transition a bit easier, only the prefix number will change, soinstead of 246-2400, the new number will be 846-2400. Thenew number is effective July 1, and SkyBest is helping to

make the public (and especially school parents) awareof the school’s new number through this newsletterand other school communications.

Along with local service, the school chose aVoice-over-IP (VoIP) telephone system. This systemis feature-rich with voice mail and seven-digit

numbers for every phone extension. A combination ofthe new system and ISDN/PRI, a special interface, will alloweach phone to have a unique 911 address. An emergency callplaced from any phone throughout the school’s facilities willdeliver the caller’s exact location to the dispatcher. The

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

New Telephone Number for Ashe County High SchoolLocal Schools Upgrade Services through SkyBest

Even though school is officially out for the summer, thedoors to several Ashe County schools are wide open withactivity, from summer school and upcoming sports andtechnology camps to construction and operationalprojects, including improvements to their commu-nications services and systems. The school systemhas been working with SkyBest Communicationson several telecommunications-related enhance-ments at the schools in the past few years, andthe latest projects have included local service,new phone and paging systems for the high school and acampus wireless network for all five schools in the county.

By changing local service providers, Ashe County HighSchool will have a new telephone number. To help make the

JULY 2007

CONNECTIONSPublished monthly for customers of SkyLine Membership Corporation and SkyBest Communications

CUSTOMERSERVICEALLEGHANY

372-1350ASHE

877-1350846-1350

AVERY

898-1350WATAUGA

963-1350JOHNSON

739-1350OUTSIDE

LOCAL SERVICE AREA

1-800-759-2226

REPAIR SERVICELOCAL CALLS

611

www.skyline.org

www.skybest.com

WORTH NOTING:WEDNESDAY, JULY 4THSkyLine/SkyBest

Customer Service Centersto Close for Holiday

ASHE COUNTYRELAY FOR LIFE

Friday, July 20, 6 p.m.Ashe County High

School

STAFFJOHN DIXON

Chief Executive Officer

SANDIE BOWERChief Marketing & Sales Officer

KIM SHEPHERDCustomer Service Manager

KAREN P. POWELLPublic Relations Director

& Editor

100580

Customers of SkyLine and SkyBest attending any of theMainstage Series performances can get discounts onadmission and a chance to win some great prizes.Be sure to see the enclosed coupon entry form,

which is included with this month’s billing statement.Simply complete this form with your contact informationand bring it with you to any of the nine Mainstage events.Winners will be announced during intermission in theFarthing Auditorium lobby.The events sponsored by SkyBest Communications are:

Shen Wei Dance ArtsJuly 7, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

Eastern Philharmonic OrchestraJuly 8, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

Mystical Arts of TibetJuly 13, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

Ellis & Delfeayo MarsalisJuly 14, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

Mark Morris Dance GroupJuly 17, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

Old Crow Medicine ShowJuly 20, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

Bruce HornsbyJuly 21, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

Eastern Philharmonic OrchestraJuly 22, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

N.C. Symphony PopsJuly 25, 8 p.m., Farthing Auditorium

This sponsorship affords customers a 10-percentdiscount on admission to their choice of the nineevents.To order tickets, call the ASU Farthing Auditorium

Box Office at 1-800-841-ARTS (2787). Be sure to haveyour local telephone number available and identify

yourself as a SkyLine or SkyBest customer.Visit our Web site at www.skyline.org or

www.appsummer.org for more informationabout the Festival.

SKYBEST TO OFFER DISCOUNTED TICKETSAND SPECIAL PRIZES!

AT AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL

SEE INSERT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN SPECIAL PRIZES!

Bruce Hornsby, Old Crow Medicine Show, Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra

ASHE COUNTY SCHOOLS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

school previously did not have either voice mail or direct-dial numbersassigned to most of the phones in the building.

The new paging system is designed especially for school environmentsand will provide broader coverage, reaching areas that did not have pagingaccess previously. The paging system is integrated with the phone system,which means SkyBest as the single provider will maintain both phone andpaging systems.

Another significant addition to all five schools in the county (Blue Ridge,Mountain View, Westwood, Ashe County Middle and Ashe County High)will be the installation of a campus wireless network, which is part ofSkyBest’s most recent service offerings – data network solutions. Wi-Fi isshort for "Wireless Fidelity," which is used to commonly describe theunderlying technology of wireless local area networks (WLAN). The Wi-Finetwork will enable students and faculty to maintain mobile connectivitythroughout the school campus and have access to network resources,including school schedules and announcements.

“Realizing the vital role public education plays in our community, wevalue the opportunity to offer technology-based communications servicesand support that will complement the schools’ commitment to providing atop-notch primary and secondary education to the young people of thisarea,” said John Dixon, SkyLine Chief Executive Officer.

Beginning July 1, dial 846-2400 to reach Ashe County High School.

Area StudentsReceive

ScholarshipsSponsored Locally

By SkyLineFrank James-SkyLine

ScholarshipThis scholarship honors

the memory of longtimedirector and former SkyLinePresident Frank James andis awarded to children ofSkyLine members whoreside in our five-countyservice area. The scholarshipawards will be officiallypresented to the studentsat SkyLine's Annual Meetingin early October.

Annually, SkyLine awards$1,000 scholarships, renew-able for up to four years, tostudents pursuing a four-yearcollege degree and $500scholarships, renewable forup to two years, to studentspursuing a community/technical college degree orvocational program.

Foundation for RuralService ScholarshipThis scholarship is offered

through the Foundation forRural Service (FRS), theadvocacy organization of theNational TelecommunicationsCooperative Association(NTCA), of which SkyLine isa member. Nationally, 25,one-time $2,500 scholarshipsare awarded to rural highschool seniors from 14regions across the U.S.SkyLine, as the localsponsor, provides $500 ofthe $2,500 award if a studentis chosen from areas servedby SkyLine and SkyBest.

The program givesparticular emphasis to thosestudents who plan to returnto their community followingcollege.

MATT BOLICKUniversity of South CarolinaParents: Charles & Cynthia

Bolick

ELISHA HODGESDavidson CountyCommunity College

Parents: Lee & Lisa Hodges

BRADLEY MCQUEENUniversity of TennesseeParents: Kenneth & Lisa

McQueen

AMANDA FARLEYNortheast StateCommunity College

Parents: James & Lisa Farley

SAMANTHA JONESUNC-Wilmington

Parents: Bruce & Eva Jones

BRETT SHOMAKERUNC-Charlotte

Parent: Judy Laws Shomaker

RAY PHIPPSHaywood Community CollegeParents: Mark & Rita Phipps

NICOLE ROSEWilkes Community CollegeGrandparents: David & Janet

Blevins

CHRIS LYALLAppalachian State UniversityParents: Jean-Claude Lyall &

Sherrie Ashley

LINDSAY ASHLEYUNC-Greensboro

Parents: Chris & Karen Ashley

MICHELLE HENSONNC State University

Parents: Mr. & Mrs. JackieHenson

JESSICA MILESSurry Community CollegeParents: Gary & Janie Miles

MONICA MILESSurry Community CollegeParents: Gary & Janie Miles

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

ALLEGHANY COUNTYFRS SCHOLARSHIPAVERY COUNTY

AVERY COUNTY

JOHNSON COUNTY

JOHNSON COUNTY

WATAUGA COUNTY

WATAUGA COUNTY

ASHE COUNTY

ASHE COUNTY