Save money and time with these small business strategies.
Lease Equipment Rather Than Buy It to avoid big upfront costs. You’ll also save money on repairs, maintenance and upgrades, as many lease agreements cover these expenses. And you’ll save time by not having to worry about maintenance—or waste time trying to repair something when you can just call the lessor to take care of it.
Ask for a Discount on products and services. This includes everything from getting an interest-free loan to signing a long-term agreement for discounted service rates.
Stay on Top of Your Accounting to avoid paying late fees to vendors—you may even get a discount for paying early. And make sure you are billing clients in a timely fashion to keep cash coming in.
Reconsider Buying in Bulk to free up cash flow. Bulk buying is never a good deal if you are not going to use the product fully or before it expires. Bulk buying can add to storage costs too, which is never worth it.
Use High-Tech Alternatives to Legacy Systems and avoid high replacement and repair costs. Plus, that legacy system may be slowing down your business and limiting your ability to expand—wasting time and money.
Experiencing your favorite holiday traditions may look a little different this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate. Here are a couple of ways you can safely enjoy local holiday art, crafts and culture this December:
Daily starting Saturday, November 28th through Sunday, January 3rd, 2021
FREE!
The Historic Park City Snow Globe Stroll features nine interactive life-sized Snow Globes designed to represent everything there is to love about Park City. The Snow Globes will be placed throughout Park City’s Historic Main Street to allow for social distancing as visitors interact with the Snow Globes.
The brilliant Spanish-language tales in Viva Kid Flicks, with a range of kids’ perspectives, speak volumes in any tongue. NYICFF jury-award winner 3Feet kicks things off in style with Gonzalo, who tries his hilarious best to keep things clean to stay in the game; then orbit around Ailín and her mom, who work through love and challenges in the charming stop motion Ailin on the Moon. And see things grow curiouser and curiouser in a moving take on magical realism in the gorgeously filmed tale The Size of Things.
In Spanish with English subtitles
Presented in partnership with New York International Children’s Film Festival.
Heber
Tree Lighting Celebration
Midway Town Square
Lights will turn on at 6:00 pm sharp - dress warm.
Free
Kick-off the holiday season at the annual Tree Lighting Celebration at the Midway Town Square.
We hope you will join us for this fun Christmas kick-off celebration.
Join us on this fun and traditional train ride to the North Pole! A family favorite, this 90 minute round trip to the North Pole includes hot cocoa and Mrs. Claus' famous chocolate chip cookies. You'll sing along to new and traditional Christmas favorites on the way and be entertained by our hosts, elves and cocoa chefs. When we reach the North Pole Santa will join us for the return trip and greet each child and present them with a special gift.
Did you know that more than 4.57 billion people use the internet every day? With the growing popularity and demand for a fast, reliable connection, having smart technology in your home will make your internet safer and easier to use. This is why we recommend pairing your internet service with Plume, All West’s managed wi-fi network solution.
What is an unmanaged wi-fi network?
An unmanaged wi-fi network is when an individual purchases and sets up their wi-fi network on their own. This type of network typically has low bandwidth speeds and can only handle a few devices connected to it at any given time. (How to choose the right router for your home)
What is a managed wi-fi network?
A managed wi-fi network allows both the individual and internet provider to view, manage, and troubleshooting an individual’s wireless network. This type of network gives the homeowner more control over their internet with better device management.
What are the benefits of managed wi-fi?
Increased reliability and connectivity in your home
Plume SuperPods use what is called a dual-band system. A dual-band system means your router can simultaneously use both 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals, limiting connection issues and offering more stability. Plume also has built in mesh system, which extends your internet signal to every corner of your home so you never have to worry about moving too far away from your router.
With device management, you know what devices are connected to your network and control how that device uses your internet network, including guest access, parental controls, internet freezes, online security, and more. Plume also makes it easy to know what’s happening on your home network through the Plume app, which is compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Safer home with AI Security
The landscape for cybersecurity services for consumers is very focused on anti-virus, but technology has evolved so much that it’s not enough. The average home has so many more types of devices now, and each device has many attack surfaces, so securing the home requires new thinking. Plume uses artificial intelligence to monitor threats across a growing scale with adaptive wi-fi deployments at more than 15 million homes and half a billion devices. It allows Plume to understand device behavior and spot new threats faster.
Internet Service Provider insight for better troubleshooting
If issues with your internet arise, a managed wi-fi network allows All West to troubleshoot your connection from our offices. This will enable us to fix the issue faster, and you save money because we don’t have to send a technician to your home to troubleshoot your service.
We have a lot to be thankful for this year, our health, families, and customers to name a few. This month we have been fortunate to receive additional government funding, so we can bring more broadband opportunities to the rural communities of Utah and Wyoming. We owe a big thank you to the USDA and ConnectWyoming for choosing All West for these projects. Read more below to see what we have been up to this November.
Kemmerer, WY Construction Update
Construction crews have been working around the clock to build new fiber and started connecting our first fiber customers in Kemmerer, WY.
All West is excited to welcome both Jill Tharp and Rachelle Beckman to be amongst the first to receive All West's services -thank you for choosing All West for your telecommunication needs!
Jill has been loving her new fiber "I chose All West because of the faster speeds and the dependability of fiber optics. My previous carrier speed was 12 Mbps and with All West it increased to 100 Mbps in the same price range. It is unbelievable how much smoother and faster all our devices run. Upload and download times have been drastically cut. I am thrilled with my service. The Plume has also been a great tool. It's convenient to have a guest wi-fi password, and also to tailor our internet to us. From the crew that installed the line to the technician that installed the router, everyone was professional and courteous."
All West is looking forward to connecting more customers in the upcoming weeks. For updates on installation, please call 866-255-9378.
To bring our customers the best in TV entertainment, All West goes into contract negotiations once a year with channel network providers. In these negotiations, All West works hard to bring you the channels you want at a reasonable price.
Eight giant corporations own most of the networks you watch, as well as many of those you don’t. To continue increasing their revenue, they require us, your TV provider, to carry their less-popular networks as a condition of providing the most popular ones.
In addition, they use their size and market power to continually demand higher fees for their programming.
Since All West is considered a “small fish”, compared to major TV providers such as DirectTV, we have partnered with a third party that brings small telecoms together, which gives us more power when going into negotiations. Sometimes negotiations go smoothly and sometimes they don’t.
What happens when we don’t reach an agreement?
When networks demand higher fees, local cable operators like All West are forced to pass along some of these costs to customers. Our goal is to bring you affordable TV and limit price increases. If fees are too high we sometimes we have to put our foot down and say “no” to programmers.
When disputes occur, programmers will often take high-visibility TV programs off the air to negotiate deals in their favor. For All West and our customers, the impact can temporarily make channels unavailable or go dark. By doing this, they’re using you to put pressure on us to carry the channel but that can lead to higher fees, which only increases your TV bill. Our goal is to come to an agreement before this happens. All West has never had to go dark on a channel before but as the TV landscape changes, it could be a possibility.
We want you to know that our customers will always come first and we will do everything we can to bring you the best in TV entertainment. For more information on how we’re keeping channels on and pricing in check, please visit TVonmyside.com.
Blog
Park City Christian Center's “Operation Hope” program gets some help from All West
All West Communications is happy to support the Christian Center of Park City’s “Operation Hope” program. One element of this annual program is a toy and clothing drive. Donations from the drive create a store where families-in-need can shop for holiday gifts for free. These gift cards will be used for older kids who have outgrown toys; typically a difficult age group to shop for.
All West had hoped to host a toy drive, but they did not feel it would be successful given the few people coming into their offices due to COVID-19. In lieu of the toy drive, All West donated ten $20 TJMaxx gift cards that will be distributed to teens so they can shop for the things they want.
Supporting our local communities is an important part of the All West culture—and a way to say “Thank you” to those who support us.
SALT LAKE CITY — New, multimillion-dollar grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday will help make some inroads, albeit small ones, for the 100,000-plus Utahns who have no access to high-speed internet service.
The gap between those who do, and do not, have robust internet connectivity, also known as the digital divide, has been underscored by restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, with residents in Utah and across the country challenged by remote work and remote education tasks that rely heavily on solid, and fast, internet connections.
Bette Brand, USDA deputy undersecretary for rural development, said $10.6 million in funding had been allocated to provide new broadband service access to rural communities in Utah, Nevada and Idaho. The money comes from $550 million in new funding announced last December for the USDA’s ReConnect program, an effort aimed at accelerating deployment of broadband services in underserved areas of the U.S.
“Access to a high-speed internet connection is a cornerstone of prosperity, and unfortunately many of America’s rural communities lack access to this critical infrastructure,” Brand said in a statement. “Connecting America’s rural communities to this essential infrastructure is one of USDA’s top priorities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
During an online press conference Friday morning, Brand noted that tens of millions of Americans currently have no access to broadband internet and the negative consequences for those with access challenges were only being made worse by the COVID-19 public health crisis.
“This pandemic has only highlighted the digital divide even more,” Brand said.
About $2.3 million of the funding will support fiber optic internet connectivity to four residences, four farms and four businesses in Washington County. And $5.6 million will get fiber to 188 residences, nine businesses and five farms located variously in Summit County, Utah; Bear Lake County, Idaho; and Sweetwater and Lincoln Counties in Nevada.
USDA Rural Development Director for Utah Randy Parker said the service grants will help elevate quality of life for the state’s rural residents.
“Utah is a forward-thinking state, and these long-term investments in broadband and cutting-edge technology make all the difference to its rural communities,” Parker said in a statement. “USDA is proud to be a partner in ensuring they are attractive destinations for prosperous living and working as well as visiting.”
As a state, Utah comes in around average overall based on internet access and performance metrics.
Broadband Now, an industry advocacy group, ranked Utah No. 29 in the U.S. with a 76.1 megabits per second average statewide internet speed and broadband access of 100 Mbps for more for 94% of the population.
Utah gets high marks for overall access to broadband, but still has gaps for big chunks of the population.
“In terms of availability, Utah’s broadband performance excels,” Broadband Now reported. The group noted “96.1% of Utahns have access to a 25 (megabits per second) wired internet connection. This is a massive percentage; however, 108,000 people still don’t have access to a wired connection capable of the same speed. Additionally, 45,000 people in Utah don’t have access to any wired internet providers at all.”
Internet affordability also contributed to Utah’s average internet ranking.
“Only 26.3% of Utah’s population has access to a standalone wired broadband internet plan under $60 per month,” the report read. “Even though there are 21 states with a lower ranking for overall performance, 12 of those states have a higher percentage of the population with access to affordable wired 25 (megabit per second) plans.”
Utah cities with the “best overall broadband ecosystem” are, in descending order, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Centerville and Lindon. The worst places to find connections to broadband service are found in rural Utah communities, with San Juan and Daggett counties where access to internet speeds higher than 25 (megabits per second) is very limited.
Last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced it had formally granted 154 applications for use of the 2.5 GHz band to provide broadband and other advanced wireless services, including 5G, to rural tribal communities.
In Utah, there were four licenses granted that will help the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation provide connectivity to their rural communities.
Tribal lands in Utah, and around the country, have been among the areas with the lowest levels of service from, and access to, internet and wireless phone providers.
In announcing the new bandwidth allotments, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai noted the new licenses are intended to help address those imbalances.
“This is a major step forward in our efforts to close the digital divide on tribal lands,” Pai said in a statement. “Few communities face the digital connectivity challenges faced by rural tribes. By prioritizing tribal access to this mid-band spectrum, we are ensuring that tribes can quickly access spectrum to connect their schools, homes, hospitals and businesses.”
2020 has been anything but predictable, and as we start to round the corner into a new year, we are thankful for our staff and customers’ health. Here are a couple of ways you can safely enjoy your local art, crafts and culture this November:
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in November: 10 am – 4 pm
FREE!
Swaner is pleased to offer the Sun, Earth, Universe exhibition in collaboration with NASA, the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net) and NHMU! This is an interactive, English and Spanish bilingual exhibition about Earth and space science for families.
We explore questions about the Earth. How is Earth changing? We investigate questions about the solar system. What is it like on other planets? We consider questions about the universe. Are we alone?
Design, build, and test your own spacecraft to complete a NASA mission or put all your space mission-planning knowledge to the test by playing the Mission to Space board game. Will your mission be the first to be completed? What will you discover?
The countdown is on for the tenth annual Live PC Give PC on Friday, November 6! The 24-hour day of giving hosted by Park City Community Foundation aims to engage over 5,500 unique donors to support more than 100 local nonprofits and to highlight the power of giving. This giving day has raised millions of dollars for local nonprofits over the past 10 years.
Experience the difference of the farmer’s touch through an immersive adventure at Kohler Creamery, home of Heber Valley Artisan Cheese. We offer a diverse set of experiences for all ages from tours, tastings, and classes to fun outdoor activities.
All West Communications has been awarded a $2.5M grant through ConnectWyoming funding provided under the federal CARES Act by Governor Mark Gordon and the Wyoming Business Council. ConnectWyoming is focused on unserved and underserved populations where available internet services are less than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. This funding will allow All West Communications to expand its broadband offerings in Cokeville and Smiths Fork, Wyoming—touching 280 homes and 80 businesses—and strengthen its commitment to connecting people to needed information and communications. All West Communications will be contributing $360,000 of its own capital.
The current copper (DSL) network in Cokeville, Wyoming, and the surrounding area will be upgraded to an all-fiber network increasing speeds from 15 Mbps to up to 1 Gig. All West’s minimum speed is 100 Mbps, which is almost seven times faster than what DSL can bring—and fiber provides a much more stable and reliable connection. It allows for data to stream more consistently, so there is less buffering and latency.
Making this upgrade will allow for greater economic growth as businesses can compete globally, gain access to needed inventory not found locally, and strengthen vendor relations with faster communications. Fiber opens the possibility of online learning, telecommuting, and telehealth. It also brings more entertainment and communication options—from streaming TV services, gaming, video chats, and more.
The grant guidelines require construction to be completed this calendar year, so community participation and support is extremely critical. Fiber can add up to 3% to home values and is the best broadband technology now and for the future. Construction crews have begun the initial process of installing 52,000 feet of mainline that will then be connected to the more than 350 homes and businesses. The fiber project will span 10 miles.
“We’re excited to bring fiber to this corner of Wyoming,” Matt Weller, All West Communications President, stated. “Faster, more reliable internet has been an ask for some time now. We appreciate the town, county, and state support to bring fiber to the residents of Cokeville and the surrounding area.”
This upgrade will be done at no cost to the customer, provided the customer allows All West to connect them to fiber this year. After this year, when the funds have expired and the construction is complete, customers wanting fiber will be responsible for the construction and installation costs.
All West Communications is honored to be recipients of the CARES Act funding and will continue its commitment to bring Wyoming communities the broadband they deserve.
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick is All West’s #1 choice for watching All West.tv. The user-friendly remote and HDMI stick system allows All West.tv subscribers to effortlessly access and watch their favorite tv entertainment.
Here’s how to use your Amazon Fire TV Stick:
Installing
All West.tv works with Amazon Fire TV 2nd Generation and newer, including Fire TV Stick and Cube. To get started you’ll need:
- an HDMI cable (on 4K capable devices you need an HDMI 2.0 or later)
To install:
Plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet, and the Fire TV device into your TV’s HDMI port.
Use the USB cable to connect the power adapter and Fire TV device.
Install the batteries in the remote. If the remote doesn’t automatically pair with your Fire TV, press and hold the Home button for 10 seconds.
Use the Source/Input button on your TV remote to locate the HDMI signal for your Fire TV device.
Follow the prompts on the Fire TV startup screen to finish set-up. To install All West.tv, select the Search icon (left of Home at top of screen) and search for All West.tv. Highlight and select Download. Once finished, select Open to launch All West.tv.
Voice Button: Control your TV with your voice. No more having to click buttons or filtering through multiple screens to watch your favorite TV.
Navigation: Use the outer circle button to navigate menus and options on your Fire Stick. Hit the area on the circle of where you would like the TV curser to move. For example, hit the top of the circle to move up, etc.
Select: Use the middle circle button to select items on your TV screen.
Back: Move to previous screen.
Home: Go to the main app menu on your Fire TV Stick.
Menu: Open more options, based on the item or function selected.
Fast forward, play/pause and rewind.
Volume up or down: Control how loud or quiet your TV program plays.
Mute button: Stop the sound on your TV.
How to use remotes with Alexa
Using the microphone button on your Fire TV Stick you can navigate your TV with your voice. To use this feature, hold down the voice button and ask Alexa a question. She gives helpful information about topics related to your viewing or listening content.
To get started, give some of these a try:
"Alexa, watch [movie title]"
“Alexa, pause"
"Alexa, fast forward [x] minutes"
"Alexa, rewind [x] seconds."
"Alexa, next/next Episode."
"Alexa, turn it down on Fire TV."
"Alexa, show me movies with [actor's name]"
"Alexa, open All West.tv”
"Alexa, show me popular show on [app]"
"Alexa, go to [channel / network] on [app]"
Voice Button: Control your TV with your voice. No more having to click buttons or filtering through multiple screens to watch your favorite TV.