Category: News

Citizens In The News...

Citizen's Deploy Residential Fiber to Portions of Carroll & Grayson Counties

"Citizens Telephone Cooperative (Citizens) recently completed a $40 million fiber-to-the-home project covering Floyd County, VA. The Coop has now been awarded a Community Connect Grant from the USDA enabling the Internet company to expand their service footprint into portions of neighboring Carroll
County."

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Warner and Kaine Announce $540,000 in Federal Funding for Floyd County

"Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $540,000 in federal funding for Floyd County to expand high-speed broadband in the region. The funding was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments that innovates and invests to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in 423 counties across the Appalachian region."

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Data Privacy Day 2025

Put Privacy First

Data Privacy Day is the perfect time to revisit and improve your digital safety practices. Here are some essential tips to help protect your personal information, data, and devices:

  1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
    Avoid using easy-to-guess passwords. Opt for long, complex passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider using a password manager to keep track of your passwords securely.
  2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
    Add an extra layer of protection by enabling 2FA on your online accounts. Even if someone gets hold of your password, they’ll need a second factor, like a text message or authentication app, to access your account.
  3. Update Software Regularly
    Keep your operating system, apps, and antivirus software up to date. Many cyber-attacks exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, so make sure you install updates as soon as they’re available.
  4. Be Cautious of Phishing Scams
    Cybercriminals often use phishing emails to trick you into giving away personal information. Don’t click on suspicious links or download attachments from unknown sources. Always verify the sender's information.
  5. Use Secure Wi-Fi Connections
    Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities, like online banking. If you must use public networks, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for added security.
  6. Backup Your Data
    Regularly back up your important files to a secure location, whether it's an external hard drive or cloud storage. In case of a cyber-attack, you can restore your data without significant loss.
  7. Educate Yourself and Others
    Stay informed about the latest cyber threats and educate your family, friends, and colleagues on safe online practices. Cyber security is a shared responsibility.
  8. Monitor Your Accounts
    Regularly check your bank accounts, credit cards, and other sensitive accounts for any unauthorized activity. Early detection can help minimize damage in case of a security breach.

By following these tips, you can enhance your digital security and reduce your risk of falling victim to cyber threats. Stay safe online, and remember, protecting your digital life is an ongoing effort!

Citizens Expanding Fiber Internet to portions of Carroll & Grayson Counties

Citizens Telephone Cooperative (Citizens) recently completed a $40 million fiber-to-the-home project covering Floyd County, VA. The Coop has now been awarded a Community Connect Grant from the USDA enabling the Internet company to expand their service footprint into portions of neighboring Carroll County.

“Today, Citizens has LECAP (Line Extension Customer Assistance Program) funding through the Virginia DHCD (Department of Housing and Community Development) to help connect neighbors to our existing fiber network in Carroll and Grayson Counties. In addition, the Community Connect Grant will cover a large portion of the Dugspur and Laurel Fork areas. Together, these projects will further expand our fiber-to-the-home Internet service,” stated Donna Smith, CEO & General Manager of Citizens.

The Cooperative plans to pass over 2,500 homes offering 1 Gbps symmetrical Internet service. Construction is anticipated to begin in the early Spring of 2025. “Today, the average home has over 20 devices connected at any given time. Our mission is to provide a service so no matter what you do online, no one in the home experiences slow speeds, buffering, or lagging issues,” continued Smith.

Residents should rest assured that through the process, as construction is complete and the fiber is tested, eligible residents will receive emails, letters, and phone calls.

For more information, visit www.citizens.coop or press 2 to speak to a sales agent by calling a local number 540.745.2111 or 276.637.6485. Citizens is a leading-edge, member-owned Cooperative providing the newest telephone, Internet, and TV technology to Floyd County and surrounding communities for over 110 years. Citizens' business offerings include broadband, data transport, web services, hosted phones, and more. Citizens is located at 220 Webbs Mill Road in Floyd. Lobby hours are 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday; and 9 am - 12 pm on Saturday.

Citizens Cablevision Launches New Local Weather Channel for
SFN TV Now Customers

New Channel Provides Live Local Radar and Forecasts

Citizens Cablevision, a subsidiary of Citizens Telephone Cooperative (Citizens), is excited to announce the launch of Your Citizens Weather, a new, locally originated weather channel available for customers of SFN TV Now-powered by Citizens. The channel will provide continuous, real-time updates on local weather, including live radar and forecasts sourced from the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, VA.

Your Citizens Weather is now available on SFN TV Now Channel 98, offering an always-on weather feed designed to keep customers informed of current weather conditions in their area. This new channel replaces the previous “Weather on the 8’s” broadcast that aired the local forecast, providing a more dynamic and localized experience.

The popular Weather Channel is still available on SFN TV Now Channel 1142 for those who prefer national weather coverage.

In addition to the new weather channel, Citizens Cablevision offers a local CCTV Channel 20, highlighting community sports and events. The channel features The Ag Show, a popular educational program hosted by Jon Vest, the local Floyd Extension Agent. The show focuses on agricultural issues and topics of interest, offering informative content to local viewers.

Citizens also offers advertising sponsorships for Your Citizens Weather and local programming on Channel 20. Businesses interested in reaching a local audience through these platforms can contact Citizens for more details on sponsorship opportunities.

“We’re committed to providing our customers with more localized and timely content,” said Donna Smith, CEO and General Manager of Citizens. “The launch of Your Citizens Weather is just one of the ways we’re continuing to invest in our community and improve the viewing experience for our customers.”

For more information about Your Citizens Weather or to inquire about advertising opportunities, please visit citizens.coop/tv-advertising/ or contact Citizens directly at 540.745.2111 or 276.637.6485.

About Citizens Cablevision:
Citizens Cablevision is a subsidiary of Citizens Telephone Cooperative, dedicated to delivering high-quality cable television and broadband services to local communities. Through innovative services like SFN TV Now, Citizens Cablevision continues to provide its customers with reliable, community-focused content and customer service.

Citizens is a member-owned Cooperative providing fiber optic Internet, telephone, and TV to Floyd County and surrounding communities for over 110 years. Citizens provides symmetrical broadband and hosted phone solutions for businesses, schools, government agencies, and industrial parks throughout Southwest Virginia. Hours of operation are 8 am to 5 pm Monday - Friday; and 9 am to 12 pm on Saturday. Citizens is located at 220 Webbs Mill Road, Floyd, VA 24091

Who’s Ready to Rumble? Join Citizens in a Nationwide Esports Tournament

Citizens customers have an exciting opportunity to compete in a free online Rocket League esports tournament against teams from across the country for prizes–and we need your help.

We are looking for teams of three people ages 13+ to sign up for the Rural Rumble tournament.

The 3-on-3 Rocket League tournament will test player skills and give you a chance to learn about other exciting esports opportunities in our community and beyond. Elimination rounds will be played on Sunday, February 2; the championship round will be played on Sunday, February 23 and streamed live at a national conference in Texas.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newly-interested player, visit the Rural Rumble website for more information and to sign up to play. It’s free.

Questions? Contact the tournament’s organizer, Josh Seidemann, by email.

Register Here By January 15th

Citizens In The News...

Carroll and Rockbridge counties receive millions in federal internet money

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Community Connect Program is providing $5 million to Citizens Telephone Cooperative to deliver high-speed broadband for 1,838 residents and 22 businesses in Carroll County."

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Warner & Kaine Announce Over $9 Million in Federal Funding to Expand Broadband in Carroll and Rockbridge Counties

“High-speed internet allows Virginians to access more educational, health care, and economic opportunities, which is why we’ve worked hard to expand internet access during our time as governors and senators,” said the senators. “We’re glad to see this federal funding headed to Carroll and Rockbridge counties to build broadband infrastructure. We will continue working to ensure families and businesses across the Commonwealth can access the internet.”

The funding is broken down as follows:

  • $5,000,000 for Citizens Telephone Cooperative in Carroll County to build a fiber-to-the-premises system that will benefit 1,838 residents and 22 businesses in the area. Residents will be able to access free internet for at least two years at the Dugspur Community Center.
  • $4,460,000 for BARC Electric Cooperative in Rockbridge County to build a fiber-to-the-premises system that will benefit 816 residents and four businesses in the area. Residents will be able to access free internet for at least two years at the Lake Robertson Recreational Area.

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Citizens Telephone Cooperative Marks Another Milestone in 2024

The 2024 Annual Meeting of Citizens Telephone Cooperative was held on Saturday, October 19th, at the Citizens’ office on Webbs Mill Road in Floyd. The meeting, led by President, Joe Italiano and General Manager, Donna Smith, marked another milestone for the Cooperative in completing the six-and-a-half-year construction project to bring fiber-to-the-home to 100% of residents in Floyd County.

President Joe Italiano opened the meeting, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and gave the President’s Report. Secretary, Shelby Quesenberry, read the minutes from the last meeting, and Director, Kevin Hubbard, presented the re-election of Board members Lynwood Allen (Floyd exchange) and Wesley Goff (Locust Grove exchange). President Italiano cited the Cooperative’s progress and commended the leadership and staff of the Cooperative for their commitment to reaching goals and remaining a leader in technology.

With over 120 members in attendance for the meeting, highlights of the Cooperative’s progressive year and milestones were shown through comments from Floyd County Community and Economic Development Director, Lydeana Martin, and a customer testimonial video. Smith summarized the year by stating ”Over the last six and a half years, we have learned so much from our community members. It’s amazing to hear the various uses and needs of the Internet. The Internet is a necessity for learning, working, and entertainment. The Internet is opening doors for entrepreneurs, keeping the youth of our community here while they attend college, and even allowing them to land jobs and remain in Floyd. She continued, “We hosted a Finish Line Party in August for our community to celebrate the end of construction. We are currently working in Ballard, the last area opened to connect. I could not be more pleased with our employees and their accomplishments,” stated Smith, referring to the fiber-to-the-home project. To date, 100% of Floyd County homes and businesses can connect to 1 Gbps Internet by using CitiZip Fiber.

Additionally, with the completion of the fiber build, over 1,800 customers have migrated to the SFN TV Now platform. “This economical TV service solution has allowed us to continue to offer local sports and events on CCTV Channel 20,” stated Smith. “I’m happy to say that customers of all ages tell us they are enjoying the experience.”

Traditions of the annual meeting continued with door prize drawings for members followed by a BBQ lunch. You can view the meeting and testimonial video below.

Testimonial Video

Annual Meeting 2024

Citizens Telephone Cooperative Announces the Launch of SmartBiz

An All-in-One Business Wi-Fi Solution

Citizens Telephone Cooperative (Citizens) announced the launch of SmartBiz, a new purpose-built solution for small businesses. SmartBiz moves beyond connectivity and provides an all-in-one managed Wi-Fi experience. It offers a new way for business owners to drive productivity by managing staff and business systems such as point-of-sale, securing their network, delivering Guest Wi-Fi to customers, and easily managing it all with an app.

“Citizens is always looking to meet the needs of our customers. Small Businesses often need more in a WiFi solution than offered with a residential class service, and commercial grade solutions are not within their budget,” says Lori Saltus, Sales & Marketing Manager at Citizens. “This is where SmartBiz comes in. It offers affordable WiFi features designed to meet the needs of Small Businesses with a convenient-to-use CommandWorx mobile app.”

“SmartBiz was created with our local business owners in mind. They deserve a robust solution that is simple to manage and frees up their time to focus on their business instead of managing their I.T. or networks,” says Donna Smith, General Manager of Citizens. “SmartBiz modernizes any network, saving valuable time and money and allows businesses to prosper with essential connectivity and business-grade features that promote their brand and keep their data and customers safe.”

Features and benefits of SmartBiz include:

  • Seamless wired and wireless Internet coverage throughout the business
  • Business-grade network security for the point-of-sale, staff, and business networks
  • Safe and secure customer Wi-Fi with a branded customer portal
  • Network resiliency with cellular backup capability
  • Self-service management for the business owner with the CommandWorx app

For more information on SmartBiz for Small Business, Press 5 when calling 540.745.2111 or 276.637.6485 to reach Joy Gardner or Elizabeth Dorsett and visit citizens.coop/smartbiz for more information.

Citizens Telephone First to Complete Fiber Build in Southwest VA

Citizens Telephone Cooperative is proud to announce the completion of its county-wide fiber-to-the-home construction project, marking a significant milestone in Southwest Virginia. In August 2024, Citizens will become the first company in the region to offer a 1 Gbps fiber connection to every home in Floyd County. This achievement underscores Citizens' commitment to providing cutting-edge internet services to its community.

Building
Workers 1

To celebrate this accomplishment, Citizens invites the public to join a community event on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 220 Webbs Mill Road in Floyd, Virginia. Festivities will kick off at 5 pm with axe throwing and yard games and food trucks offering a variety of meals, snacks, and drinks for purchase. The evening will culminate with live music by local lead singer Jerry Wimmer and The Worx starting at 6 pm.

Established in 1914, Citizens has grown from its roots to become a leader in telecommunications. The completion of this 10-year fiber project, initially launched in 2017 with over a $40 million investment, reflects Citizens' dedication to enhancing broadband access in underserved areas. By leveraging FCC, ACAM, and VATI funding, Citizens accelerated the project timeline, completing it ahead of schedule in six and a half years.

"We are thrilled to bring Gigabit fiber services to every resident of Floyd County," said Donna Smith, CEO & General Manager of Citizens. "This project is a testament to our ongoing commitment to technological advancement and community service."

Citizens was recognized as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider by NTCA in 2018 and has actively participated in state and federal initiatives such as VATI, CARES, and LECAP funding to expand broadband access. The cooperative's fiber project exceeded $40 million. The extensive network spans 715 miles across Floyd County, passing over 10,000 homes. Nearly 4,500 residents and businesses have connected to the 1 Gbps service.

"Our dedication extends beyond technology; it encompasses supporting education and healthcare initiatives in our community," Smith emphasized. "It is important to us that every home has sufficient broadband for their needs. We aim to provide reliable services that empower our customers and communities."

Citizens Local TV Channel Sponsorships Now Available

Subscribers who have television service through Citizens Telephone Cooperative (d.b.a. Citizens) have exclusive access to a local channel, CCTV Channel 20. Through the IPTV platform, SFN TV Now, CCTV Channel 20 is full of locally recorded and produced programming by the Cooperative’s Video Production team and other locally submitted content.

Customers can watch Floyd County High School home games; many of them live, which is great for residents who can’t make it to the school or no longer drive at night. Aside from the live games, Citizens supports the community by rebroadcasting FCHS football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball games each season. You can enjoy all FCHS sports seasons at 7 pm.

You can also watch FCHS academic matches and special events like FCHS Graduation on the local channel. Viewers can see the Local Origination Program on the on-screen guide or check out the guide on the CCTV page. Citizens also posts programming on the Bulletin Board, Channel 23, and the social media for Citizens Telephone Coop.

Floyd’s 4-H Extension Office has partnered with CCTV to produce “The Ag Show with Jon Vest”. The series covers all things agriculture from tree grafting to soil preparation, seed planting, harvesting, and preserving fruits and vegetables. The first episode of a new series called The Ag Show: Seed to Shelf Series will air on April 23, at 6:30 PM. In this first Seed to Shelf episode, Jon will go over how to prepare your seeds and soil for the ideal conditions to get your seeds germinating and plants growing strong throughout the season.

Another series exclusive to CCTV Channel 20 is “Looking Back” with "Floyd County Millers" and features the interviews of Roy Turpin, Gene Vaughn, and Cephas Dalton. This program will air on April 20, at 6:30 PM. In this series, you will learn how water-powered mills were once a vital part of Floyd's economy. To remember this important part of history, Quentin Horn interviews three former millers who share their stories in an era where purchasing flour and cornmeal at the supermarket was far less common.

Subscribers with television service through Citizens Telephone Cooperative (d.b.a. Citizens) have exclusive access to a local channel, CCTV Channel 20. Through the IPTV platform, SFN TV Now, CCTV Channel 20 is full of locally recorded and produced programming by the Cooperative’s Video Production team and other locally submitted content.

Citizens recently announced that Pulaski River Turtle Baseball would be shown on CCTV Channel 20. The Pulaski River Turtles will enter their fourth year of competition in the Appalachian League with new leadership as respected baseball veteran Bill Kinneberg joins the organization as manager for the 2024 season. The appointment marks Kinneberg’s second season in the Appalachian League.

Customers with access to SFN TV Now can watch recorded home games of Pulaski River Turtle Baseball on CCTV, Channel 20. Watch Citizens Facebook and Bulletin Board, Channel 23, for schedule.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMERS WITH VOICE SERVICE SERVED BY FIBER OR CABLE MODEM

For many years, your landline telephone would allow you to stay connected to emergency voice services during a power outage. However, if your residential voice telephone service is provided using fiber optics, fixed wireless, or coaxial cable, rather than the traditional twisted pair copper-based line, the residential voice telephone service requires backup battery power to continue functioning during a power outage. To avoid a disruption of home voice service during a power outage, and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services, Citizens offers an 8-hour power battery backup for purchase for your residential fiber optic or cable modem (VoIP) VOICE service. Citizens will install a backup battery at no additional cost if purchased at the time of service installation. Standard install fees apply if the battery backup unit is purchased after the initial install date. Additional stackable backup batteries can be purchased ($49.95) at any time for self-installation. To place your order to pick up an additional backup battery unit at our office located at 220 Webbs Mill Road in Floyd, call 540.745.2111 or 276.637.6485.

You can find more information about the battery backup unit here.

Important Notice Regarding Your
ACP Discount On Your Citizens Internet Service

The FCC recently announced that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) could run out of funds. The projected time is April 2024 (this date is an estimate and may change). As a result, the FCC has started taking steps to wind down the ACP. What this means for you:

  • ACP applications and enrollments/renewals will not be processed after 5:00 pm on February 6, 2024.
  • Households who have applied, been approved, and are receiving the monthly internet discount before February 8, 2024, will continue to receive their ACP monthly benefit until ACP funds run out, as long as the household remains enrolled in the program.
  • After the ACP funds run out (projected April 2024), households participating in the ACP will no longer receive the ACP discounts. This means the discount of up to $30 will be removed from your Citizens Internet bill.

While the projected end date is April 2024, this date could change. There is still a possibility that Congress could decide to increase their funding, or the funds they do have could last longer than expected. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED FROM YOU AT THIS TIME.

As we learn more information from the FCC, we will communicate the changes to you and allow you to change your Internet plan to best suit your budget.

If you have questions, please contact our Discounted Services team by calling 540.745.9583.

Sincerely,
Discounted Services Team

The County of Floyd and Citizens Telephone Cooperative (Citizens) were recently nominated by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference (VAGHC) Innovation in Housing Award. Floyd County and Citizens were recognized for their collaboration on a Countywide Broadband Expansion project.

Each year, one of the conference's highlights is the VAGHC Housing Awards Luncheon, which recognizes innovative, effective efforts that address housing needs. The VAGHC Innovation in Housing Award recognizes innovation in housing that promotes affordable housing options through unique collaboration, advocacy, new technology, and utilization of innovative materials or deployment of a housing type not commonly utilized across Virginia. This collaboration between Citizens and the County of Floyd utilized federal and state-funded grants as well as LECAP (Line Extension Customer Assistance Program) to help offset construction costs of bringing broadband to rural areas of Floyd, Virginia. Accepting on behalf of the County of Floyd were Community and Economic Director, Lydeana Martin, and Chris Bond, CEO for Citizens, at the Virginia Governor’s Housing Conference held in Hampton Roads, VA.

Several weeks prior, a film crew visited the Floyd area to learn more from Lydeana Martin, Floyd County Administrator, Donna Smith, CEO & General Manager of Citizens, and residents in the area regarding the beneficial effects of fiber Internet. You can see the full segment on YouTube below:

“This three-phased project will provide broadband access to 1,570 previously unserved homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions through state-funded areas alone, achieving universal broadband access in Floyd. These efforts were complemented by Floyd County and Citizens Telephone Cooperative utilizing the Line Extension Customer Assistance Program (LECAP) to ensure affordability for low- and moderate-income residents. Because of this work, Floyd County will be the first of a handful of rural counties to achieve universal broadband in the Commonwealth.”

“The award is to all of you that have put in many many hours on our fiber project....it is truly a team effort!” stated Donna Smith as she presented the award to the company for their 6-year project.

Citizens is a member-owned Cooperative providing telephone, Internet, and TV to Floyd County and surrounding communities for over 100 years. Citizens also offers symmetrical Ethernet and hosted phone service for businesses. Citizens is located at 220 Webbs Mill Road in Floyd. Lobby hours are 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday;
9 am - 1 pm on Saturday and 24/7 when calling 540.745.2111.

Citizens, a Smart Rural Community℠ Provider,
Expands Free Community WiFi within Floyd

Citizens Telephone Cooperative, (aka Citizens) was recently recognized as a Smart Rural Community Provider by the NTCA - Broadband Association. To expand connectivity throughout Floyd, Citizens recently completed the installation of two additional Free Public WiFi locations.

Free Public WiFi is now available at the Floyd Parks & Recreation just off Route 8 as well as the football field, tennis courts, track, and in the old and new gyms of Floyd County High School. In all areas, coverage is very good; giving more access to visitors to these locations. With WiFi accessible in and around the vicinity of Lineberry Park, it is only fitting to expand online access into other heavily populated areas.

Citizens installed a free WiFi access point at the Floyd Parks & Recreation to enable online access to visitors while they enjoy games on the baseball and softball fields. “We have regularly scheduled practices and sporting events. Having public WiFi enables Internet access when needed and will help when tournaments are taking place. The Free Public WiFi gives everyone access when they need it.” stated Jacob Agee, Director of Floyd County Parks & Recreation.

Fans and visitors to Floyd County High School can enjoy WiFi via a free connection at the football, baseball, and softball fields, and parking areas any day after school starting after 3 p.m. The community can also enjoy access at any time on weekends. “As a Smart Rural Community Provider, we (Citizens) wanted to make connecting simple. Users can enjoy a high-speed connection in several places throughout Floyd. Whether you
are enjoying the Town’s music venues, sporting events at the Parks & Recreation fields, or events at Floyd County High School, Citizens has a connection available. You can also stop by Citizens’ office parking lot for a quick upload/download” stated Donna Smith, Citizens’ CEO & General Manager. Signage is posted for easy accessibility at all of the WiFi locations.

“Floyd is full of events and the High School is used for a variety of them, both inside and outside. One example is the upcoming Arts & Craft Festival sponsored by the Greater Floyd Women’s Club on Saturday, October 7. WiFi access is important for the vendors and the visitors. The public WiFi ensures safety and does not infringe on the school’s network.” stated Barry Hollandsworth, FCHS Principal.

All WiFi access points work on a 1Gbps fiber connection -- the same connection that Citizens deploys to residential homes throughout the county as a part of their ACAM Fiber project. The project is slated for completion in 2024. To date, the Cooperative reports the project at 90%. To learn more, members are encouraged to attend Citizens Telephone Cooperative’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Citizens Multi-Purpose Shelter located at 220 Webbs Mill Road in Floyd.

Citizens is a member-owned Cooperative providing telephone, Internet, and TV to Floyd County and surrounding communities for over 100 years. Citizens’ Business Solutions provides symmetrical Ethernet, data transport, hosted phone services, and more. Citizens is located at 220 Webbs Mill Road in Floyd. Lobby hours are 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday; and 9 am - 1 pm on Saturday.

Sapp Announces Retirement at Citizens’ Annual Meeting

The 2022 Annual Meeting of Citizens Telephone Cooperative was held on Saturday, October 15th, at the Citizens’ office on Webbs Mill Road in Floyd. Over 160 members were in attendance for the meeting announcing new milestones for the company.

Members were greeted by Citizens employees and received member gifts. Attendees had the opportunity to see first-hand and learn about the company’s new IPTV product, SFN TV Now. Central Office Technician Jay Conner conducted an educational demonstration of the new TV platform for the attendees prior to the meeting. “We are here for our customers each step of the way as we transition from and close down our digital TV headend to the new SFN TV Now IPTV platform,” stated Conner.

Citizens CEO and General Manager, Greg Sapp began the meeting with a welcome to members for the second Annual Meeting held in Citizens’ multipurpose shelter which comfortably accommodated those in attendance. President Wesley Goff opened the meeting, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and gave the President’s Report. Secretary Shelby Quesenberry read the minutes from the last meeting and Director Jonathan Vest presented the re-election of Board members Kevin Hubbard (Ballard exchange), Daniel Grim (Floyd exchange), and Rhonda Turpin (Willis exchange).

Mr. Sapp returned to the podium to report on the Cooperative’s progress of the ACAM Fiber to the Home project. To date, only 27% of the project construction remains. When complete in 2023, Floyd County will be 100% covered with fiber optic Internet technology for current and future technology needs. Sapp also shared that through partial funding from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative
(VATI) Citizens can now serve residents in Copper Hill with Gigabit (1Gbps) Internet. In conjunction with DSL to Fiber Internet conversions, Sapp reported that in just the last few months Citizens has connected over 600 customers with the new SFN TV Now IPTV platform. The new TV technology reportedly saves customers from paying additional on their monthly TV package for HD, PVR services, and set-top boxes.

Lastly in Sapp’s report, he announced that he would be retiring from Citizens Telephone Cooperative in November of 2022 after 29 years and that the Cooperative will be in good hands with newly selected Donna Hylton Smith as Citizens’ new General Manager. He thanked everyone for the opportunities over the years and for allowing him to serve them.

Smith is a Virginia Tech graduate and Floyd county resident whose family has generational roots in the company. Smith’s grandfather, Maynard Hylton, was Plant Manager at the time of his retirement in 1979. Smith’s father, Donald Hylton, was a contractor for the company prior to his retirement. Donna has been at Citizens for 21 years. In Smith’s statement, she commented “It is an honor to be selected for this position and continue the work started generations ago. I am excited to continue to serve the community where I was raised and now have my own family. Greg leaves big shoes to fill but with our team of dedicated employees, we will strive to make him proud and continue to bring our customers the best service around. Thank you, Greg, for your leadership. Thank you, Directors, for your support and confidence in me.” Donna resides in Floyd with her husband, Danny Smith, and children Jacob and Emma.

Traditions of the annual meeting continued with door prize drawings for members. Prizes awarded were: a Dewalt tool set, a Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum, a 13-piece cookware set, a smart clock, Armor All Car Kit, a 10” Fire HD tablet, a portable air compressor, and a 50” Roku TV. The meeting was followed by a catered meal by Blue Ridge Diner of Floyd.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be on the third Saturday of October 2023.

Floyd 540-745-2111 Ft. Chiswell 276-637-6485 Toll Free 1-800-941-0426 Support 1-800-741-9525