News

Commercial Corner        -December 2001
    Until January 31, 2002, we are waiving the Record Order Charge ($15 for residence and $25 for business) when you sign up for any of these special calling features:

Custom Calling Features:
   •Call Waiting
   •Call Forwarding
   •Cancel Call Waiting
   •Short Speed List
   •Long Speed List
   •Call Forward Remote Access
   •Call Forward Busy
   •Call Forward - Don't Answer
   •Call Forward Busy- Don't Answer

Class Features:
   •Last Number Redial
   •Selective Call Forwarding
   •Selective Call Rejection
   •Call Return
   •Distinctive Ring
   •Selective Call Acceptance
   •Caller ID

Voice Mail
Second Line

   If you have any questions or wish to order any of these calling features, please stop in or call the business office at 746-1500.

Faces On Line        -December 2001
   We are pleased to welcome Douglas Edwards to the Delhi Telephone Company. He will be moving to the area from rural Maine, and will be overseeing the daily operations of the company as the Assistant General Manager. So, if you see a new face at DTC, give him a wave as he is working to provide the best possible service to our valued customers.

Quote of the Month        -December 2001
   "The great end of life is not knowledge but action."  Thomas Henry Huxley

Seasons Greeting        -December 2001
   Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season!!!!

Commercial Corner        -December 2001
   Now paying your telephone bill is easier than ever. The Delhi Telephone Company is now accepting payment of your regular monthly Delhi Telephone Company bill with a credit card.(Visa or Mastercard) If you have any questions, please call the business office and someone will be happy to assist you.

DSL is the talk of the town!         -December 2001
   Do you know what DSL means? Digital Subscriber Line... but who cares?! What it really means is high speed Internet connections. Delhi Telephone Company has DSL capability in nearly all of its area. If you are interested, ask your Internet Service Provider, or call us at the business office...

Holiday Hours         -December 2001
   In observance of the holiday season, our business office will be closed December 24 at noon, December 25 (Christmas Day), and January 1, 2002 (New Year's Day).

New logo, New attitude         -December 2001

The Delhi Telephone Company Family of Services:

DTC Business Office 607-746-1500
if you're calling from outside the local area
888-898-8006

DTC Telephone Repair line 607-746-2119
if you're calling from outside the local area
888-898-8007

DTC Cable Customer Service
607-746-7111
if you're calling from outside the local area
888-896-1161

DTC Cable Repair line 607-746-7119
if you're calling from outside the local area
888-897-9339

Delhi Long Distance Customer Service
607-746-8118
if you're calling from outside the local area
888-897-5207

Quote of the Month -         -September 2001

   "If you want children to improve, let them hear the nice things you say about them to others." Dr. Haim Ginott

School's back in session!          -September 2001
   Area schools are now in session. This is a reminder to respect school bus regulations and watch for children walking to school. Our future is what we look out for.

Good luck to the students this fall, both new and returning. You are the future and we are so proud of you.

Commercial Corner         -September 2001
   As the change of seasons draw near, many people are thinking about added demands on their busy personal and professional schedules. To keep up with the changing demands, why not try adding some new features to your existing phone service. Some of the many features available include: Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Voice Mail, Last Number Redial, Call Return, Distinctive Ring, Caller ID and many more.

   If you have any questions regarding any of the above mentioned services or any other features available, please call our business office at (607) 746-1500 and someone will be happy to assist you.

Have you signed up yet?        -September 2001
   The launch of Delhi Long Distance service has caused quite a buzz in the community. We've talked to some of our customers since we started offering this service in the beginning of July. Many of the reasons people are switching to Delhi Long Distance include: The plan is simple to understand with no hidden charges, It's good to support a local company that reinvests in the community, customers like full phone service from one location on one bill, customers know and trust the people who work at the Delhi Telephone Company and customers are saving money on their long distance service.

   If you haven't signed up yet for Delhi Long Distance, you haven't had a chance to enjoy the great service you neighbors are now experiencing. If you would like more information on our long distance plan (rates and specifications), give us a call today. Remember, at the Delhi Telephone Company, your more than just a number, you're a neighbor!

Call before you dig        -September 2001

   With Fall upon us, many people are finishing up last minute projects started in the Summer. Just remember that if you are doing any extensive digging or construction, please give us a call at (607) 746-1500 and give us a chance to see if you might run into any of our telephone lines. There is no charge for this service. Thank you for your cooperation.

What's your opinion?        -September 2001
   Your opinion of the Delhi Telephone Company is important to us. That's why we have contracted with Satisfaction Development Systems to conduct quarterly telephone surveys of our customers.

   You may receive a call asking if you are satisfied with your telephone service and we want to thank you in advance for taking the time to respond. The results of the past surveys have been excellent, and our goal is to continually improve and offer new service.

Congrats to the Grads!         -June 2001
   Congratulations to all of the high school and college graduates in our community - we are so proud of you. Best of luck in the future and continued success!

Quote of the Month         -June 2001
   "It is not doing the thing we like to do, but liking the thing we have to do, that makes life blessed."  -Goethe

Holidays        -June 2001
   In observance of Independence Day, the Delhi Telephone Company will be closed Wednesday, July 4, 2001.

Long Distance - New at DTC!        -June 2001
   You've been waiting for it, you've wanted it, and now it's here, Delhi Long Distance. That same great quality you've come to expect from your local telephone company is now available for your long distance service. With competitive rates and friendly service, why not try something new in a long distance carrier. For more information, please call our business office at (607) 746-8118 or check our website at www.delhitel.com. If your calling from out of the local area, dial 1-(888)-897-5207.

Commercial Corner        -June 2001
    We encourage our valued customers to stop by and visit our new business office. With many of the new products and services on display, why not stop by and have a look. The business office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Calendar of Events        -June 2001
   It's time to plan your summer fun!

June 6 - Delhi Farmer's Market opens for the season - every Wednesday thru September at the Delhi Courthouse Square
June 9-10 - Meredith Dairy Festival
June 23- Delaware Academy High School Graduation
July 21 -Delhi Community Day
August 13-18 -Delaware County Fair, Walton Fair Grounds

For more information on these events, please contact your local Chamber of Commerce.

White House Phone Trivia        -June 2001

   The first phone was installed in the White House in 1878 during Rutherford B. Hayes administration. President Hayes' first outgoing call was to Alexander Graham Bell, who was thirteen miles away. The president's first words:  "Please speak more slowly."

Quote of the Month         -March 2001
   "The nicest thing about the promise of Spring is that sooner or later she'll have to keep it." -Mark Beltaire

Faces on Line        -March 2001

   We are pleased to welcome Nick Losurdo to the Delhi Telephone family. His new job entails working in the outside plant department as an installer/repairmen. If you see his friendly face on the street, give him a wave, as he is working to serving you.

The Yellow Page deadline is approaching-        -March 2001

   Do you want to increase your exposure in the local market, attract new customers or strengthen your companies image? That is just a few of the reasons why you should be advertising in the Yellow Pages.

   The Yellow Pages deadline is fast approaching and your time is getting limited to utilize this marketing tool. Account executives from the Berry Company, Delhi Telephone's authorized Yellow Pages sales agents will be contacting you soon. Now's your chance to update your existing ad or create an entirely new ad for the 2001-2002 Delhi Telephone directory. If you have any questions, please contact the business office at (607) 746-1500 and someone will be happy to help.

Welcome the snowbirds home         -March 2001

   A sure indicator that spring is rapidly approaching will be the return of many of our seasonal customers. Please contact our business office a few days before you return to the area so that your service will be ready when you arrive home. The business office number is (607) 746-1500. We are so happy to welcome you back.

Have you seen our new 800 numbers?         -March 2001
   If you're a person who lives outside the local area, it can be costly to reach a business without an 800 number. If you're a local resident out of town who needs to reach us with a billing question, now you can without any long distance cost incurred by you. To call the Telephone company dial 1-888-898-8006. If you're having a problem with your phone service, dial 1-888-898-8007. Just one more way the Delhi Telephone company is helping our valued customers.

FREE directory listing changes now until April 30, 2001 -         -March 2001

   Please check your white page listing to make sure that it is accurate. The normal fee for having the listing name and/or address changed is $25.00 for a business and $15.00 for a residence. If you act now, the fee will be waived until April 30, 2001. If you would like to make a change or correction to your current listing, please let us know as soon as possible by calling the business office at (607) 746-1500. The directory will be published and distributed in the month of August. All changes must be received in the business office by the beginning of May to appear in 2001-2002 directory.

Quote of the Month         -December 2000
   "In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip" - Daniel L. Reardon

Season's Greetings        -December 2000
   Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season from all of us at the Delhi Telephone
Company.

Holiday Hours        -December 2000
   In observance of the holiday season, our business office will be closed December 22 at
noon, December 25 (Christmas Day), and January 1, 2001 (New Year's Day).

Have you checked your listing lately?        -December 2000
   Is your telephone directory listing correct? If you would like to make a change or
correction to your existing listing, please notify our business office at 746-1500 so that
the change will be made in time for the 2001-2002 directory.

Have you seen the snowbirds?        -December 2000
   If you are leaving town for the winter, you're probably looking forward to leaving the
cold weather behind, but not your calls from friends and family.

   With Call Forwarding, those calls can follow you wherever you may be. For a low
monthly fee, Call Forwarding allows you to program your calls to ring in another
location, saving your loved ones time from having to learn a new number.

   If you're not concerned about missed calls and would rather pay a lower monthly rate,
consider Seasonal Phone Service. You'll pay a reduced rate on basic service, allowing
you to maintain your current telephone number. For further information, call the business
office at 607-746-1500 and someone will be happy to assist you.

Commercial Corner         -December 2000
   Have you ever thought about adding some helpful features to your telephone? Until January 31, 2001, installation of several popular features are FREE!

    These features include:

Custom Calling Features
    •Call Waiting
    •Call Forwarding
    •Cancel Call Waiting
    •Short Speed List
    •Long Speed List
    •Call Forward Remote Access
    •Call Forward - Busy
    •Call Forward - Don't Answer
    •Call Forward Busy - Don't Answer

Class Features
    •Last Number Redial
    •Selective Call Forwarding
    •Selective Call Rejection
    •Call Return
    •Distinctive Ring
    •Selective Call Acceptance
    •Caller ID

Voice Mail >
Second Line

   If you have any questions or would like to place an order, simply call the business office
at 746-1500 and someone will assist you.

Business Office Renovations         -December 2000
    In the coming months, pay close attention to our business office. In an effort to make the
space more efficient and appealing to our customers, we will be remodeling the business
office complete with an area for you, our valued customer, to view the latest technology Delhi Telephone has to offer. We will keep you posted as these changes occur and we hope you like the results. Our number one goal is customer satisfaction.

Save big on these fantastic services!        -December 2000
   Have you ever thought about adding some helpful features to your telephone? Whether you frequently miss calls or wish certain people would stop calling, Delhi Telephone has a service that can assist you. Best of all, until January 31, 2001, installation of several popular features are FREE.

FEATURES SUCH AS:

• CALL WAITING
• CALL FORWARDING
• LAST NUMBER REDIAL
• DISTINCTIVE RING
• CALLER ID
• VOICE MAIL
• SECOND LINE
  
  

   If you have any questions about these services, or would like to place an order, simply call the business office at 746-1500 and someone will gladly help you.

Oles becomes another 2 time scholarship winner        -September 2000
   For the second year in a row, John Oles had been awarded an ITPA college scholarship. These scholarships are for students of employees in the telephone industry who are going to attend or are already attending college. The scholarship amount will be matched by the Delhi Telephone Company, who is so very proud of John. John will be starting his sophomore year at the University of Scranton this fall. We wish him all the luck as he pursues his dreams of academic excellence.

Faces On Line - Penny Prestidge         -September 2000
   We are pleased to welcome Penny Prestidge as our new Accounts Receivable Clerk. You will see her friendly face daily as you enter our business office. Penny is a native of Walton, who has recently moved back to the area with her husband Ken. When you're in the office, give her a warm welcome as she helps you with your various billing inquiries.

School's Open...        -September 2000
   School is in session again! Please respect the bus regulations and watch for students who walk to school. Our future customers are important to us!

Good luck...        -September 2000
To those who are starting school as new students and to our high school graduates as they begin college, new job or military service. Education is a lifelong process!

Commercial Corner         -September 2000
   Until October 17, 2000, the Delhi Telephone Company is waiving the installation charge for an ISDN line. (A $250.00 value.) For those of you who don't know, ISDN more than doubles your speed on the Internet, improves video conferencing as well as several data and voice applications. For more information, please call the business office at (607) 746-1500.

Delhi Net and Catskill On Line - DSL is Coming Soon!!!!!!        -September 2000
   Delhi Net and Catskill on Line will soon be offering a service called DSL. DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line which offers faster Internet access through existing phone lines. (Due to technical limitations of the service, it will not be available to all DTC customers.) There are applications available for both the business customer and home user. Call the Delhi Telephone Company at 746-1500 or COL at 1-800-444-9338 for more information and someone will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have.

From the General Manager's chair        -September 2000
   We would like to thank all our customers for their patience in the process our company has had to endure in obtaining franchise agreements that allow us to provide television service to you over the telephone lines. We would also like to say that we're happy you waited... and we're sure it was worth the wait. In true "techie" terms, this stuff is really neat! We hope to have the service displayed in our newly renovated front office so you can see all it can do, from three television stations at once, to high speed data service, to call-id display on your television screen. Feel free to come to the office and ask questions. We will be more than happy to serve you.

New Feature Announced        -September 2000
   Delhi Telephone Company would like to announce the addition of Anonymous Call Rejection to its extensive list of telephone features. This feature rejects callers who have chosen to block their number from being displayed on a Caller ID device. Rejected callers will receive a recorded announcement informing them that the person they are calling does not wish to receive calls from callers that have chosen to block their number. In essence, if you subscribe to this service, you can have people calling you "identify" themselves before their call can reach you. Anonymous Call Rejection can be activated and deactivated by you from your phone. This feature will not work for some calls; for example, calls originating from areas that do not have Caller ID service.

For more information on this service, please call the business office at 746-1500 and someone will be happy to assist you.

High Speed Internet Access Coming Soon        -June 2000
    DTC and Catskill On Line will be offering DSL, high-speed access to the Internet this summer. This exciting new service uses your existing telephone wires to provide both high-speed Internet access and regular telephone service to your home. The new equipment is being installed and tested. Please feel free to contact Catskill On Line at (607) 746-8000 for additional information.

Calendar of Events        -June 2000
   It's time to plan your summer fun!

June 7 - Delhi Farmer's Market opens for season - Wednesdays - located at the Delhi
Courthouse Square.
June 10-11 - Meredith Dairy Festival. For more information, phone (888) 290-9415.
July 15 - Annual Flea Market and Antique Show - St. James Episcopal Church
Lake Delaware - 10:00am - 4:00pm. For more info, call (607) 832-4205
August 5-6 - Old Hamden Days - for more information, please call the Delhi Chamber.
August 14-19 - Delaware County Fair - Walton Fair Grounds - (607) 865-6414

Scholarship Winner          -June 2000
   For the first time ever, one of our employees' college bound children has been awarded a FRED college scholarship. These scholarships are awarded from the Foundation for Rural Education and Development in connection with OPASTCO. This years winner is Melanie Trelease, daughter of Don and Michelle Trelease. Melanie will be graduating from Delaware Academy in June and plans to study elementary/special education this Fall. We wish her all the luck on her new endeavors.

Commercial Corner        -June 2000
   AUTO PAY - It's the easy way!!!!!

   Tired of writing checks and mailing bills every month? The Electronic Fund Transfer Program lets you pay your Delhi Telephone Company bill electronically. Your bank account will automatically be charged the amount of your monthly telephone bill. You will receive your monthly bill allowing you to review the local service and toll charges. A notice on the bill will tell you the date the money will be deducted from your account.

    The Delhi Telephone Company is proud to provide this service to our customers. The National Bank of Delaware County will assist in providing this service. If you have questions or you are interested in this service, please contact the business office at (607) 746-1500.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2000 -
    We are so proud of you. Best of luck in all your future endeavors.

Long Distance         -June 2000
   The Delhi Telephone Company is pleased to announce long distance service from a local company, DELHI LONG DISTANCE. For more information, please call the business office at (607) 746-1500 and someone will be happy to assist you.

Call before you dig         -June 2000
   Please give us a call (607-746-2119) before you do any extensive digging or construction. Give us a chance to check and see if you might run into any of our telephone lines. There is no charge for this service. Thank you for your cooperation.

Directory Reminder         -March 2000
   Is your listing in our telephone directory correct? If you would like to make a change or correct your current listing, please let us know as soon as possible by calling the business office at 607-746-1500. The directory will be published and distributed sometime in August, but all changes must be in our system by the beginning of May. The fee for having the listing name or address changed has been waived until May 1, 2000.

Yellow Pages        -March 2000
   Do you need more advertising for your business? Have you ever thought about using the Yellow Pages to reach people in your community?

   The Yellow Pages can certainly be an effective marketing tool, and the deadline for the next edition is fast approaching. Account executives from the Berry Company, Delhi Telephone's authorized Yellow Pages sales agents, will be contacting you soon. Now's your chance to update your existing ad or create a completely new ad for the 2000-2001 Delhi Telephone Directory. If you have any questions, please contact the business office at 746-1500 and someone will be happy to assist you.

Now - get free installation of super-fast ISDN!        -March 2000
   ISDN is rapidly becoming the most cost effective way to transfer data faster through your phone line.

   ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network and it allows for digital transmission over ordinary copper telephone wire. Home and business users who install ISDN adapters (in place of their modems) can see highly graphic web pages very quickly (up to 112 KBPS). ISDN also allows for simultaneous transmission of data and voice over one line, eliminating the need for two separate phone lines. Interested? First, make sure you Internet access provider has ISDN capability. Then, call the Delhi Telephone Company's business office at 607-746-1500 and receive free installation of an ISDN line until May 1, 2000. Some of the many advantages you'll enjoy with ISDN include:

• fully digital connection
• fast data transfer
• simultaneous voice & data (or two voice calls) over one line
• relatively inexpensive

Truth-In-Billing Compliance         -March 2000
   The Federal Communications Commission has adopted principles and guidelines that will make it easier for consumers to read and understand their telephone bills. As a result of the order, all telecommunications carriers will be required to revise their billing statements to comply with the following requirements:

• The bills must contain full and non-misleading descriptions of charges.
• The bills must contain all necessary information for the consumer to contact a
  a representative of each carrier appearing on the bill to contest any charge(s) on the bill.
  

Updates         -March 2000
   For all the latest information going on at the Delhi Telephone Company, Check out our web-site at www.delhitel.com.

New meeting space       -March 2000
   Does your company or group need meeting space for an upcoming event? Do you need a place to hold a teleconference or high-tech training seminar? Try using the Delhi Telephone Company's new conference facility. With its up-to-date, high-tech environment, it can accommodate many training or business needs that may arise. If you have any questions, please contact Chuck at 746-1500 and he will be happy to help you.

Y2K         -January 2000
   Well, here we are! Congratulations to the electric companies, congratulations to the banking community, congratulations to the computer industry, and congratulations to every facet of our modern life that is so dependent on electronics and computer technology! It looks like we have made it into the year 2000 without any apparent difficulties.

   Here at the telephone company, we had a New Year's Eve party that found many dedicated employees watching the events unfold throughout the world as country after country celebrated the transition from 1999 to 2000 without any obvious debilitating events. We enjoyed ourselves snacking on treats and playing computer games awaiting our turn and after the stroke of midnight we made a series of test calls ensuring all types of calls would be properly handled by our equipment. We tried 800 and 900 calls, direct dialed calls, person to person calls, and pay phone calls to name a few, and found that all our equipment was up to the task, even after the dreaded change to the new year.

   We also wanted to thank you, our customers, for not making your own test calls. To be honest, that was our biggest fear. Just like any holiday calling pattern, if too many people try to make a call at the same time, the telephone system would simply just not be able to handle it. The new year found a majority of you doing something other than using the telephone, and we are thankful. In conclusion, the big event turned out to be a non-event, and we welcome all our customers to the year 2000.

Long Time Employee Retires        -December 1999
   After 34 years of service, Sylvia Newkirk has retired from the Delhi Telephone Company. During these years, she has contributed her dedication, time and effort to both her co-workers and customers alike. This dedication over the years, helped her achieve her position of VP in the DTC.

   This added free time will be a great asset to her five children and thirteen grandchildren. Sylvia is very active in her church and enjoys spending time with her dog Buster. She will be greatly missed at the Delhi Telephone Company and we thank her for all the years of hard work and effort that helped to shape the DTC into what it is today.

Wish from the Phone Company to all         -December 1999
   Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!!!!!

Commercial Corner
GET NEW SERVICES SAVE BIG BUCKS!!!!!!         -December 1999
   From November 4, 1999 to January 31, 2000, We are reducing installation fees on many special calling features. Those include:

- Custom Calling Features-
Different features packaged together for one monthly price.

- Class Features-
Examples of these features includes: Call Forwarding, Call Waiting and Caller ID,
just to name a few. You can call the business office for additional features.

- Voice Mail-
The installation prices will be reduced $15.00 for a residential line and $25.00 for a business line.

If you have any questions or wish to order any of these features, please call our business office at 746-1500.

For those of you considering a SECOND LINE, the same reductions apply. Great for the computer user or a family with young adults at home.

Faces on Line          -December 1999
   We are pleased to welcome Dan Mostert as an employee at the Delhi Telephone Company. He will be working with internal and external computer issues to help both co-workers and customers alike. Dan recently graduated from Delaware Academy and will be pursuing his computer studies at SUNY Oneonta this spring. We are so excited to have this talented young man working for us.

Y2K update          -December 1999
   This is the final update from our Person-To-Person periodical for Year 2000 preparations before the big date! We are happy to report that we completed our review of our systems and equipment, have continued to monitor our systems to ensure compliance, and are confident that we are ready to greet the new millennium.

   As you know, the telecommunications network is composed of many providers linked together in offering telephone service. As such, no one can predict what systems or facilities may ultimately impact your service due to the Year 2000 date change. Additionally, services may be affected simply due to other more "normal" anomalies such as a flood of calls relating to the new year's celebration. If you have equipment connected to the telephone network, including such devices as an answering machine or auto dialer, it may also be impacted by the Y2K date change. Any questions regarding this equipment should be directed to the manufacturer. For additional information regarding Year 2000 and last-minute updates on our company status, visit our web site on the Internet @ www.delhitel.com.

Quote of the month         -December 1999
   "Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." Victor Hugo

Construction Project          -December 1999
   At this time this article is being written, we are in the midst of a major renovation on our Central Office building. The company is growing, we are involved in more, and we need the space. By the time you read this, we hope the project is finished. What we have built is a new conference room, ready to be used for public and interest group meetings, training and rented for video conferencing. We have also added an office to accommodate growth in our employee ranks. Future plans will include improving our sales department spaces in the Adee house itself. For more information, please call 746-1500 and ask for Chuck.

Y2K          -June 1999
   This is an update to last quarter's Person-To-Person article regarding Y2K and our readiness for the event. Last issue we described some of the problems that the change from 1999 to 2000 may cause in Adata@ related equipment and computer programs. We are happy to report that we have completed our review of our systems and equipment, we are still awaiting responses from some vendors to confirm their Internet-published information, and we are continuing to test our equipment and software applications to ensure readiness for the transition from year 1999 to 2000. As previously mentioned, we are making every effort to ensure that you continue to receive satisfactory telephone service, and of course, we would like to bill you appropriately for that service. Keep an eye on future Person-to-Person editions for updates on our progress or you can visit our new web site on the Internet (www.delhitel.com) to see more current information..

DTC News         -June 1999
   Check out our improved website, everything you need to know about the Delhi Telephone Company at www.delhitel.com

Faces on Line          -June 1999
   We are pleased to welcome Gail Miller as our new customer service representative. She will be responding to your billing inquires and other service requests at the Delhi Telephone Company.

Quote of the Month          -June 1999
   "Every adult needs a child to teach; it's the way adults learn."   Frank A. Clark

Congrats to the Grads          -June 1999
   Congratulations to all of the High School and College graduates in our community, we are so proud of you. Best of luck in the future!

Remember         -June 1999
   When you sign up for Wire Maintenance Service, its like having your very own protection plan for the telephone wires in your home.

Convenience in the summer         -June 1999
   Are you out of the house frequently in the summer? Do you need to stay in contact with friends and family even when your away from home? Why not try ordering the Call Forwarding feature for your home telephone. This feature allows you to have calls forwarded to another number including your cellular phone or pager, whenever you like. This feature is easy to program and allows you to change the phone number forwarded to as often as you like. If you have any questions on Call Forwarding, or any other feature the phone company offers , simply call our business office and we'll be happy to answer your questions.

Y2K        -February 1999
   There has been a lot of talk surrounding the end of 1999 and the beginning of year 2000. Many of the things we do these days are controlled by a computer chip, or program of some sort, and many of the older chips or programs are not capable of using a four digit year. This means that those computer chips or programs will see the year 00 and assume it to be 1900. This may cause problems with equipment and computer programs for example; your first telephone bill for January in the year 2000 could possibly have the monthly service fee for the entire 100 years from January 1900 to December 1999. Obviously, we are concerned that all out equipment and programming be compliant with the transition from year 1999 to 2000. We want to ensure that you continue to receive satisfactory telephone service, and of course, we would like to bill you appropriately for that service. Here at the telephone company we have implemented an extensive review of all the equipment and programming we use, as well as equipment we may have sold to customers over the years. Our intent is to verify with the equipment manufacturers that all equipment is year 2000 compliant, and then run a test on that equipment if possible to see if it will function at the turn of the millennium. Our goal is to have this process completed by July 1st of 1999 to allow us the opportunity to overcome "road blocks" if we encounter any, and to provide you, our customers with peace of mind and the confidence that your local telephone company will continue to provide service as in the past. Keep an eye on future Person-to-Person editions for updates on our progress.

Long Distance Carrier         -February 1999
   In the past, when we at the Telephone Company received a letter of authorization from a long distance carrier that one of our customers requested changing their long distance carrier to them, we had sent a letter to that customer to verify the request before we implemented the change. Recent FCC regulations dictated to us that we were no longer to provide this service, largly because it caused delay of up to 5 days before the change of long distance carrier took place. We have been directed to make the change of long distance company immediately upon receiving the letter of authorization regardless of verifying the customer's wishes. In light of this, we have begun the practice of mailing our customers a notification letter to inform them of the change we recently made. We are doing this in hopes of preventing a customer from being surprised after receiving an unwanted change of long distance service. If you are satisfied with your long distance carrier, we would recommend you place a "pick freeze" on your line to prevent this from occurring. A pick freeze is a no-cost service. If, after you have requested a pick freeze, you want to change your long distance carrier, you will be required to come to the Telephone Company office and sign a service order to make the change. If you have any questions regarding this change of procedure, or the "pick freeze" service, please call our business office and someone will be happy to explain.

Our Internet Company         -February 1999
   One of the Telephone Company's subsidiary companies is the local Internet service provider Catskill On Line. We are happy to let you all know that Catskill On Line is reported to be one of the finest Internet companies in the Catskill region and seems to be in a constant state of growth. Recently we have extended our service to the Stamford and Cooperstown calling areas and soon hope to grow into other areas of the Catskill region not presently covered. As our service grows, and more people begin using Catskill On Line for their Internet service, we constantly look for new ways to improve responsiveness of our system to our customers and are confident we can continue to be the premier service in the area.