. Cut into 6x4 rows for bars.
Reni 3/4 c. plus 2 T. Renita’s
Six-La
sweetened condensed milk yer Bro
wnie Bars
“W hat could possibly
be better than
brownies? Great
question. How
does Six-Layer
Brownies sound? Perhaps a little out
of this world and, luckily for you, they
“It is a good recipe. You know, I’m
not one to venture, to try adding this
or subtracting that. Whatever the
recipe is that’s what I go by,” Renita
said. “So I would be okay for people
to pass it around.”
Renita said the biggest compliment
exist and is the recipe submitted by you can get is never taking any of it
Renita Cantellay, Technical Support home.
Representative of Kingfisher, in
Pioneer’s 60th Anniversary cookbook. “I have fixed that numerous times
and I never take leftovers with me,”
Renita doesn’t take full credit for Renita said. “By the end of the day it’s
the brownie recipe, but had it ‘passed gone.”
down’ from Betty Crocker. Though,
she does laugh and realize she could The recipe calls for cooling, so she
likely pass it off as her own, like the warns that you should not refrigerate
Michelina’s Commercial “Mama it.
Michelina’s “Top Secret” Recipe” “I wouldn’t refrigerate it because it
“You know that commercial...where
the guy is talking to his daughter and
telling his daughter there’s nothing
like Mama’s pasta,” Renita said. “And
Mama’s in the kitchen, she’s locked
makes it hard to cut because of all the
melted stuff that’s in it.”
Outside of possible mishaps with
cooling, it’s an easy recipe, and Renita
“
is happy to share it with you.
the door and she’s in there making
noise— and it’s just Michelina’s frozen
To see the referenced commercial, search ‘Mama
dinners and those things are like, a Michelina’s “Top Secret” Recipe’ on Youtube.
buck.”
She laughs, but is always willing to
share the recipe, and it’s owner, to Find this recipe on Pinterest
anyone that asks. @GoPioneerOK
15 GoPioneerTHIS MONTH IN TECH HISTORY
MAY
May 2, 1983 Microsoft introduces
Microsoft’s 2-Button Mouse the Microsoft Mouse for
compatible PCs. The mouse
featured two buttons and
was available by itself for
purchase or would later
be bundled with the new
Microsoft Word software.
Microsoft manufactured
nearly 100,000 units, but
will only sell 5,000 before
introducing a new version.
May 10, 1894 Pictured: GoPioneer Editor Madison McCollum and the Big Red Ball (BRB).
{A Series of Postponed Events
The Birth of Wireless
PIC OF THE MONTH
“Wireless” is born when
Guglielmo Marconi sends a
radio wave three-quarters of The world has changed drastically in the last month. With the
a mile. Marconi’s work leads spread of the COVID-19 virus most all events have been canceled
to the commercialization world wide.
and proliferation of most of This issue, we are taking a different turn on the ‘Community events’
the radio technologies we and using it as a platform to educate and entertain with notable
technology dates in history!
know today.
Unfortunately, the BRB and the GoPioneer editor have found
themselves sitting in the Kingfisher office, but hopefully we’ll be rolling
out to local events soon!
May 22, 1980
Happy Birthday Pac-Man!
Namco’s upcoming game Did you know...
“Puck-Man” is tested in We’re making history right now.
Japan. After receiving a Over the last two months Internet usage has
favorable initial testing, the sored to unprecedented levels. Stuck at home
game is slightly tweaked with movie theaters closed, school canceled,
with the most major change and offices closed— people are looking not
being the renaming of the only for ways to entertain themselves, but to
game to “Pac-Man”. This keep in contact as well. It’s hard to say what
would be the first game this will lead to, but there’s no doubt it’s going
popular with both men and down in history.
women.
May 17, 1991 May 19, 1980
The First Day of HTML Tim Berners-Lee set up Apple Introduces Apple III
HTML (hypertext markup The Apple III was introduced
language) and HTTP at the National Computer
(hypertext transfer protocol) Conference in Anaheim,
on a machine at the CERN California. It was the
research lab in Switzerland. company’s first attempt
The server was launched at a business computer
onto the World Wide Web, and would later come to
effectively making this the be known as Apple’s first
first day you could get a failure.
website that could support
more than text.
The next GoPioneer issue will be released in: June Community 16Mr. & Mrs. J.M. Cope - Frederick - Celebrated their 73rd Wedding Anniversary March 22nd.
They have 3 sons (one deceased), 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Chad & Michele Kliewer - Kingfisher - Celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary April 8th.
Jim & Phyllis Bohling - May - Celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary April 17th.
They have 2 sons and 2 daughters, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Thomas & Rhonda Luckinbill - Blanchard - Will Celebrate their 56th Wedding Anniversary May 9th.
Donald Roy & Judy Jenkins - Gage - Will Celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary May 28th.
They have 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law and 1 granddaughter.
Happy Anniversary from all of us at Pioneer!
Want your Anniversary published?
To have wedding anniversary announcements of 25 years or more, simply submit your anniversary information including town,
wedding date, and number of children, grand children and great-grandchildren to GoPioneer Magazine at any of the following
addresses:
Standard mail:
Email: GoPioneer Anniversaries
Subject: GoPioneer Anniversaries GoPioneer.com:
Pioneer Telephone Cooperative Find Anniversaries under
GoPioneerOK@ptci.com P.O. Box 539 ‘GoPioneer Magazine’ on
Kingfisher, OK 73750 our website.
GoPioneer (USPS No. xxx-xxx) is owned by and published eight times out of the year for the benefit of the approximately 32,000 member families of Pioneer
Telephone Cooperative, Inc. EDITORIAL & CIRCULATION Contact: Madison McCollum, GoPioneer Editor Mailing Address: P.O. Box 539, Kingfisher, OK
73750 E-mail: GoPioneerOK@ptci.com Call: (405) 375-0274 Fax: (405) 699-3053 MANAGEMENT Richard Ruhl General Manager Jerry Kadavy V.P. Network
Operations David Post V.P. HR/Legal Kim Grellner V.P. Marketing, Sales & Service Brenda Walta V.P. Finance and Administration/CFOYou can also read
