MAY 2 0 2 5 Cornerstone Group © 2025 YOUR QUARTERLY DOSE OF TECHNOLOGY INSPIRATION Connections Panora Office 114 East Main Street, Panora, IA 50216 641.755.2424 Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Guthrie Center Office 403 State Street, Guthrie Center, IA 50115 641.332.2000 Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. closed daily 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. for lunch FIBER Fast • Reliable • Local FIBER panorafiber.com Win a $10 Bill Credit What day was the 2025 Guthrie County STEM Fest held this year? Answer: _____________________________ Name: ______________________________ Phone:_ _____________________________ Email: _ _____________________________ Clip and return by June 9th, 2025, to Panora Fiber, 114 East Main Street, Panora, IA 50216 or 403 State Street, Guthrie Center, IA 50115. Congratulations to our most recent winners: Linda Godwin from Panora and Robert Klever from Guthrie Center. Two winners chosen at random per quarter. Contest open to Panora Fiber customers aged 18 and over. Applicants can win once per 12-month period. Other restrictions may apply. Don’t settle for a disappointing customer service experience from 5G home internet. They may lure you in with big promises but then leave you confused by fine print, fluctuating prices, and data caps. Instead, stay on Panora Fiber’s winning team. Our local racing crew will always have your back, quickly answering your questions and resolving any internet issues. Plus, we keep things moving in our communities by donating, volunteering, and supporting. FIBER IS THE FAST LANE Call us at 641.755.2424 in Panora or 641.332.2000 in Guthrie Center for details on our fiber internet plans. FIBER INTERNET HAS A LOCAL RACING CREW
PANORA FIBER • PANORAFIBER.COM • 641 . 755 . 2424 IN PANORA • 641 . 332 . 2000 IN GUTHRIE CENTER Congrats to Grads, Thanks to Teachers As the school year winds down, Panora Fiber recognizes the hard work of local students who will graduate and the teachers who have educated them. We congratulate all our graduates and wish them luck with their next chapters. We also express our thanks to teachers, and encourage you to do the same, during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 5th-9th. Mike Moore is Celebrating 25 Years at Panora Fiber Combination Technician Mike Moore began his employment with Panora Fiber in 2000 and has been a valuable team member ever since. What prompted him to seek a job at our company 25 years ago? Mike replied, “Panora Fiber was looking for a person with underground experience, and the work schedule would enable me to attend our two children’s many activities. This was something that wasn’t possible with my previous employer.” He added, “I continue to be proud of working for a company that looks to the future.” Mike and his wife now have two grandchildren, and in his free time, he enjoys fishing and maintaining the yard. Warmer weather means spending more time outside, so make sure your Wi-Fi can keep up. Most home networks aren’t built to handle outdoor use, so now’s the time to check if your signal is strong enough to cover your yard. You’ll want to enjoy fast, reliable, and hassle-free Wi-Fi on the patio or out on the deck —perfect for working outside or streaming movies with the family. How far do you want your Wi-Fi to go? Just to the patio or all the way to the back fence or by the lake? For short distances, moving your router closer to the yard might help, but for full outdoor coverage, you’ll likely need a better solution. Got a mesh Wi-Fi system with a router and a couple of satellites? We have good news! If it covers up to 5,000 square feet, you might already have what you need. Just move a satellite unit to an indoor spot near your yard, like the garage, to boost your outdoor signal. Need a stronger outdoor Wi-Fi signal? Adding another satellite unit can do the trick, without slowing down your indoor coverage. It’s easy to set up: Just plug it into a power outlet, since no Ethernet cable is needed. For even better results, consider weather-resistant outdoor satellites made to mount right on exterior walls. Make the most of your outdoor spaces with full Wi-Fi coverage from Panora Fiber—inside and out. Call us at 641.755.2424 in Panora or 641.332.2000 in Guthrie Center and ask about our customizable Managed Wi-Fi solutions built for outdoor streaming, working, and relaxing. Or visit panorafiber.com. Take Your Wi-Fi Outdoors to Get Ready for Summer
Did you know cybercriminals use voice cloning technology, such as AI speech software, to create voice recordings of celebrities, athletes, political figures, company employees, and even individuals’ friends and family members? All it may take to create a convincing impersonation is a short audio clip of the targeted person’s voice, pulled from a video posted to a social media platform. The technology uses AI tools that analyze millions of voices and spot patterns in elemental units of speech (called phonemes). A person simply types in what they want the targeted voice to say, and a deepfake audio can be made. In deepfake voice scams, cybercriminals call people and use AI-generated voice recordings to try and gain personal information or money. Here are examples of who’s being impersonated and why: • Recently deceased individuals to collect welfare checks and other funds • Company executives to fool the listener into providing a password or other sensitive information • Young family members supposedly in trouble—such as in jail and needing bail—to get grandparents to send money • Famous music artists to sell fake audio clips online • Famous actors to use their “voice” to hawk products in commercials Because AI-generated recordings sound realistic, it can be hard for people to realize they’re being scammed. The FTC recommends you follow these tips to avoid becoming a victim: • Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. • Never give out personal information such as account numbers or Social Security numbers in response to unexpected calls. • Be suspicious if a caller is pressuring you for information or money immediately. • If the caller claims to be a family member or friend in distress, hang up and reach out to that person directly to confirm they need help. • If you get a call from someone saying they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement or on the organization’s website to verify the authenticity of the request. Cybercriminals are adept at technology and deception. Your best defense is to stay informed. Deepfake Voice Scams Can Sound Convincing Community Is Our Middle Name Living and working in the same community as your internet service provider (ISP) may be even more beneficial than you realize. Panora Fiber offers many advantages over national competitors including these: • We know the community. As your local ISP, we’re deeply rooted here and have the connections, relationships, and local knowledge other companies simply do not have. We understand how to get things done efficiently. • We lend a hand to help. As a company and as individual employees, you’ll see Panora Fiber actively involved in the community through donations and volunteering. • We provide personal customer service. You’re not just a customer to us. You’re also a neighbor and someone our employees will run into at the grocery store or at community events. We genuinely care about you, your satisfaction, and your success. Panora Fiber is proud to be your local ISP and honored to serve you. To learn more about our community involvement, follow us on Facebook or visit panorafiber.com.
Cornerstone Group © 2025 PANORA FIBER • PANORAFIBER.COM • 641 . 755 . 2424 IN PANORA • 641 . 332 . 2000 IN GUTHRIE CENTER Time to Upgrade Your PCs to Windows 11 Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 after fall 2025. You can upgrade now to Windows 11 as long as your PCs are running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware specifications. Here’s what Panora Fiber wants you to know: • For most users, transitioning to Windows 11 will feel quite familiar. The shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is far less dramatic than the change we experienced moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10. • It’s best to not wait until the last moment to make the switch, since proactively upgrading ensures a smoother transition and continued support. • We offer a comprehensive approach to support businesses during the upgrade process, which includes assessing current PCs to determine Windows 11 compatibility. • If new PCs are needed, we can help you select replacements that perfectly match your requirements. We also handle the setup and seamless data transfer from your old devices. If you have any questions, call 641.755.2424 in Panora or 641.332.2000 in Guthrie Center. Panora Fiber loves to support local STEM-related education and career opportunities. That’s why we hosted a hands-on learning booth at the 2025 Guthrie County STEM Fest, sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Held on March 29th at Guthrie Center Elementary, this event welcomed youth and families from grades K-6 for a morning of discovery about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. David Garland, IT Technician, led our Panora Fiber presentations with help from Andy Randol, CEO and General Manager; and Jaime Waddle, Administrative & Customer Service Director. • DIY Weather Station – A tiny Raspberry Pi computer was set up to show how to build a weather station and test temperature and humidity. • Making a Cat5 Ethernet Cable – We demonstrated the steps, from aligning the eight colored wires in sequence and inserting them into the end, and let the kids squeeze the crimpers to finish making a Cat5 Ethernet cable—required for internet service to work. Then we tested the cable to make sure it was built correctly. • Network Equipment Display – We showcased an ONT, router, and power supply to explain their functions, along with a fiber-optic cable. Participants at our booth received flashing fiber-optic wands to take home. • Scratching the Surface of Programming – Children could check out the simple coding program called Scratch, designed to help beginners learn to code by creating interactive stories, games, and animations. Also available at our booth were handouts for parents about scholarship opportunities in the telecommunications industry. While the children at this event were many years away from college, their families might include high school students who could soon benefit from these resources. Thanks to all who helped make this event a success! We Joined the Fun at the 2025 Guthrie County STEM Fest
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