Your Communications ProviderNovember 2014

Vernon Telephone Cooperative is one of 13 rural communications firms in North America to be honored with the Smart Rural Community Showcase Award by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association. NTCA cited Vernon Telephone Cooperative’s advanced communications services and collaboration with local leaders in agriculture, health care, public safety and education as keys to its success.

At a gathering of more than 1,000 leaders of rural telecommunications providers hosted by NTCA, Vernon Telephone Cooperative was honored for deploying advanced technologies and leveraging those technologies to enable innovation in the areas of economic development and commerce, education, enhanced health care, government services, security and energy use.

“Vernon Telephone Cooperative is a prime example of the power of a broadband connection and a steadfast commitment to growth and prosperity,” said NTCA C.E.O. Shirley Bloomfield. “Not only are the people of Viroqua charting their own path to a more prosperous future, they are also creating a road map for many more communities across the country to follow suit. I commend the people of Viroqua for these extraordinary efforts.”

In addition to the NTCA Smart Rural Community Showcase Award, Vernon Telephone Cooperative was also one of seven telecommunications providers in the state to be honored at the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association (WSTA) Fall Conference on October 6th with a 2014 Gigabit Community Award. This award was given in recognition of the fiber-optic broadband network throughout the City of Viroqua and the pioneering spirit of Vernon Telephone Cooperative. Broadband speeds of 1 Gigabit (Gbps) or higher are made possible through significant investment and deployment of fiber-optic networks. Broadband that is capable of 1 Gpbs service is 100 times faster than the average national broadband speeds.

“In 2013, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission challenged America to have at least one Gigabit Community in each of the 50 states by 2015,” said Bill Esbeck, Executive Director of WSTA. “Vernon Telephone Cooperative and other private sector providers are showing the rest of the country that Wisconsin is up to the challenge.”

Both initiatives recognize and celebrate the efforts of rural telecommunications providers and their communities to deliver technologies that make rural communities vibrant places to live and do business. The goal is to foster the development of communities throughout rural America by recognizing trailblazers and providing resources to assist broadband providers and connected industries.(continued on back)

Watch the video: vernontel.com/smartrural

Vernon Employees with Bill Esbeck (center), Executive Director of WSTA

Rod Olson, CEO of Vernon Telephone Cooperative, presents Viroqua Mayor Larry Fanta with Smart Rural and Gigabit awards.

Viroqua Receives National Recognition as Smart Rural Community

November ON DEMAND Rentals

• X-Men: Days of Future Past (Available Now)• Maleficent (Available November 4th)• How To Train Your Dragon 2 (Available

November11th).

Vernon TeleCommunicator Published by Vernon Communications Office Hours:Monday - Friday Two locations to serve you Viroqua: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 103 N. Main St., Westby, WI 54667 • 214 N. Main St., Viroqua, WI 54665 Westby: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: (608)634-3136 •1-800-543-2029 • Fax: (608)634-2000 Billing inquiries 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Chief Executive Officer: Rod Olson • Editor: Jana Pedretti E-mail: vernontel@vernontel.com

Office Closing

Due to the Thanksgiving

Holiday, we will be closed on Thursday November 27, 2014.

Toys for CHRISTMASConsider giving to a child less fortunate this holiday season by

bringing in a new toy with a value of $5.00 or more to our Westby or Viroqua office. Anyone who donates a toy will receive a $5.00 credit on your Vernon bill. Vernon will be taking donations for those in need for the Holidays through December 15, 2014.

Twinklefest Parade Come and enjoy Black Friday evening November 28th

for ”Back to the 80’s,” theme in downtown Viroqua at 7:00 PM. The event is sponsored by the Viroqua Chamber Main Street.

The chili was hot, but the weather was “CHILLY” for the 3rd annual Lions Chili Cook Off in Westby on Saturday October 4, 2014. Vernon Employees Terri Kotek, Jeanne Mueller and Mary Klum braved the cold to prepare their awesome chili recipe .

Co-Op WeekOctober was Co-op Month and Principal Six is Cooperation

among Cooperatives. Special treats were offered everyday for the week of October 13 - 17th to honor our members. Anyone who walked into either of our offices were offered a treat from some of our local cooperatives. Westby Creamery, the Food Co-op and Organic Valley were a few of the cooperatives that supplied the treats for our members to enjoy.

(continued from front)“We are pleased and excited to accept these awards,” said Rod

Olson, C.E.O. of Vernon Telephone Cooperative. “We have worked hard and have made huge investments in our facilities to ensure that our members have access to advanced communications and the many benefits those services enable. We also look forward to seeing what our local entrepreneurs and business people can do with the virtually unlimited broadband capability to enhance their businesses and increase economic development in the area. If you can live or work anywhere in the world, why not here.”

On Tuesday, October 14th, Vernon Telephone Cooperative presented the Mayor and City Council of Viroqua, with awards to recognize the community’s designation as both a Smart Rural Community and a Gigabit Community. The presentation began with the first public unveiling of a video that was part of the Smart Rural Community award submission, highlighting many innovative industries within Viroqua leveraging the broadband network. Watch the video at www.vernontel.com/SmartRural.

“The City of Viroqua is honored to receive the Smart Rural Community and Gigabit Community designations and congratulates Vernon Telephone Cooperative for a job well done. It shows the strong partnerships and forward thinking leadership of our community businesses, organizations and government to promote economic development. Another prime example of how Viroqua is growing forward,” said Mayor Larry Fanta.

Vernon Telephone Cooperative joined other Smart Rural Community Award winners at the White House on October 28th to share with government representatives the success stories of rural telecommunications companies bringing the most advanced broadband technologies to their communities.

FREE PREVIEW ALERT:In honor of Veteran’s Day, watch the one-day Free

Preview of HBO (Ch. 600) on November 11th, featuring The Concert for Valor, a Veterans Day event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.