Winning E-Story Submitted by: Casie Klinger

Five short months ago I moved to Flippin from a small town in the middle of Iowa. Immediately I fell in love with the area. The people are so friendly and caring. Everybody takes their time doing things, instead of always rushing and causing problems for others. I decided to get NATCO Internet service so I could continue doing my schooling (college) online so that I am able to stay home with my three year old son and to keep up with the house so the "man" of the house doesn't have to. When signing up for my service, I was very surprised in how the people who work for NATCO were so nice and patient with me. I've never once had a problem or issue with my service that I couldn't figure out on my own. Like not being able to figure out why I couldn't call out on my phone when someone was on the internet, then realizing that was why they gave me more than one filter for my phone lines. Talk about a "duh" moment for me. Anyways, in the 10 short years I've been on my own in this world, NATCO is by far the best and most appreciated service I've ever received by any utility. Thank you all so much for your kindness and patience. NATCO ROCKS!

Casie Klinger just earned two free months of NATCO Internet service! Submit your E-Story today and you could be our next winner! Remember that you can enter more than once. So, if you didn't win this time, try again! Just go to www.natcotech.com/estories.htm and tell us how using NATCO's Internet or e-mail service has made your life easier, helped you promote or manage your business, or simply how much you enjoy using the Internet and e-mail. If your E-Story is chosen, you'll win two months of free NATCO dialup Internet service ($19.95 X 2 = $39.90) or an equivalent credit on your High-Speed Internet account.

Coming Soon from NATCO Tech – Fiber to the Home in Bull Shoals

NATCO and its divisions have led advancements in technology and high quality services for more than 57 years now. We brought northern Arkansas great digital telephone features early – and we brought you Internet service as early as 1995. Those were possible because NATCO invested in our infrastructure by upgrading to digital switching and the necessary fiber optics technology. Now, we will further develop it with more extensive fiber optics.

You will see and hear the acronym “FTTH” for fiber to the home pretty often from us, starting now. When NATCO provides FTTH in your town and your neighborhood, your home will be equipped to receive Internet service with unlimited speed and increased bandwidth for all digital communications, including high definition and video on demand.

Acceptable Use Policy Protects Users

NATCO Tech customers may always view our Acceptable Use Policy, being sure to understand the likely outcome of any prohibited use of the Internet connection – suspension of your service. Above all, NATCO Tech strives to protect our customers who follow the guidelines.

We do not tolerate use of the Internet web space we provide for any criminal or unlawful purpose, including the storage of material which promotes criminal or unlawful activity, such as artwork, writings, or a computer program protected by copyright, patent, trademark or any other legal right.

Know that NATCO strictly enforces the Child Online Protections Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. We are concerned about protecting you against spammers and users whose materials threaten, defame, or abuse any person, group, or other entity.

Thanks, Bull Shoals

As NATCO and NATCO Tech move toward beta testing of FTTH, or fiber – as in fiber-optic wire – to the home, we looked to Bull Shoals, where we hope to first install this offering. We appreciate the customers we have met who have agreed to take part in the testing. We’ll keep you informed of the schedule.

What’s Your Password . . . PLLEEEZ?

Once upon a time, there were no seatbelt laws. But now there are, and a higher level of safety is achieved because most Americans do wear seatbelts.

Likewise, once there was no rule that every telephone account needed a password. But, now there is, and a higher level of security for that information is achieved. It’s called the CPNI rule. CPNI is short for Customer Proprietary Network Information, or private information about your telephone account, like calling records or the amount due on your bill.

The account holder chooses a password and shares it only with others who need to know it.

Focus Group Experience

Another big thank-you is extended to the dozens of NATCO customers who were in focus groups recently. The focus groups met at different times of the day or evening at Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing in Mountain Home to evaluate possible services NATCO or NATCO Tech may offer in the future. You showed that you seriously considered various service options as well as helped strengthen our understanding of customers’ needs and challenges. We learned how vital it is for us to introduce a new service in a manner that details not only how it works, but how it would benefit you. Thank you for participating in this important forum.

South Shore Website Has New Look and Information

NATCO has updated the website of the South Shore Foundation and its communities at www.southshore.com. South Shore Foundation is NATCO’s charitable arm. Updates include Fred Berry Conservation Education Center at Crooked Creek, James A. Gaston Visitor Center, now headquarters of Bull Shoals-White River State Park, and 15 community pages.

NATCO donates the community websites and their inclusion in the Development Information Network of Arkansas (DINA), a project of the UALR Institute for Economic Advancement. DINA web pages contain detailed community facts to aid the towns in growth and economic development. Because we believe in supporting the communities of the area, NATCO was one of the first companies in the region to become actively involved in the issue of economic development.

South Shore’s website also continues to offer four scenic driving tours with route maps: Bull Shoals Vacation Area Tour, Countryside and Fishing Tour (Cotter to Flippin to Bull Shoals Lake to Yellville), Buffalo National River Park and Crooked Creek Tour, and a Branson Loop Tour.

Gaming Easy with Portal Page Choices

Computer games are fun for many family members, and they’re easy to find if your computer’s home page is your NATCO Tech Portal Page. Just choose a game like Frogger, Asteroids, Hexxagon or others from our free library of games.

It’s not just kids who enjoy them! If you haven’t made the NATCO Tech Portal Page your home page, click here to add it, and you’ll also have local weather, your choice of area daily newspapers, movie listings, your favorite sports headlines, and more.

Voice Mail Now Available in Email

NATCO telephone customers may now receive voice mail alerts on their email and cell phones. Their email will show a message from ‘yourtelephone’ with an attachment to be opened by their media player program. Steven G. Sanders Jr. of NATCO said the new voice mail system provides flexibility in checking voice mail while still being assured of a solid anchor to their existing wireline phone service. He said NATCO also increased the system’s reliability. To order, call NATCO Customer Service at 1-800-775-6682.

As always, NATCO voice mail does not require recording equipment, and the system works when electricity fails. Messages are not missed, and are received with excellent sound quality on the all digital system. Multiple greetings can be stored and activated at the appropriate times. Basic package voice mail notification is by message indicator light on compatible phones or by stutter dial tone.

Talking Dictionary Online

When you look up the definition of a word you don’t know, you might not be sure how to pronounce it. Right? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary people have solved this quandary for web users. Just go to www.merriam-webster.com, look up a word (we chose the word of the day when we tried it - ineffable). Then, when the definition appears, click on the red megaphone by the written pronunciation. A clear, male voice pronounced this word at a normal conversational speed. A good improvement.

Holiday Greetings

We wish a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all NATCO Tech customers. We think you are the best! Don’t forget, we offer you 24/7 support for any problems with your Internet service. Our office will be closed on Christmas, but you may call 1-888-276-8059.

Win a South Shore Gift

When you visit the South Shore website at www.southshore.com, you'll have a chance to win a South Shore souvenir, like a T-shirt, a cap, chiller cups, and other necessities for the great South Shore outdoors. The South Shore website is an electronic community for the towns on and near the south shore of Bull Shoals Lake, and it's packed with information for you and visitors inquiring about our area.

Doris Algee is this month's winner of a South Shore souvenir. Congratulations, Doris.

Weekly Maintenance on Wednesday

Each Wednesday morning from 12:01 A.M. until 5 A.M., NATCO Technologies performs regular maintenance on Internet equipment. Your Internet service should not be affected. But, if you do experience an interruption in service during this time, please try again a few moments later. We try to minimize any "down time" by doing our maintenance at a regular time each week.

All users agree to terms and guidelines published at www.natcotech.com/guideline.htm.

Feedback: NATCO invites readers' comments about the e-newsletter and suggestions for future articles. Let us know what information in the e-newsletter is most useful or what Internet issues are important to you. Readers may send suggestions for future e-newsletter articles, questions or comments to: custserv@natconet.com.

Want to view previous issues? Visit: e-newsletter archives.

NATCO Technologies does not endorse or recommend any software or program. The purpose of the articles included in this newsletter is to keep our customers informed. We do not provide free technical support for software or programs such as Norton, McAfee, AVG Anti-Virus, Instant Messenger Services, etc. Please see the NATCO Internet brochure for full details on what is and is not covered by our free Internet Technical Support.