S E P T EMB E R 2 0 2 5 VOLUME 3 • I SSUE 4 3 Fiber Is the Next Utility 4 Spotlight: Sutton Bay 6 A Transformative Era for Fiber Deployment 7 You Don’t Have to Do It All I NS I DE CONT ENT S BUSINESS solutions Outdoor Recreation Meets Luxury at Sutton Bay
2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 Before we talk business, how about a virtual vacation? You’ll understand what I mean after you look at the stunning photos of Sutton Bay. The Business Spotlight on Sutton Bay, found on pages 4 and 5, gives you a glimpse at what makes this outdoor recreation destination in central South Dakota so spectacular. You can’t help but feel a bit more relaxed after exploring these pages. The Venture Communications team was honored to bring fiber to the property for improved internet and TV services (and happy to have a reason to visit this beautiful place). Speaking of fiber, this issue of Business Solutions includes two articles on the subject — Fiber Is the Next Utility on page 3 and A Transformative Era for Fiber Deployment on page 6. I encourage you to check them out for an excellent overview on the importance of fiber to individuals, businesses, and communities. Then on page 7, we remind you that You Don’t Have to Do It All. You can take WiFi management and troubleshooting off your plate by getting Managed WiFi from Venture Communications. We hope your autumn plans include a vacation for rest and reinvigoration. If you’re inspired by your time off to grow your business, contact Venture Communications for guidance. Our services can help you achieve more in less time. Mary Knox Marketing Manager Venture Communications Venture Communications www.venturecomm.net Contact Us: P.O. Box 157 218 Commercial Avenue S.E. Highmore, SD 57345-0157 605-852-2224 Publication Information: Business Solutions is a publication of Venture Communications. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form—electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Venture Communications. All rights are reserved. Editorial and Circulation Contact: Mary Knox Marketing Manager maryk@venture.coop 605-852-2224 Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Additional Issues: Extra issues are available to business customers on a limited basis while supplies last. Contact Mary Knox at maryk@venture.coop or call 605-852-2224. Postmaster Send Changes to: P.O. Box 157 218 Commercial Avenue S.E. Highmore, SD 57345-0157 Copyright © 2025 by Venture Communications and Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. BUSINESS solutions
BUSINESS solutions S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 3 To understand the importance of building fiber networks, it’s useful to look back at a couple of other lifechanging infrastructure projects. By 1900, much of our nation’s railroad system was in place; it cleared the way for the settlement of the West, provided new economic opportunities and stimulated the development of communities. In the 1950s and 1960s, the new Interstate Highway System brought business to the towns it went through, while towns far from the new faster roads struggled to survive. Today, fiber is becoming as essential to business growth, and everyday life in general, as railroad tracks and highways were in the previous century. Fiber is the Next Utility The huge impact of fiber is even more amazing when you consider just how tiny fiber is; each strand of glass is only about the size of a human hair. Fiber uses light to transmit data and is unique in its ability to transport virtually unlimited bandwidth over long distances. It’s the only technology that delivers enough bandwidth—reliably and at a low enough cost—to meet the ever-increasing demand for more robust internet, video, and voice services as well as other applications. Thanks to fiber, internet speeds of 1 Gig (1,000 Mbps) and higher are becoming more readily available. Why do we need all this bandwidth? Here are a few reasons: • Businesses are making a massive shift to cloud services. For economic efficiency, their critical systems now operate at remote data centers rather than on-site computers. The speed, reliability, and security of fiber connections make cloud services viable. • The American Telemedicine Association notes that telemedicine has gone from a side feature of the health care system to an expectation. • Services such as distance learning and remote energy management are expected to keep growing significantly in the coming years. • Businesses and individuals are uploading more videos and streaming more content. When fiber networks come to smaller cities and rural communities, it helps level the playing field and close the urban-rural technology gap. Existing businesses can access the internet speeds and reliability needed to expand e-commerce. Economic development organizations have an easier time attracting new businesses. And educational opportunities, once only found in large schools, can now be delivered to rural classrooms via online education. Venture Communications has long been a supporter of fiber networks and recognizes their importance in enabling communities to thrive, especially those in remote or rural areas. It’s also a key to business growth, especially in rural areas
4 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 BUSINESS spotlight Sutton Bay Outdoor recreation meets luxury at this one-of-a-kind place From Cattle Ranch to Club Sutton Bay’s story began in 1896, when Ed Sutton purchased 1,484 acres from a Chicago land company for the Sutton Ranch. It grew steadily over the years, and by the 1950s, the Sutton Ranch covered over 50,000 acres and 25 miles of the Missouri River shoreline. In 1958, the final closure of the Oahe Dam was completed, turning the Missouri River into Lake Oahe, one of the largest reservoirs in the U.S. The Sutton Ranch remained in the Sutton family for over 100 years and was passed down from generation to generation. In 2003, it became Sutton Bay Golf. Today the sprawling community is known simply as Sutton Bay—to encompass the golf course as well as the premier hunting, fishing, lodging, and dining. Home Away From Home Membership at Sutton Bay is by invitation only, and members view the exclusive club experience as their home away from home. And what a home it is! Here’s what members and their guests enjoy: • The Sutton Bay Golf Course sits atop the spectacular landforms of the Missouri River bluffs and overlooks Lake Oahe. The 18-hole championship course was designed by internationally acclaimed architect Graham Marsh and constructed by Landscapes Unlimited. It earned the distinction of the best course in South Dakota and has become a regular on the annual list of top 100 golf courses in America. A prairie paradise. A masterpiece. One of the most peaceful places on Earth. These are a few of the ways people describe Sutton Bay, a spectacular outdoor recreation destination located on the rolling bluffs of the Missouri River in central South Dakota.
BUSINESS solutions S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 5 • World-class pheasant hunting is available on nearly 5,000 acres of prime hunting land. Both experienced and new hunters are challenged by the hunt and wowed by the vast expanse of prairie, farmland, shelter belts, and native grasses. To enhance the experience, Sutton Ranch offers a fully equipped hunting lodge, experienced hunting guides, well-trained dogs, safety gear, and gun rentals. • One of our county’s premier walleye fishing destinations sits just below the Sutton Bay lodge. Lake Oahe boasts over 550 square miles of surface water and 2,250 miles of largely untouched river bluffs and shoreline. In addition to walleye, bass, and a variety of panfish abound. • Cabins along the ridge overlooking Lake Oahe are designed for comfort. They feature luxury bedding, custom furniture, Adirondack chairs on the patio, and other thoughtful amenities. • Prairie fare with South Dakota flair is always on the menu. For example, diners can choose tacos for lunch at Swampy’s on the course, a box lunch in the field or on the boat, or the signature pheasant schnitzel for dinner in the fall. Better Connections Via Venture Communications While the natural beauty of Sutton Bay certainly takes centerstage, something you don’t see helps to enhance the experience—cable TV and fiber internet from Venture Communications. Kurt Letellier, Sutton Bay’s General Manager, said, “We needed an internet upgrade, so Venture Communications buried fiber on the property. We now have fiber-optic cable running several miles to Swampy’s (our halfway house on the course) as well as to our maintenance facility, employee housing, main lodge, and all of our lodging units. Fiber internet has given us a faster and uninterrupted connection for our members, guests, and employees. It also allows our point-of-sale system to run more efficiently and brought our systems up to date.” Another benefit of fiber internet from Venture Communications, Letellier noted, is its reliability even during the area’s severe weather, since the buried fiber cables are virtually immune to storm damage. “With central South Dakota’s volatile weather, including frequent thunderstorms, fiber has been a reliable solution for our internet and TV services,” he said. How does Letellier view the customer service and tech support that Sutton Bay has received from Venture Communications? He replied, “Don Erwin and the other members of the Venture team have helped us whenever we needed service. Don has even made the long trip to Sutton Bay to troubleshoot and fix problems we’ve had.” We now have fiber-optic cable running several miles to Swampy’s (our halfway house on the course) as well as to our maintenance facility, employee housing, main lodge, and all of our lodging units.” — KURT LETELLIER, GENERAL MANAGER, SUTTON BAY
6 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 Common Security Threats Information systems are among a company’s most vital assets, yet they are sometimes left vulnerable to threats that could damage or destroy them. In addition to computer viruses, common threats include: Denial-of-Service Attacks A denial-of-service attack (DoS) is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. It generally involves preventing an internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at all. Cyber Extortion Cyber extortion is a new twist on an old racket—“Give us money or we’ll shut you down.” Methods vary but can include a DoS, theft of confidential data, defacement of your website, or an attack that locks up or encrypts your data. Unsecured Wireless Access Points An unsecured Wireless Access Point (WAP) or an Access Point that is using old, outdated technology for security (such as WEP) provides a hacker with an easy route into your network. Rootkit A rootkit is a set of software tools intended to conceal running processes, files, or system data from the operating system. Rootkits have been used increasingly by malware to help intruders maintain access to systems while avoiding detection. The Fiber Broadband Association estimates that nearly as much fiber will be deployed in the U.S. between 2024 and 2029 as has been deployed throughout history. This infrastructure transformation is being driven by significant federal investments combined with innovations in technology and changes in consumer demand. In 2023, promised federal funding for infrastructure began flowing, injecting new vigor into broadband expansion and infrastructure modernization. The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides money for fiber network projects in areas not yet served by broadband and includes a separate provision for underserved locations in high-cost areas. An estimated 11.8 million locations—households and businesses, rural and urban—are considered either unserved or underserved. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act isn’t the only program helping to fund broadband projects. The Broadband, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access through the planning and deployment of broadband infrastructure in all 50 states, and the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) is awarding $20.4 billion worth of funding to expand broadband connectivity to the most rural areas of the country. Another factor in the growth of fiber deployment is the evolution of fiber technology, which continues to provide faster speeds, lower latencies, improved resiliency, greater security, and more flexible applications. For example, a record-breaking 800 Gbps data rate was recently transmitted at a distance of 4,887 miles using a single wavelength of light. Remote working during the pandemic caused demand for high-speed network connectivity to increase, and it’s continued to climb since. In the business world, there’s been an explosion of data-intensive applications such as cloud computing, generative AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT), which all rely on fast and reliable data transmission. In addition, consumers are engaged in more data-heavy leisure activities like video streaming and online gaming. Venture Communications began our fiber journey in 1989, when a 150-mile fiber-optic cable project was completed that buried fiber from Hitchcock to Highmore. Since then, we’ve continued to expand our fiber footprint to bring the most advanced services to our customers. We’re in a Transformative Era for Fiber Deployment
BUSINESS solutions S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 7 Ramp Up Your Business With Amped-Up Speed Venture Communications offers a variety of high-speed internet options with a range of speeds up to 1 Gig. Upgrading to one of our faster plans can help your business increase its productivity through advantages including these: • More responsive customer care. Spending less time on a customer call looking up information online means spending more time addressing their concerns. • Increased efficiency. Each online task may take a few seconds (or minutes) less, and that time can be better spent on other business activities. • Easier collaboration. Easily upload large files and take advantage of video conferencing. • Faster cloud access. Connect to your cloud services with ease for faster backups and more. • Timelier promotions. Instantly populate your website with new demos or other content. Why wait? If you’re ready to increase your internet speed, call Venture Communications at 605-852-2224 or email venture@venturecomm.net. We’ll help you find the right internet plan tomeet your needs. Take WiFi management off your plate by getting Managed WiFi from Venture Communications. This service offers many valuable advantages. Eliminates the hassles of trying to do your own installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. As a business owner or manager, you have enough to do. Your time is much better spent focusing on your core business activities rather than trying to be your own “tech support” whenever someone has a WiFi issue. With Managed WiFI, you get 24x7 technical support from a local company you know and trust. Uses equipment specifically designed for a business environment. Venture Communications uses state of the art equipment, which provide stronger and more secure signals than the consumer-grade variety. In addition, the access points in a managed system are linked, ensuring that you always have the best possible connection. Offers low, predictable costs. We maintain and enhance the service for you so there are no surprise maintenance, upgrade, or replacement costs. Easily accommodates your growing needs. We can also add a guest network to keep your business and customer traffic separate and highly secure. Gives you peace of mind. You won’t have to worry about security, knowing that your wireless connection is professionally installed with all appropriate security measures in place. Want to learn howManagedWiFi could work in your business? Call 605-852-2224 or email venture@venturecomm.net for more details and to arrange a free on-site assessment. You Don’t Have to Do It All
Call 605-852-2224 to discuss how Hosted PBX Service could work for you. Cornerstone Group©2025 Hosted PBX Service is the next generation of phone technology and is delivered over your Venture Communications internet connection. It offers affordability, efficiency, security, and reliability to your business: • Seamless communication and call management between different business locations • Minimal upfront costs and no expensive hardware to maintain • Ability to keep your current phone number(s) when you switch to Hosted PBX Service • Convenient features including Voicemail to Email/Text • Built-in disaster recovery since your data is fully backed up off premise • Flexible infrastructure that grows as your business grows • Local support from Venture Communications technicians Save Time and Money With Our Hosted PBX Service
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