Showing #technology articles:

News Articles
BCT Awarded USDA Loan to Build Fiber Optic Network Jul 18, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #announcements #news #company information Beaver Creek Cooperative Telephone Company (BCT) is one of a handful of companies in Oregon to have been awarded funds through the USDA ReConnect Program to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network for high-speed internet connectivity.  The ReConnect Program offers loans, grants, and... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - June 2023: bit vs. Byte Jun 21, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology Two common terms in the tech world that often get confused in meaning are  bits  and  Bytes. A  bit (b)  is short for binary digit, and bits are most commonly used to measure the rate of data transfer, like when transferring files from a USB flash drive to a computer.... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - May 2023: HDMI May 17, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and it's a connection method that transfers video and audio signals from a device to a TV screen or computer monitor. HDMI is the current standard to get the highest-quality video and audio content from devices like streaming sticks or boxes,... Full Article
Be Careful When Using Public Device Charging Ports Apr 20, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #tips #technology #security The list of things to be careful plugging into your devices grows as officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation warn travelers and shoppers to avoid public free phone charging ports. They warn that scammers or bad actors could use these ports, which usually include USB or USB-C, to... Full Article
Keep Your Personal Information Safe When Spring Cleaning Apr 19, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #tips #technology #security Ashley found an old Roku in the back of the closet while she was spring cleaning. She had a neighbor that wanted one, so it seemed like a perfect fit. It seemed like the only thing to do was to plug it in and see if it still worked.  Ashley was navigating through the settings... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - April 2023: WiFi Apr 19, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology #wifi We sometimes hear that internet service and WiFi are the same thing, but there is a distinct difference. Internet service is the signal sent from our central office to your home over either fiber lines or copper cabling. WiFi, on the other hand, is the wireless distribution of some of that... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - March 2023: Ethernet Mar 16, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #tips #education #education #technology Ethernet  is a type of cable that allows devices to be physically connected to your home internet network. While most people connect their devices to the internet via WiFi, an Ethernet connection can also be used for some devices. This can provide a better experience because a physical... Full Article
Stay Safe from Many Online Threats with Umbrella Defense This online safety feature is included with every BCT Internet subscription. Sep 1, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #security #technology #company information #wifi #announcements BCT has implemented Umbrella Defense - a cyber security solution from Cisco - to help protect internet subscribers. Umbrella Defense is a complimentary, included service that protects all subscribers on a BCT internet connection from accidentally visiting reportedly known websites that may... Full Article
Watch out for emails from scammers posing as computer software company, McAfee. They’re fakes! By Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum Jul 26, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #technology #news Have you received an email with the subject line "Thank you for your purchase!" that looks like it came from McAfee, a computer security software company? The email claims your account has been “re-approved” and your credit or debit card was charged hundreds of dollars. At the very end of the... Full Article
June is Audiobook Appreciation Month Rent audiobooks and eBooks for free with the Libby app Jun 2, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #news #technology #tips #community #wifi Did you know you can use your local library card to rent audiobooks and eBooks for free on your smartphone or eReader? Download the Libby app on your phone or tablet, then log in using a card from a local library system like Libraries in Clackamas County (LINCC). Once rented, you can listen to... Full Article
Create and Store Strong Passwords with a Password Manager May 5, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #tips #security Let’s talk passwords – it’s World Password Day! We all know having strong passwords is important, but are you reusing the same one across multiple websites? This opens the door for vulnerabilities in the event of a data breach.  Image caption:  The LastPass password generator tool... Full Article
On This Day: First Geocache Placed Near Beavercreek in 2000 May 3, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #community #technology Did you know that the international phenomenon of geocaching was first played on this day 22 years ago near Beavercreek in our neighboring region of Viola to the east? For those unfamiliar, geocaching is an outdoor activity where participants use GPS technology and other navigational techniques... Full Article
Possible TV interruptions due to solar flares Mar 3, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #tv #cable #news #technology #outage During the upcoming Spring Equinox and the surrounding weeks, there is a chance that television services may see interruptions due to an increase in solar flares. This happens for about one week twice per year during the spring and fall equinox seasons and could affect the Cable TV feed.  A... Full Article
Organize Your Computer on National Clean Out Your Virtual Desktop Day Oct 18, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology #tip Is your computer's desktop full of cluttered shortcuts that are difficult to navigate? Does the above image of a scattered desktop make you as uncomfortable as us? Today is a great day to organize your virtual life as it's National Clean Out Your Virtual Desktop Day!  To celebrate, consider... Full Article
New System Launched to Help Block Unwanted Spam Calls Jun 16, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #company information #technology #news #voice #robocalls Tired of hearing about your car’s manufacturer warranty nearing expiration when you don’t even have one? How about that offer for a free cruise that’s completely real and not a very obvious scam? Well, we’ve got good news! As in, actual good news, not a scam claiming to have good news. Per... Full Article
BCT technicians continue repairs from historic ice storm There may be periods of short outages while repairs are made Jun 4, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #company information #technology #outage #maintenance Your connection is important! As your local communications cooperative, we know how vital it is to have reliable Internet, Video, and Voice services, especially during a time when so many now work, learn, and entertain virtually. The Beavercreek community was challenged when the historic ice and... Full Article
Don’t pass by this password reminder World Password Day is May 6, so use this as a reminder to update your passwords! May 6, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #support #technology #tip You've heard it before, but we'll say it again. It's important to have strong passwords and change them regularly to help keep your accounts safe. Here are the basics: Don't use personal information. This includes names of people in your family, your address, or birthdays, since this... Full Article
Online learning resources for kids at home Apr 21, 2020 | posted by Conner Williams #news #covid-19 #community #technology While school is out during the COVID-19 coronavirus situation, parents may be looking for some online resources to keep their kids engaged and learning. Here are three free resources available that all focus on educational opportunities.  1. Khan Academy  offers practice... Full Article
Possible TV outages due to upcoming solar flares By Conner Williams Feb 26, 2020 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #announcements #tv #outage During the upcoming Spring Equinox and the surrounding weeks, there is a chance that television services may see interruptions due to an increase in solar flares. This happens for about one week twice per year during the spring and fall equinox seasons and could affect both EZVideo and cable TV... Full Article
Looking back at the top tech innovations of the decade 2010-2019 By Conner Williams Feb 25, 2020 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology With 2020 here, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of the most influential or game-changing technological innovations of the last decade. Since we are an Internet service provider, we thought it would be appropriate to include a list of items that all rely on or have something... Full Article
What's the difference between a modem and a router? A modem is your home's gateway to the Internet, while a router allows devices to connect wirelessly (WiFi) to the Internet By Conner Williams Aug 5, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #technology It can be easy to mix the two terms up since both pieces of equipment are necessary to provide an Internet signal to your home. A modem is essentially the middleman between the source of Internet from a provider like BCT and your home’s network. It allows the signal that comes from BCT’s... Full Article
Gadget Review: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $49.99 MSRP – Available on Amazon.com and other retail locations and websites By Conner Williams Feb 19, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #review The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a great addition to the Fire TV family as it adds two features users have long been anticipating: volume and power control. The power button has been added to the top-left while the volume buttons were added to the bottom of the new next-gen Alexa Voice... Full Article
How to care for electronic devices in the cold By Conner Williams Jan 14, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #technology Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, don't like cold weather. When a lithium-ion battery is exposed to cold temperatures, it can drain faster than normal or indicate it has ample power remaining and then suddenly go dead. Low temperatures can also make a device's glass surfaces more... Full Article
Keep in touch with loved ones this holiday season with video calling applications By Conner Williams Nov 30, 2018 | posted by Conner Williams #technology There is now the capability to place a video call to someone at almost any time, any place as long as you’re connected to the Internet via a BCT connection or your wireless carrier’s data plan. Virtually all mobile devices and laptops now have front-facing cameras, so all you need is an app... Full Article
Tech Support Question: Why Does Restarting My Computer Fix Many Problems? By Conner Williams Oct 4, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology #support Question:  It seems like every time I contact  a knowledgeable friend or a  professional about a computer  problem, the first thing they say is, "Did you try  rebooting?" Does rebooting (the technical term  for restarting) really solve that many problems and,  if so, how? Answer:  Yes,... Full Article
Gadget Review – Drones By Marcus Jones Oct 4, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology #review Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are finding their way into many aspects of everyday life. Next time you look up, don’t be surprised if you see a drone. They also have a wide variety of uses today - contractors use them for geographical surveying and law enforcement uses them to combat... Full Article
Tech Support Question: What’s the best way to keep track of all my passwords? By Jason Nugent Sep 5, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology #support Answer: Write them down in a secure journal or use an online password manager. If you have only one password that you use universally, it's time to make a change. Using the same password for multiple accounts and services can compromise your online security and allow hackers to access... Full Article
What Is the Cloud and Why Do I Need It? By Jason Nugent Jun 25, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology It might be time to think about backing up files to a Cloud service to ensure that you will never lose  important information if you currently save everything to a local desktop or flash drive.  Saving important documents to an external flash drive in addition to a local laptop or desktop... Full Article