Connections for May 2021

Cornerstone Group © 2021 Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications Lifeline is a federal program to help low-income subscribers stay connected by providing a monthly discount of $5.25 on their wireline phone, wireless phone, or broadband internet service. FCC rules prohibit more than one Lifeline service per household. Lifeline is available to eligible low-income subscribers in every state, territory, commonwealth, and on Tribal lands. To qualify for Lifeline, subscribers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal Poverty Guidelines or participate in at least one of the assistance programs listed below: • Medicaid • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps or SNAP) • Supplemental Security Income • Federal Public Housing Assistance (Section 8) • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance • Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations • Head Start (if income eligibility criteria are met) You can check your Lifeline eligibility at www.lifelinesupport.org/ do-i-qualify/. Or contact Panora Telco or Guthrie Center Communications with questions. To get the best performance from your Wi-Fi network, it’s important to place your router in the optimal location in your home. The real estate agent mantra, “Location, location, location” applies here, since the wrong location can sometimes cause the internet connection to fail or drop intermittently. Follow these guidelines to help you find the right spot: • Install your router in a central location. Routers send the signal out in all directions, so if it’s left in a corner of your home, a significant percentage of your wireless coverage is being sent outside. It’s best to move the router to a central location to optimize the signal. In a multi-story home, this means the main floor. • Avoid physical obstructions. Don’t place your router near walls made of brick, stone, or concrete. You also shouldn’t place it inside a cabinet or drawer. • Go high. Routers tend to spread signal downward, so it’s best to mount the router as high as possible to maximize coverage. Try placing it on an upper shelf or mounting it on the wall in an inconspicuous place. Don’t put it on the floor. • Avoid reflective surfaces. SomeWi-Fi signals bounce off windows, mirrors, metal file cabinets, and stainless steel countertops, lessening both network range and performance. • Stay away from other electronic devices. This includes TVs, microwaves, and phones. • Don’t settle prematurely on a location. Try placing your router in several different promising locations and note the internet performance in each. While this trial-anderror method may not be the most scientific way to find a good spot, it can end up being an effective one. If you’d like us to set up your home’s Wi-Fi network and provide continuing remote support, sign up for Managed Wi-Fi. Call Panora Telco at (641) 755-2424 or Guthrie Center Communications at (641) 332-2000. Where in Your Home Should Your Router Go?

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