|
back
to top |
What's
Happening At SMU
SMU, Evertek
Announce Wireless Telephone Partnership
(September 6, 2006) – At a morning news conference, officials of Spencer
Municipal Utilities and Evertek announced their partnership to bring a new
choice for wireless telephone service to Clay County.
The
companies are partnering to bring i wireless service via PCS to the
area. The companies are in the process of constructing new towers and putting
antennas on new facilities to provide the coverage throughout Clay County.
Through the partnership with i wireless and its national affiliation with
T-Mobile, customers will have access to an extensive nationwide network.
John
Jensen, an Evertek Board of Directors member and Board Vice Chairman of the new
joint entity, says that the current relationship with Spencer Municipal
Utilities and their desire to provide their customer base with a wireless
solution made it an easy choice to partner. “Evertek and SMU have broken
barriers that once hindered companies from great relationships such as this. We
are thankful for the opportunity to provide a valuable service along with a
great company such as SMU and look forward to working together.”
Dave
Hultgren, an SMU Board of Trustees member and Board chairman of the new joint
entity, says the project is a win-win for both companies and for Clay County
residents. “Both of our companies have always focused on providing reliable,
friendly, hometown service. Now, we can bring that same customer focus into a
new and growing industry. We’re excited that our existing communications
customers and new customers will be able to get their cellular service from
their hometown provider.”
Chris
Dodd, Evertek Sales Manager, explained the advantages of i wireless, powered by
Evertek and SMU. “The service will be very competitively priced, will provide
nationwide coverage, and will have all of the features such as text messaging
that wireless customers demand.” Dodd added that one of the advantages of i
wireless is that it provides customers with connection to the fastest growing
national and largest international all-digital GSM networks.
The
companies are working to provide service as soon as possible, but say the
official launch of service is still several months away. New towers will be
constructed just north of Peterson and east of Rossie. PCS antennas will also
be placed on both of SMU’s water towers in Spencer, and on the Evertek
communications tower in Everly. The companies are also working on numerous
other details before launch.
A common
theme stressed by officials with both companies was to avoid signing new
contracts with your existing provider. “We believe that i wireless, powered by
Evertek and SMU, will be worth waiting for,” said SMU’s Curtis Dean. “We urge
people to preserve their options by not getting into a new cellular contract
until we’re ready to go. At that time, you can evaluate which service is best
for you. We think i wireless will be a very strong option.”
Both
Evertek and SMU will have signup cards available at their Clay County Fair
exhibits. People interested in getting more information will be contacted by
the companies as soon as service is available. SMU’s exhibit is inside the
Depot Building, and Evertek’s booth is in the Event Center.
Minnesota Vikings
Cheerleaders at SMU Fair Booth
(August 28, 2006) -- To celebrate the launch of NFL Network on SMU Cable TV, a
special visit by the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders is planned for the Clay
County Fair.
Four members of the Vikings cheerleading squad will spend the
afternoon of Friday, September 15th at SMU's Fair exhibit booth inside the Depot
at the Fair. From 3pm to 7pm that day, the cheerleaders will be available
to sign autographs and meet Vikings fans.
Visitors to SMU's Fair booth can also sign up to win NFL Network
prizes, including a football autographed by former Iowa Hawkeye great Robert
Gallery.
SMU's booth will also have a display of high definition television,
Internet computers to use for checking email, and access to a telephone.
You can sign up for any of SMU's products and services, and find out more about
SMU's exciting new wireless telephone project. We'll see you at the Fair!
2006
SMU Consumer Confidence Report
Now Available
(June
20, 2006) – Customers of the SMU water utility are receiving good news with
their monthly billing statements this month. The good news comes in the form of
the utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report on water quality.
The 2006 report, which includes information about water testing data during
calendar year 2005, once again shows that there were no violations of EPA rules
for water contaminants.
In addition to information about what contaminants were detected and at what
levels, the report also includes important health information, and general
information about SMU's water source and treatment procedures.
Customers who did not receive a copy of the 2005 Consumer Confidence Report
can view and print a PDF copy of the report from SMU’s website at the following
address: www.smunet.net/2006CCR.pdf. Additional
paper copies are also available at SMU's office at 712 Grand Avenue as well as
Spencer City Hall, Spencer Public Library, and the Spencer Area Senior Center.
SMU Approves Lieu Of Tax To City
(April 12, 2006
) -- The SMU Board of Trustees has approved the transfer of nearly a half
million dollars to the City of Spencer in lieu of taxes for 2006.
The SMU electric utility will transfer $421,622 to the City, with the water
utility contributing $44,939. Both figures represent 5% of the gross revenues
from the previous year, minus any property taxes paid on plant outside the city
limits. The communications utility will contribute $28,800 to the City in lieu
of tax, which represents SMU's contribution toward the Clay County Regional
Events Center operations.
Lieu of tax payments may be used by the city for any lawful purpose, and can
also be used to offset property tax askings.
Counting lieu of tax payments and other contribution to community projects
over the years, SMU has reinvested approximately $13.3 million dollars into
Spencer.
WHO-TV
To Join SMU Cable TV Lineup
(
February
21, 2006
) -- A
different Des Moines TV station will be joining the SMU Cable TV lineup soon.
The
SMU Cable TV Programming Committee has voted to add WHO-Des Moines to the lineup
at the end of the month. WHO will
replace WOI in the lineup at Channel 13 late on the afternoon of February 28th.
The
change is a result of input received from customers last fall in the cable TV
channel survey. “The survey showed
strong support for a second NBC affiliate, and less support for continuing to
carry WOI,” says
Curtis
Dean
of SMU. “The Committee felt that
adding WHO would allow SMU to keep a source of Des Moines news and information
while accomplishing the goal of a second source for NBC shows.”
SMU
has now concluded the long and sometimes difficult process of negotiating
retransmission consent with TV stations. A
total of three TV stations-KTIV, KPTH, and WOI-insisted on cash payments for
continued carriage. “We tried as
best we could to hold the line on paying for TV signals that are free via
antenna,” says Dean. “Replacing
WOI with WHO, which does not charge for its signal, will help minimize those
costs, which unfortunately must be passed along to customers.”
Although
WOI is leaving the lineup, that doesn’t mean Cyclone fans will be missing any
of their favorite team’s games. SMU
will have all the remaining Iowa State games this season on Channel 3.
DVR
Savings In February, March, and April
(February 6, 2006) — DVR, or Digital Video Recorder, is one of
SMU's hottest new services. And for three months, it's hotter than ever
with special pricing that makes it easy to take DVR for a test
drive.
DVR is a special digital cable box that allows you to control live
TV and record your favorite programs. With DVR, you can pause live TV when
the phone rings, or when "nature calls". When you hit PLAY on
your remote control, you'll resume watching right where you left off!
You'll also be able to record your favorite programs using the iGuide
interactive on-screen guide. Are you a CSI fan? With DVR, you can
set up a "Series Recording" for CSI and your DVR will automatically
record all the new episodes. Then you can watch them on your
schedule. DVR cable boxes are also high definition ready, so if you have a
high definition TV, you'll be able to start enjoying the stunning picture and
surround sound delivered on SMU HiDef cable.
Normally, DVR is $19.99 a month, but for February, March, and
April, DVR is just $9.99 a month for all customers, new and existing. The
sooner you sign up, the more you'll save on this exciting new service.
Call SMU at 580-5800 to order DVR, or stop by our office for a
demonstration. DVR...You're In Control!
|
