Contact Blue Valley Technologies 1559 Pony Express Hwy Home, KS 66438 Phone: 877.876.1228 Office Hours: Monday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Email: csr@bluevalleyinc.net Visit Us Online: www.bluevalley.net Office Closure: September 1 for Labor Day FRS Community Grant Program Open If you have a project that could benefit your rural community —whether in education, safety, or economic growth —we encourage you to apply today for an FRS Community Grant! The grant is open to schools, nonprofits, and local leaders. The deadline to submit applications to BVT is August 22. Direct any questions to Jada Ackerman at jackerman@bluevalleyinc.net. For a complete list of awards, please visit www.bluevalley.net/ scholarship. Ready to Serve? BVT is accepting nominations for the board soon! Visit our website at www.bluevalley.net/board for details. JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2025 THE HOME PAGE AN INFORMATIONAL PUBLICATION FOR BVT CUSTOMERS Phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated and more frequent —especially among customers of communications providers like BVT. These scams often arrive as emails or text messages that appear to come from a trusted source. They ask you to verify your account, update billing information, or click a link to avoid service disruption. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI) apps, scams are becoming increasingly difficult to detect, which is why we urge you to remain vigilant. Scammers are after your personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security details. Once they have it, they can steal your identity, access your accounts, or even commit fraud in your name. What to Watch For: • Messages with urgent or threatening language • Unfamiliar links or email addresses • Requests for sensitive information • Misspellings or odd formatting How to Protect Yourself: • Don’t click suspicious links. If something feels off, it probably is. • Verify the source. Contact BVT directly by calling 877.876.1228 or chatting with us at www.bluevalley.net. • Use strong passwords and ALWAYS enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. • Report phishing attempts to BVT so we can help better protect everyone. If you receive a message that seems suspicious, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll help you determine if it’s legitimate and guide you through your next steps. At BVT, you’re not just a customer to us—you’re family. Your safety, and the trust you put in us to keep you connected, are at the heart of everything we do. How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams
Meet the Customer Service Team: Colleen, Ryan, and Jodi Colleen Voet has been with BVT since April 2005 and lives in Home City. She and her husband Sheldon have four children—Madison (soon to marry Austin Holthaus), Chloe, Paxton, Lilly, and a foster son, Adam. Her go-to afternoon snack? A vanilla Dr Pepper and popcorn! Ryan Ogg joined BVT in April 2024 and has loved every minute. He lives in Frankfort with his wife Amy and son James, while their son Dallas lives right next door. You’ll often find Ryan at his computer, Monster energy drink in hand. Jodi O’Neil, part of the team since March 2004, lives in Beattie with her husband Kevin. They have two kids: Bryar, a recent KSU grad, and Brynn, a junior at KSU. Their golden retriever, Cooper, keeps things lively. Jodi transitioned into the supervisor role for the department following Joan’s retirement earlier this month. TECH TALK WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE Understanding Your Bill, Choosing a Plan, and More At BVT, we believe great service starts with understanding, and who better to share insights than our dedicated Customer Service team. They’re here to make sure you feel supported, informed, and confident in your services. Understanding Your Bill Some of the most common points of confusion include Universal Service Fund fees, non-recurring charges, and initial bills that may cover more than one month of service for new subscriptions. The back page breakdown can also be tricky, with some customers mistaking it for double billing. “I always like to point our customers to the back of the bill, where there’s a more detailed explanation of their charges,” said Ryan Ogg. Have Questions? Just Call Us. “We’re happy to go over your bill line by line,” said Jodi O’Neil. “We’re friendly, and we know statements can be confusing. Colleen Voet added, “We live here, too. We’ll work through it with you.” Choosing the Right Internet Plan Many customers are unsure which plan best fits their household. “There are lots of options. Looking at what is most expensive versus the least expensive plan is not always the best way to decide,” Jodi explained. “We want to help you find the plan that will function best for your family.” More Than Just Billing Help Our team may also make suggestions for services such as Worry-Free WiFi, Outdoor WiFi, or online billing. Ryan said, “Our goal is to help you get the most out of your fiber connection—whether it’s for streaming, working, security, or simply staying connected to what matters most.” Ryan added, “I want to make your day easier. For me, it's about building trust and being the human connection in a digital world.” Colleen noted, “We’re more than a service provider —we’re your neighbors. And we’re here to make your experience smooth, personal, and stress-free.” Jodi encouraged anyone needing help to call 877.876.1228. “We’re here for you,” she said.
In a closely watched decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund (USF), a key program that supports affordable internet and phone services across the country, especially in rural areas, schools, and libraries. The USF, which distributes over $8 billion annually, was challenged by a conservative group claiming Congress had improperly delegated taxing and spending authority to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its partner, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). In 2024, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the program unconstitutional, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court. In June 2025, the Court ruled in favor of the FCC, preserving the USF’s role in expanding broadband access. The decision is seen as a major win for digital equity advocates and rural communities that rely on these funds for essential connectivity. This ruling ensures continued support for rural broadband infrastructure and access, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide. Cornerstone Group © 2025 BLUE VALLEY TECHNOLOGIES • 877.876.1228 • WWW.BLUEVALLEY.NET Joan Hartner Retired After 25 Years at BVT After 25 years of dedicated service, Joan Hartner retired from BVT on August 1. She began her journey in April 2000 as a Customer Service Representative specializing in longdistance service. She later became a billing clerk and then retired as the Customer Service Supervisor. What were the most memorable changes during her tenure? Joan replied, “The advancements in technology — from dial-up internet to DSL and now to fiber.” Joan’s excited for this new chapter, and is especially excited to not set her alarm! She plans to volunteer at her grandkids’ school, attend their sporting events, spend more time at the lake, and dive into puzzles, painting, and audiobooks. She and her husband Shane have been married for 24 years and have three grown sons—Cody, Chance, and Chase—plus two daughters-in-law and seven beautiful grandkids (who are already looking forward to more sleepovers at Grandma Joan’s house). Joan said, “I’ve been truly blessed to work for an amazing company alongside the best co-workers. Thank you for 25 wonderful years!” Congratulations on your retirement, Joan! You’ll be missed immensely. Supreme Court Upholds Universal Service Fund FTTH Projects Making Progress in Washington and Waterville We’re excited to share that our Fiber to the Home (FTTH) projects in Washington and Waterville are moving along smoothly! These upgrades are part of our ongoing commitment to bring faster, more reliable internet to all of our rural communities. We reached a major milestone in July when Washington customers began getting installed. Project Manager Jon Novak said, “The BVT team has been working hard to ensure a seamless transition, and is thrilled to see homes getting connected to high-speed fiber.” Waterville residents, you’re not far behind! We anticipate scheduling your installs later this fall and will be reaching out with more details as we get closer. This upgrade will bring enhanced streaming, smoother video calls, and better overall connectivity to your home. We appreciate everyone’s patience and enthusiasm as we continue building a stronger, more connected future for our communities. Frankfort and Hanover —we are heading to your neighborhoods next. Stay tuned for more updates!
Cornerstone Group © 2025 1559 Pony Express Hwy Home, Kansas 66438 Phone: 877.876.1228 www.bluevalley.net PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID HOME, KS PERMIT NO. 1 Helping You Live Life Connected At BVT, “Live Life Connected” isn’t just a tagline—it’s our promise. We’re committed to keeping families, businesses, and communities linked through fast, reliable service. Beyond broadband, BVT proudly supports a wide array of community events, helping neighbors come together, celebrate, and thrive. Whether it’s a local festival or youth activity, our roots run deep, and our mission is clear: to connect what matters most, both online and off. So far this summer, we’ve had the privilege to support the following organizations: Waterville Car Show, Marysville Auto Fest, NM County Youth Wrestling, Marysville Kids Wrestling, Centralia Ball Association, St Gregory’s Open, Pony Express Catbackers, NM County Education Foundation Golf Tourney, CMH Community Foundation Golf Fundraiser, Cool Springs Golf Tournament, Frankfort Trust Golf Tournament, MCAC Swing 4 the Arts, Marshall County 4H, Pottawatomie County 4H, Nemaha County 4H, Washington County 4H, Nemaha County STEP Foundation, City of Linn Mural Project, Linn Bulldog Development, Linn Booster Club, City of Hanover Ballfield, Days of 49, Centralia 4th of July, Marysville Community Foundation, Vermillion Grandstand, Big Blue River Days, Bern Rec Club & Fire Dept, Seneca BBQ/Fireworks, St Peters & Paul church picnic, Sacred Heart church picnic, and Frankfort United Methodist Church BINGO.
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