December 2023 • Volume 29, Issue 4 A quarterly newsletter from your friends at KMTelecom Where technology comes with a human touch KMTelecom 18 Second Avenue NW Kasson, MN 55944-1491 634-2511 Local call for KMTelecom customers in Kasson, Mantorville, Rock Dell and Dodge Center Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm For help with service problems during non-business hours, please call 634-2505. 24/7 Internet Help Desk 634-2575 Visit Us Online www.kmtel.com Stay Up to Date Follow KMTelecom on Facebook and Instagram @kmtelecomwhippet Business Office Closed Friday, December 1st, 2023 Closing at 3:30pm for Employee Appreciation event Monday, December 25th, 2023 Christmas Holiday Monday, January 1st, 2024 New Year’s Holiday Ready for a Cup of Cheer? Stop by our office any of the first three Tuesdays in December— the 5th, 12th, or 19th—for a warm welcome along with hot coffee or cocoa and a cookie. It’s our way to say thanks for your business! Finding just the right film or series to stream on any given day can be a challenge. Don’t you wish it was as easy as finding true love in a Christmas movie? It can be! Simply check out the StreamNow Insider we email to you, which features a day-byday listing of each month’s streaming premieres including: • New original films and series • New family-friendly entertainment • New documentaries and docuseries • Streaming releases of “from the theater” films StreamNow Insider covers the latest content from all the major streaming services—with descriptions and trailer videos—so you’re sure to find your perfect match. If you need more details about streaming TV, check out our streaming webpage at www.kmtel.com/streaming-tv. Perfect Match? LOOKING FOR YOUR StreamNow INSIDER INTRODUCES YOU TO STREAMING PREMIERES! Cornerstone Group © 2023
It was once common for households to receive 100+ Christmas cards —some with Christmas letters inside—during December. The carefully selected cards would feature beautiful illustrations or photos, and the letters would summarize the top news from that year, such as children’s activities, family vacations, and work updates. Today, however, these printed-and-mailed expressions of holiday cheer have increasingly been replaced by Facebook and Instagram posts that reach all your friends and followers instantly. Southern Living magazine put out an Instagram poll in 2022 that asked, “Do you think Christmas cards are a dying art?” A whopping 63% responded, “Sadly, yes they are.” The rest said, “No, they’re better than ever!” This shows that while some people have given up the tradition, those on “team Christmas cards” remain fiercely committed. It’s easy to understand the appeal of switching from paper to posts. You don’t have to pay for Christmas cards and stamps, and you don’t have to set aside hours to write messages in each card individually, sign your name, and address the envelopes. With social media, you can simply choose your favorite photo(s), write a quick “Merry Christmas” message to everyone, and tap a button. You’re done in a few minutes and haven’t spent a dime. Then there’s the topic of the annual Christmas letter, sometimes referred to as a “brag rag.” The need for it has greatly diminished given that family news now tends to be distributed online throughout the year. Why send a summary on paper when you’ve already shared highlights about your children, trips, job, health, hobbies, and home improvement projects on a weekly basis on social media? The reasons why traditional Christmas cards (with or without Christmas letters inside) still have fans are primarily sentimental. Senders cherish the tradition of carefully selecting the card’s design and thinking about loved ones as they prepare the cards for mailing. Recipients feel touched to receive handwritten greetings and enjoy using the cards as holiday decorations around their home. KMTelecom uses a variety of ways to share Christmas messages, including this newsletter! You can also check out our Facebook and Instagram pages to see what’s happening this season. Warm Up Winter with Random Acts of Kindness We have the power to change the course of someone’s day through random acts of kindness. They don’t have to take much time or cost any money. It’s the small things that can make a huge difference. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking: • Call a friend you haven’t spoken to for a while. • Shovel the driveway for your elderly neighbor. • Offer to babysit for a family member. • Send an interesting article to a friend. • Donate household items to a charity. • Bring in homemade treats for your co-workers. • Praise a colleague for something they’ve done well. • Let someone jump the queue at the supermarket. • Allow a driver to merge into your lane. • Pay for the order behind you in the drive-through lane. KMTelecom believes strongly in giving back to the community through volunteer hours, participation in community organizations, scholarships, financial donations—and random acts of kindness. Has Social Media Replaced Christmas Cards and Letters?
Cornerstone Group © 2023 Win a $25 Credit on Your KMTelecom Bill Fill out this form, clip it, and return it with your next bill by December 31, 2023 for a chance to win a $25 credit to your account. One winner per newsletter will be selected. Name: _________________________ Phone #: _______________________ Congratulations to our September 2023 winner, Pat Kubat, Kasson. $25 Merry Christmas to the World’s Best Customers KMTelecom is so fortunate to live and work in this community! It’s a privilege to keep you connected with communications services, and we appreciate your loyal support of us as the local provider. May you enjoy many wonderful moments with family and friends during the Christmas season, and may health and happiness be yours in the new year. Fiber Construction Continues Fiber construction in the City of Dodge Center is finishing up and customer conversions are in full swing. The amount of support we’ve received from this community has been amazing. We are so excited to bring our fiber-fed services to Dodge Center! In the spring of 2024, construction crews will be moving onto the three Border-toBorder Broadband Development Grant areas listed below. These grants were awarded to KMTelecom by the MN Office of Broadband to KMTelecom earlier this year. Rock Dell Southeast The first grant area will bring fiber to 260 locations in rural Rock Dell that are currently served by our copper facilities. This project area covers approximately 35 square miles of land with 87 miles of fiber cabling. Keep an eye out for mailers, yard signs, etc. to pre-register for service. Rock Dell Adjacent East The second grant area will bring fiber to 210 locations in rural areas east of Rock Dell, all of which are outside of our current service territory. This project area covers approximately 23 square miles of land with 73 miles of fiber cabling. If you know anyone who lives in this area, help us spread the word that KMTelecom will be bringing them fiber very soon. Rural Byron & Salem Corners The third grant area will bring fiber to 221 locations in rural areas surrounding the City of Byron and Salem Corners. This project area covers approximately 22 square miles of land with 75 miles of fiber cabling. Much like Rock Dell Adjacent East, this project area is outside of our current service territory, so if you know anyone who lives in this area, help us spread the word. Overall, 2024 will be a very busy year of construction for us. We can’t wait to get started and we look forward to bringing fiber to those in need!
Cornerstone Group © 2023 Todd Laganiere – Outside Plant Manager – 29 years Todd has been instrumental in the expansion and maintenance of our physical infrastructure. His commitment to ensuring the seamless connection of our services to homes and businesses has been a vital part of our success. Jeff Suhr – Network Operations Manager – 30 Years Jeff’s leadership and technical prowess have been a driving force behind the reliability and innovation of our network. His expertise has played a pivotal role in keeping us at the forefront of our industry. Gena Giese – Customer Service Manager – 26 Years Gena’s dedication to providing top-tier customer service has helped form the bedrock of KMTelecom’s reputation. Her commitment to building the best customer service team around has been remarkable. Mark Mathias – Technician – 26 Years Mark has been a key player in our technical team, ensuring that our services run smoothly. His dedication to onsite problem-solving and his technical expertise have been an asset to KMTelecom and the customers we serve. Deb Manitz – Marketing & Sales Manager – 23 Years Deb’s creative vision and leadership have played a pivotal role in shaping KMTelecom’s brand and messaging. Her enthusiasm for promoting our services has been instrumental in driving our growth. Darice DeBus – Customer Service Representative – 22 Years Darice has been the friendly voice at the other end of the line for our customers for over two decades. Her commitment to excellent customer care and problem-solving has made her a cherished member of our team. Celebrating a Combined 156 Years of Service In the ever-changing world of telecommunications, few things stay the same. One of them is the unmatched dedication of our exceptional employees. This year, KMTelecom is proud to celebrate and pay tribute to the incredible commitment displayed by these six team members, who have each been a cornerstone of KMTelecom for more than 20 years. Start the New Year with eBilling A new year is the ideal time to begin new habits. Perhaps you’ve resolved to take a new approach to eating or exercise, learn new skills, or travel to new places. If you’re still paying your KMTelecom bill by writing a check and mailing it to us, may we suggest you consider a new method this year? Switch to eBilling and enjoy these benefits: • More Security – Paper bills leave you vulnerable to sensitive information being stolen from the mailbox or garbage can. With eBilling, you communicate securely with us via a passwordprotected online portal. • Lower Costs – You won’t have to buy as many postage stamps or checks when you use eBilling. • Less Time Required – Why waste time finding a bill, writing a check, looking for a stamp, and walking to the mailbox? Pay online in seconds with eBilling. • Convenience of eBill Mobile App – Download the eBill Mobile App to your phone, then use this QR code to set it up. • $10 One-time Credit – It’s yours when you choose Web Bill only. To sign up for eBilling, visit www.kmtel.com and click on Bill Pay to register. Please join us in recognizing these outstanding employees. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for KMTelecom’s growth, innovation, and collaboration!
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