Cornerstone Group © 2022 The Annual Shareholders Meeting of Panora Communications Cooperative and Panora Cooperative Cablevision Association, Inc.— which do business as Panora Telco—was held on March 21, 2022, in the auditorium of the Panorama High School in Panora, Iowa. Andrew Randol, GM/CEO, presented the 2021 financial report and discussed 2021 highlights including these: • Wagon Road fiber project and interduct to Redfield was installed. • Annual patronage paid out was $350,000, along with $180,000 in estate cleanup. • Data usage grew 9% in 2021. • Phone service was down 22%, but internet service grew by 19%. • Its revolving loan fund loaned out $100,000, and an anchor business was added to the Panora Telco Business Park. • Work continues on the Clay Street extension, which will add lots for housing development. • Plant and software updates continued internally. • At the end of 2021, $4.5 million was awarded to extend fiber to the underserved rural areas outside Bagley, South of Linden and Redfield area and Redfield to Adel. • Video programming rates from networks continue to rise each year. This requires Panora Telco to pass these increases on to customers, since 80% of costs are for programming. Also during the meeting, Chris Arganbright and Kelvin Hafner were re-elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Directors. Winners of the prize drawing were as follows: Grand prize of 43” Samsung 4K Smart TV, Rod Robson; 15” Digital Picture Frame, Kirby Klinge; Wireless Headphones for TV Viewing, Pam Robson; Kasa Smart Lightbulb, Paul Mueller; Roku Streaming Stick 4K, Nancy Moore; Amazon Firestick 4K, Mike Ketelsen; Anker Soundcore Bluetooth Speaker, Brian Johnson; and two copies of the book Lake Panorama, the First 50 Years, Tom Jeschke and Gary Winters. Annual Meeting Held March 21 Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications Lifeline is a federal program to help low-income subscribers stay connected by providing a monthly discount of up to $9.25 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.
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