Company News

Filter by category: #community, #community class, #events, ##wifi , #fiber, #internet, #scams, #ftc-article, #education , #tips, #technology, #security, #announcements, #company information, #smarthub, #pay n win, #local business, #news, #contest, #tv, #ezvideo, #video, #email, #covid-19, #promotion, #scholarships, #voice, #robocalls, #outage, #maintenance, #review, #training

News Articles
Pinned DirectLink to Discontinue all EZVideo and IPTV Video Services at Noon on January 31, 2022 Aug 2, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #company information #tv #ezvideo As a member-owned cooperative, we strive to keep our subscribers informed of any significant changes that may have an impact on the services we provide. DirectLink members deserve to be made aware when adjustments happen in their company and why. Recent unexpected changes have occurred with our... Full Article
Create and Store Strong Passwords with a Password Manager May 5, 2022 \| posted by Conner Williams #education #tips #technology #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 can... Full Article
2021 Annual Report and 2022 Annual Meeting Notice Apr 12, 2022 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #company information #events DirectLink publishes a recap of the prior year’s events, projects, and milestones annually. Read the report in its entirety below, and join us for the Annual Meeting to learn more about your cooperative’s projects and initiatives and to meet the Leadership Team and Board of Directors. ... Full Article
Time and Temperature Service Retired By Amy Russ Mar 1, 2022 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements For decades, Canby locals could call 266.TIME and hear a short, automated message from Canby Telephone Association that relayed the current time and area temperature. People used this service to set clocks and to check the weather against the Portland newscasters. 266.TIME saw thousands upon... Full Article
January 2022 Pay N' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Feb 24, 2022 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #smarthub #pay n win #local business All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. We pick a random winner from our Canby and Mt. Angel service areas each month! Easily pay your bill on time with... Full Article
December 2021 Pay N' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Jan 20, 2022 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #smarthub #pay n win #local business All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. We pick a random winner from our Canby and Mt. Angel service areas each month! Easily pay your bill on time with... Full Article
DirectLink Barrel ‘O Fun Contest Prize Winners Jan 19, 2022 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #contest Thank you to everyone that entered the Barrel ‘O Fun contest! We had over 350 people guess the number of candies in the jar, with guesses ranging from less than a hundred to more than 20,000! Once all the candies had been carefully counted up, the total amount came to 2,209. Kris... Full Article
DirectLink Lobbies Temporarily Closed By DirectLink Member Services Jan 13, 2022 \| posted by Conner Williams #company information #news Due to COVID-19 precautions and for the safety of our community and staff, the DirectLink lobbies are temporarily closed. The DirectLink staff remains committed to our members and is available to help. There are many ways to communicate with us outside of a personal visit: Call us at... Full Article
ESPN3 Service Has Been Discontinued Jan 1, 2022 \| posted by Jason Nugent #tv #announcements ESPN3 was previously offered to DirectLink Internet subscribers as a complimentary add on service. This product provided access to select ESPN content streamed live or OnDemand over an Internet connection. However, the service contract was tied with the DirectLink TV services and, as such, was... Full Article
DirectLink Office Closures for 2021 Holiday Season Dec 23, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #company information It's the most wonderful time of the year! The DirectLink offices will be closed tomorrow on Christmas Eve and on New Year's Eve Dec. 31 to give our dedicated staff time with their families. Tech Support remains available at 503.266.8111 in Canby or 503.845.2291 in Mt. Angel, and you can... Full Article
Connection Conundrum: A Local WiFi Mystery Dec 16, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #technology ##wifi Are you looking at new devices coming into your home this holiday season? With more devices comes more need for bandwidth and WiFi that can handle an abundance of devices streaming, gaming, FaceTiming, and more. Without a robust WiFi system, there may be certain times of the day where... Full Article
November 2021 Pay N' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Dec 15, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #smarthub All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. We pick a random winner from our Canby and Mt. Angel service areas each month! Easily pay your bill on time with... Full Article
NBC Sports Network, ESPN Classic Discontinued by Network Owners Nov 24, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #ezvideo #tv #news NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) and ESPN Classic will be discontinued by their network owners on January 1, 2022. NBCSN’s sports coverage will be moved to USA, NBC Broadcast Network, and Peacock. In addition, DIY Network will change its name to Magnolia Network on January 5, 2022. If you have... Full Article
October 2021 DirectLink Pay n' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Nov 11, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #smarthub #announcements #company information All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. We pick a random winner from our Canby and Mt. Angel service areas each month! Easily pay your bill on time... Full Article
Stay Connected During a Power Outage Nov 10, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #tips #technology #fiber Extreme events will happen at unexpected or inconvenient times, and being properly prepared can help keep you connected and ease the stress of the situation. Here are a few tips to help you get ready: Enroll in emergency alerts Opt-in to local alerts in the event of an emergency,... Full Article
Organize Your Computer on National Clean Out Your Virtual Desktop Day Oct 18, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #education #technology #tips 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,... Full Article
September 2021 DirectLink Pay n' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Oct 11, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #smarthub All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. We pick a random winner from our Canby and Mt. Angel service areas each month! Easily pay your bill on time with... Full Article
Possible TV Interruptions Due to Upcoming Solar Flares Oct 5, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #ezvideo #tv #news With autumn here and the shift in seasonal weather continuing, 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 IPTV... Full Article
NBC Sports Northwest Discontinued by Network Owner Oct 4, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #ezvideo #news #tv Effective September 30, 2021, the network that owns NBC Sports Northwest has discontinued the channel as most of its sports coverage has been moved to ROOT Sports. All DirectLink TV subscribers received notice of this channel lineup change in their September 2021 billing statement. Coverage of... Full Article
August 2021 DirectLink Pay n' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Sep 27, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #smarthub All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. Easily pay your bill on time with AutoPay in your SmartHub account. Visit DirectLink.SmartHub.coop or download the... Full Article
Channel 316 changes from Bounce to SportsGrid Network Sep 13, 2021 \| posted by Jason Nugent #ezvideo #announcements In September of 2021, Nexstar Media, Inc. has changed the content on EZVideo and IPTV channel 316 from BounceTV to the SportsGrid Network. This new network includes extensive coverage of sports betting for all major sports, including fantasy sports. The Portland market is one of 9 urban areas... Full Article
Network Contracts Require Changes to DirectLink TV Services Aug 26, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #tv #ezvideo Several changes are coming to DirectLink’s EZVideo and IPTV cable services. As previously communicated, the company was in unusual mid-year contract negotiations which affected member rates and channel lineups moving forward. The majority of NBC Sports Northwest’s coverage has moved to ROOT... Full Article
July 2021 DirectLink Pay n' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Aug 23, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #community #smarthub All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. Easily pay your bill on time with AutoPay in your SmartHub account. Visit DirectLink.SmartHub.coop to create a... Full Article
SCAM ALERT: Fake Email Targeting DirectLink Members' Payment Information Aug 16, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #scams #education #announcements #news #email We have received reports of an email scam targeting DirectLink members that seeks to gain access to sensitive payment information. If you receive an email that looks like the image above, do not click on any of the links in the message – this is a scam email. The fake email claims that... Full Article
Save the Date: DirectLink’s Member Appreciation Day is Back! Aug 3, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #events #announcements #company information #community DirectLink members are the cornerstone of the cooperative, and you deserve to be celebrated. After a hiatus in 2020 due to COVID-related regulations, we're thrilled to announce that Member Appreciation Day is back! This outdoor event has traditionally been held in Mt. Angel to represent the... Full Article
DirectLink Lobbies Open to Walk-In Visitors Jul 20, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #company information #covid-19 The DirectLink lobbies are open to the public, and our team is ready to welcome walk-in visitors at both locations from 8AM to 5PM Monday through Friday. The Mt. Angel office is closed from 12:30PM to 1:30PM for lunch, but call-in support remains available. In compliance with local and federal... Full Article
Beloved “Voice of DirectLink” Susan Peach Retires Jul 15, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #announcements If you’ve ever visited the Canby DirectLink location or called into either office, you were likely greeted by a cheerful woman with an infectious smile and a welcoming attitude. For 22 years, Susan Peach served the DirectLink cooperative with dedication and helped each member as if they... Full Article
June 2021 DirectLink Pay n' Win Gift Card Winners Jul 12, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #community #smarthub All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. Easily pay your bill on time with AutoPay in your SmartHub account. Visit DirectLink.SmartHub.coop to create a free... Full Article
May 2021 DirectLink Pay n' Win Gift Card Winners Pay Your Bill on Time and You Could Win a Gift Card to a Local Business! Jun 24, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #company information #promotion #smarthub #community All DirectLink members who pay their bill on time online, via mail, or in-person are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. Easily pay your bill on time with AutoPay in your SmartHub account. Visit DirectLink.SmartHub.coop to create a... Full Article
Congratulations to the 2021-2022 DirectLink Scholarship Winners Jun 21, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #community #scholarships #education Our local students are amazing! The Canby Rotary Foundation awarded 23 scholarships totaling $36,000 for the coming school year. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded 360 scholarships totaling over $350,000. For the sixth year, DirectLink has provided funds for the Don Peterson Memorial... Full Article
Don't Send Them The Money Just Yet - Family Emergency Scams On The Rise By Lisa Lake Jun 17, 2021 \| posted by Charlie Mouy #scams #ftc-article Instead of telling you a ghost story around a summer campfire, we have an all-too familiar tale to share: Myra’s grandson, Jon, is in Mexico for the summer. They video chat every week. One day, Myra gets a call from someone who says he’s Max, a friend of Jon’s: “He was arrested last night and... Full Article
New System Launched to Help Block Unwanted Spam Calls Jun 16, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #technology #company information #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
FREE HBO on EZVideo This Weekend Jun 16, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #ezvideo #tv Discover the best movies, big hit shows, and more for FREE on HBO this weekend! Enjoy drama series like In Treatment, late-night comedy talk show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and action-packed movies like Wonder Woman 1984 during the HBO Free Preview Weekend June 17-21 only on... Full Article
Scammers Pretend to be from Fraud Departments By Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press Jun 3, 2021 \| posted by Charlie Mouy #scams #email Recently, there has been a spike from scammers pretending to represent Fraud Departments of well-known organizations such as Chase, the Social Security Administration and Amazon to name a few. There are many variations of the scam, but it might start out as an email or text with a warning... Full Article
'Suspicious Activity' Surge, As Scammers Impersonate Amazon Phone scammers claim to be from Amazon By Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press Jun 3, 2021 \| posted by Charlie Mouy #scams #tips Amazon scam calls have surged significantly over the past few months. Consumers are now regularly receiving anywhere between 100 million and 150 million robocalls per month from fraudsters claiming to be with Amazon, according to YouMail, which has a robocall blocking app. Some of those... Full Article
Stay Safe from Scammers. Visit the new DirectLink Scam Prevention Page May 18, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #scams #company information Have you ever received a text message or an email that looks or feels a little suspicious? Maybe it came from an odd email or number you don’t know, or there are several misspelled words throughout. And why does a prince halfway across the globe want to give you his $100 million inheritance... Full Article
2020 Annual Report and 2021 Annual Meeting Notice May 13, 2021 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements #company information #events 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 #tips #technology #community 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
UPDATE: DirectLink Reaches Programming Agreement with AMC Networks May 3, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #tv #ezvideo Great news! You will continue to receive uninterrupted content on AMC, BBC America, WEtv, and IFC and can watch your favorite shows and movies as usual. DirectLink is pleased to announce that successful negotiations were finalized with AMC Networks prior to the contract expiration. Thank... Full Article
DirectLink Offices to Close Again Under New COVID Mandates Apr 29, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #news #covid-19 #company information Per the Governor's mandate, the DirectLink lobbies at both locations will close to the public as of April 30, 2021. We hope to reopen when the county is moved down to a lower level of risk. Despite the closures, we're here for you. There are many other ways to get in touch with us: • Call our... Full Article
DirectLink Statement Regarding AMC Networks Negotiations Apr 26, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #tv #ezvideo #announcements #news DirectLink is currently in negotiations with AMC Networks to renew our agreement to continue to offer AMC, BBC America, WE tv, and IFC to our membership. As your local TV provider, DirectLink believes you deserve access to these channels, and we work hard to keep TV prices as low as... Full Article
March 2021 Pay & Win Giveaway Winners Pay your bill on time and you could win a gift card to a local business! Apr 21, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #announcements #community DirectLink is proud to serve Canby and Mt. Angel, and we’re excited to give away a gift card to a local business in each community every month! Members that pay their bill on time are automatically entered into a random giveaway for a $50 gift card to a local establishment. To easily pay your... Full Article
Protect Your Personal Information Online and In Person Safely dispose of sensitive documents at Canby’s Shred Day this month Apr 8, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #events With more and more activity taking place online, protecting yourself on the Internet becomes increasingly important. Identity theft, scams, ransomware viruses, and more can pose a threat to anyone connected to the Internet. Follow the list of tips below to help keep your Internet-connected... Full Article
DirectLink Lobbies Reopen, with Precautions in Place By Conner Williams Mar 31, 2021 \| posted by Jason Nugent #covid-19 #company information DirectLink announces the reopening of our Canby and Mt. Angel offices to public visits as of April 1, 2021 during normal business hours of 8 AM to 5 PM. The Mt. Angel lobby will close for lunch between 12:30 and 1:30 PM, but call-in support remains available during this time. While the lobbies... Full Article
Possible TV outages due to upcoming solar flares Feb 22, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #outage #tv #ezvideo 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 IPTV... Full Article
DirectLink Network Update Following Severe Winter Weather Feb 18, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #company information #news #outage Dear members, Establishing, maintaining, and restoring your communication connections to family and friends is our main priority. This is true not only during the past weekend throughout the extreme weather, but every day. We wish to extend our sincerest appreciation of your patience and... Full Article
Scheduled Email Maintenance February 19, 2021 Between 9PM - 3AM By Matt Kramer Feb 17, 2021 \| posted by Jason Nugent #company information #maintenance #email This Friday evening (February 19) at 9PM, our email vendor team will be conducting some maintenance on the email platform. This maintenance will implement updates and patches from a core software authentication vendor, as well as improve overall security. Servers may need to be rebooted during... Full Article
DirectLink Inclement Weather Update Feb 14, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #company information #news #outage We hope you and your loved ones remain safe during this difficult weather event. Due to the impact of the storm on power and on our employees, we are working with a very limited member services staff. Our outside plant technicians are working to restore and keep the essential service of... Full Article
EMAIL SCAM ALERT Fake Email to Expose Member Information By Conner Williams Feb 9, 2021 \| posted by Jason Nugent #scams #email We have received reports of an email scam targeting DirectLink members that seeks to gain access to sensitive email login information. If you receive an email that looks like the image below,  do not click on any of the links in the message – this is a scam email. The screenshot below shows in... Full Article
Gadget Review: Furbo Dog Camera with Treat Tosser Ever wonder what your pup does while you’re at work or out and about? Wish you could toss them a treat for a job well done? Now you can! Jan 25, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams ##wifi #technology #review The new Furbo Dog Camera with Treat Tosser is a great way to keep an eye on your furry friend while you’re away. It features an accompanying app that lets you take a photo or video from the camera’s live feed, toss a treat, get selfies sent to you, check on pet sitters, and even speak to your... Full Article
Why do TV prices increase? Jan 21, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #tv #ezvideo #company information There’s no denying that TV has gotten more expensive, for both TV providers and their members. But why exactly do costs increase every year? Why do members regularly see their bills go up? There are a number of reasons for the high cost of TV, and we want to make it a little easier to... Full Article
Stream away with WiFi Home Networking Jan 14, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #technology ##wifi Did Santa leave some new devices under the tree this year? Maybe you added a laptop, smart speaker, home security camera, or streaming device like Amazon Fire TV Stick or Apple TV to your list of Internet-connected devices. Think of all the new games, shows, and video calls! But... Full Article
EZVideo Tip: Catch all the NFL playoff action with Replay TV and DVR! Jan 14, 2021 \| posted by Conner Williams #ezvideo #tv This NFL football playoff season, EZVideo has your back to make sure you never miss any of the action with free DVR and Replay TV! With EZVideo’s cloud-based DVR , you can search for and set a program to record from a mobile device, and it’ll be there on your living room... Full Article
SCAM ALERT: Fake Email to Expose Member Payment and Password Information Jan 4, 2021 \| posted by Jason Nugent #scams #email #announcements We have received reports of an email scam targeting DirectLink members that seeks to gain access to sensitive payment information. If you receive an email that looks like the image below, do not click on any of the links in the message – this is a scam email. The fake email... Full Article
Congratulations to our Member Pattern BINGO winners! Dec 9, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #announcements #events We had an awesome time playing Pattern BINGO with our members over the past few months, and we hope you did as well! While the COVID situation limited our ability to hold a Member Appreciation Day like we’ve traditionally done in the past with a block party in Mt. Angel, we wanted to do... Full Article
Fake Calls from Apple and Amazon Dec 4, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #news #scams We are receiving reports from members about fake calls from Apple and Amazon trying to scam them. The FTC has an article out describing these scams and providing information on what you should do. For the most part, just hang up and ignore, but view the article from the FTC here for more... Full Article
DirectLink would like to hear your thoughts! Let us know how you like to receive your DirectLink newsletter Dec 3, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #company information We'd love to hear your thoughts on our print and email newsletters! Complete the short survey below and let us know how you like to receive your DirectLink newsletter. Take the survey here: www.DirectLink.coop/survey Full Article
Give to local nonprofits just by shopping! Oct 29, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #news Did you know you can donate to local nonprofit organizations simply through your regular shopping trips? Programs like AmazonSmile and Fred Meyer Community Rewards automatically donate to charitable institutions dear to you when shopping as you normally do. AmazonSmile is a separate website run... Full Article
Check out these recommended TV shows from our staff! Oct 29, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #tv #technology #review With darker, rainier months ahead, we thought it would be fun to poll our employees and ask thoughts on binge-worthy TV shows to watch! You know, those shows where you can’t seem to hit “Play Next” fast enough. Here are our recommendations in no particular order, including the genre, a note... Full Article
Happy National Cooperative Month! Oct 1, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #news #company information When you purchased services from DirectLink, you became a member of a local cooperative that has been serving this community for over 116 years. Communications co-ops like DirectLink provide around 50 million rural Americans with Internet, Video, and Voice services. We are fortunate and grateful... Full Article
DirectLink Email Upgrade Ahead Scheduled for August 18, 2020 Aug 13, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #email Dear Valued Member, DirectLink strives to provide quality services at affordable rates for our members. Part of the company's commitment to the membership includes regularly re-evaluating products to ensure they fit subscribers’ needs. After extensive consideration, the DirectLink... Full Article
HBO Max to Replace HBO GO By Amy Russ Jul 31, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements #tv #ezvideo HBO Max has launched as the new way to stream OnDemand HBO content! Beginning July 31st, 2020, HBO Max will replace the HBO GO app on most devices. This new hybrid app offers approximately 10,000 hours of quality programming all in one place. In addition to the current HBO library... Full Article
Pay & Win Basket Update By Conner Williams Jul 28, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements You have the opportunity to win a free gift basket! For more than 17 years, we have given away gift baskets every month to a random member that pays their bill on time. This is another great way for us to connect with our members. The Pay & Win baskets have become a longstanding... Full Article
City of Canby and DirectLink Offer Free WiFi in Three City Parks Jul 22, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #technology #news #company information DirectLink, in collaboration with the City of Canby, is pleased to announce they have received a national Smart Rural Community Grant (SRC) of $5,000 toward the installation of free WiFi access during open hours in three Canby city parks. The organizations have worked closely together over the... Full Article
DirectLink email disruption affecting some members Jun 30, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #announcements #outage #email UPDATE 7/8 @ 4:30 PM We are thrilled to relay reports from our vendor that DirectLink email services are back to functioning properly. New equipment has been installed and all messages have been delivered. Additionally, email access through POP and IMAP is up and running, so those that... Full Article
Protect your smartphone in the heat this summer Jun 22, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #technology Summer is officially here, and that means ample opportunities for great photos out in the sun. Unfortunately, smartphones don’t enjoy the sunshine as much as we do. Follow these tips to protect your cell phone from overheating. Keep your phone out of direct sunlight and hot cars •... Full Article
2020 Annual Meeting Notice By Conner Williams Jun 8, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements #company information #events Full Article
DirectLink Internet traffic up since Oregon's "Stay Home" order May 28, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #covid-19 #technology #ezvideo #tv #company information #news With the implementation of Oregon’s “Stay Home” order near the end of March, many people are at home to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. As such, we have seen a drastic increase in Internet traffic from our members that are working from home, taking care of kids, finding ways to... Full Article
Flowers Fund Scholarships for Local Students and Bring Fun By Conner Williams Apr 23, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #covid-19 #news We could all use a little cheer during these trying times. That’s why DirectLink continues to work to help our local communities. DirectLink purchases tulips from the Mt. Angel Lions Club every year to help fund two $1,000 scholarships for John F. Kennedy High School seniors... Full Article
Online learning resources for kids at home Apr 21, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #training #covid-19 #news 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 exercises,... Full Article
3 tips to improve your home WiFi Apr 21, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #technology If you have WiFi service from DirectLink, please call us if you have any issues. Does your movie ever stop to load while watching it? Do you ever experience lag or interruptions when playing online games? What about a weak WiFi signal in certain rooms or areas of the home? Read on for a few... Full Article
Why a reliable Internet connection during COVID-19 matters Apr 21, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #covid-19 #technology Sure, an Internet connection gives us access to email, online games, social media, and streaming entertainment options. But how much of one’s life does a reliable Internet connection come into play during the COVID-19 situation? Here's a list of a few things your DirectLink Internet... Full Article
New EZVideo Tutorial By Conner Williams Mar 30, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #ezvideo #technology #training We've created a new video tutorial covering basic setup, features and functionality of EZVideo using an Amazon Fire TV device. Click the video below to play. Go to our YouTube page , or our Support Pages for more information. Full Article
Additional Free and/or Premium Channel FAQ Mar 27, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #covid-19 #ezvideo #tv WHY ARE ONLY SOME OF THE CHANNELS FREE? Some TV networks have offered their channels to all viewers regardless of subscription tier during the recent social distancing restrictions. DirectLink has reprogrammed our TV platforms to allow the pass-through of these channels while they are... Full Article
Select TV Networks Share Content for all Viewers Mar 23, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #promotion #tv #ezvideo #covid-19 TV viewing has been a popular activity while more people are at home practicing social distancing efforts to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. To help provide some expanded entertainment options during this time, some networks have opened up their channels for all viewers. No action is... Full Article
DirectLink commits to FCC’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge Mar 20, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements #news #covid-19 Update: The FCC has extended the Keep Americans Connected pledge timeline through June 30, 2020. DirectLink will do the same. Suspensions or disconnects due to non payment will be delayed until June 30. We will also not call or attempt to collect on past due accounts during this time. --... Full Article
Broadband Access for Students and Families Mar 16, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements #promotion Update - 4/29/2020: DirectLink has extended access to members currently on the free broadband and WiFi offer as well as the free upgrade offer. These groups will have their discounts extended until June 24th, regardless of their activation date. This is to ensure our local students remain... Full Article
Coronavirus Press Release Mar 13, 2020 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements #company information #news #covid-19 Dear DirectLink Members, As the effects of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 continue to emerge throughout Oregon, the DirectLink team wishes to ensure the safety of both the members in the communities we serve and the dedicated DirectLink staff. To best achieve that, we are implementing a few daily... Full Article
mtvU channel 406 to be removed from EZVideo, Digital TV By Conner Williams Mar 2, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #tv #ezvideo mtvU channel 406 will be removed on both EZVideo and Digital TV (IPTV) services by 5 PM on March 31, 2020. No other MTV channels will be affected in this lineup change. We apologize for any inconvenience this channel adjustment may cause. Full Article
Gadget Review: Roomba Robot Vacuum From $249.99 at www.irobot.com By Conner Williams Feb 26, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #technology #review The last thing you want to do when you get home from a long day of work is to vacuum the floor after a spill or from a leftover mess. Roomba robot vacuums have become a popular item for homeowners looking to set-and-forget one aspect of cleaning their home. There are a variety of models... Full Article
Possible TV outages due to upcoming solar flares By Conner Williams Feb 26, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #tv #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 both EZVideo and cable TV... Full Article
Looking back at the top 5 tech innovations of the decade (2010-2019) By Conner Williams Feb 26, 2020 \| posted by Conner Williams #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 company, we thought it would be appropriate to include a list of items that all rely on or have something to do with the... Full Article
UPDATE: DirectLink Reaches Programming Agreement with FOX Corporation By Jason Nugent Dec 31, 2019 \| posted by Jason Nugent #announcements #tv DirectLink is pleased to announce that negotiations with FOX Corporation have been successfully completed so we can continue receiving programming at fair rates for our members. As your local TV provider, we work hard to make sure our members have access to the channels they want at the lowest... Full Article
DirectLink Statement Regarding FOX Corporation Negotiations Dec 30, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #ezvideo #tv DirectLink, along with over 700 rural cable television providers nationwide, are working with the National Cable Television Collaborative in negotiations with FOX Corporation to renew our agreement to continue to offer FOX News Channel 45, FOX Business Channel 50, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) Channel... Full Article
Gadget Review: Amazon Echo Dot - Third Generation Available at www.amazon.com or other retail locations for $49.99 MSRP By Conner Williams Nov 20, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #review "Alexa, turn on the living room lights" "Alexa, play country music hits" "Alexa, send me a recipe for pumpkin pie" Utilize Amazon’s famous voice assistant, Alexa, with the newest generation of the Echo Dot. Voice control your music and stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify,... Full Article
How many devices do I actually have connected to my WiFi network? By Conner Williams Nov 20, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #technology If you've ever experienced lag or trouble connecting, there might be more happening on your WiFi network than you think. It might be because there are too many devices active at one time, the equipment is outdated, or there is simply not enough network bandwidth available. Data from Cisco... Full Article
Shop safely online this holiday season By Conner Williams Nov 20, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #news Everyone loves finding great deals on gifts during the holiday shopping season. But sometimes those deals come with an extra price on an unsecured WiFi network or fraudulent website. Be sure to take the following steps to protect your personal information when shopping online during Black Friday... Full Article
Business Service Disruption By Jason Nugent Oct 22, 2019 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage Outage Update October 22nd 4:45 PM: All business voice services have been restored. Should you experience additional challenges, please call us at 503.266.8111. We apologize again for any inconvenience this may have caused. Outage Update October 22nd 2:24 PM: Our team has reported that the... Full Article
PGE reporting power outages near Oregon City, Beavercreek By Conner Williams Sep 17, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #outage #news UPDATE AT 2:33pm: PGE is still reporting a power outage in the 97045 ZIP code that is affecting 46 customers. The estimated restoration time for the remaining customers is 4:30PM. 12:47PM: PGE is investigating the cause of power outages in the 97045 and 97004 ZIP codes. The outage is... Full Article
WiFi vs. Ethernet: What's the difference and what do I need? A question we receive often is "Do I need WiFi or Ethernet at my home, and what's the difference?" By Conner Williams Aug 6, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #technology This is a great question as the two terms are often used interchangeably. But there are differences in functionality between the two. WiFi is the equipment and technology that takes an Internet signal from the wired cord that DirectLink installed inside your home. It then relays it through a... Full Article
Gadget Review: Ring Home Security System Available at www.ring.com or other electronics retail locations – Product prices vary By Conner Williams Jul 3, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #review #technology With everything from video doorbells to security cameras to floodlights, Ring has everything needed to keep one’s home secure. And the best part? It can all be monitored remotely through the mobile app. Keep watch over your home when on vacation, at work, or watching a movie in the... Full Article
Connectivity Issues in Dryland and Macksburg Areas By Jason Nugent Jul 2, 2019 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage Notice July 2nd 10:00 AM: Members in the Canby area may be experiencing connectivity issues with Internet and Television. We are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it. Update 11:00 AM: This issue is isolated to Dryland and Macksburg areas. Update 1:00 PM: CO techs in the... Full Article
What is upload speed and why is it important? By Conner Williams Jun 20, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #news #company information You and the family are on vacation and want to check in on your house through a virtual security camera system like Google Nest or Ring Doorbell. But what happens if your home’s Internet connection doesn’t have a fast enough upload speed to get that video feed to you? Systems like this... Full Article
Summertime Member Appreciation Events By Conner Williams Jun 17, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #events #company information We’re different than other Internet, Video, and Voice providers. DirectLink is a member-owned cooperative, meaning we only have one stakeholder in mind: you. Every decision we make has the best interests of our members at the forefront and aims to provide a better experience. We’re so thankful... Full Article
Individual canvassing local neighborhoods posing as DirectLink employee By Conner Williams May 24, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #news We have received notice from several members about an individual posing as a DirectLink employee canvassing neighborhoods throughout our service area. This person has reportedly been knocking on doors falsely claiming to be a representative from DirectLink. When... Full Article
Be aware of scam email posing as DirectLink By Conner Williams May 13, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #scams #news #email Several of our members have made us aware of a scam email message from a sender posing as DirectLink. The sender name appears as “DirectLink”, but the email address does not match any of our company addresses that we use to communicate with members. The message asks the recipient to... Full Article
Be on the lookout for the "one ring" phone scam By Conner Williams May 7, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #scams #news Be on the lookout for the latest robocall scam that rings once and aims to get people to call the number back. It spoofs caller ID and looks like it's coming from a nearby number, but actually originates outside of the United States, creating the possibility of excessive long distance charges.... Full Article
Change or diversify your passwords this May By Conner Williams May 6, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams May 2 nd was World Password Day, and now is a great time to update or strengthen your passwords. Weak and common passwords are easy for hackers to guess, and this opens the door to reading your email, spoofing your information, and gaining access to your other online accounts such as... Full Article
Emergency Email Maintenance By Jason Nugent May 6, 2019 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage #email Our email hosting provider has identified a database issue on one of the servers and is being taken down, effective immediately for emergency database repair. Estimated downtime is up to 1 hour. This will affect customers on this server only, and most users will remain active. Expect... Full Article
KOIN maintenance may interrupt programming Tuesday morning By Conner Williams Apr 22, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #maintenance #ezvideo KOIN (CBS channel 6) may experience some interruption between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 23 as the network performs system maintenance. KOIN is installing a new antenna that may interrupt regular programming during this time. Full Article
Annual Meeting Notice 2019 By Jason Nugent Apr 5, 2019 \| posted by Jason Nugent #company information #events Full Article
Save on energy costs with EZVideo By Conner Williams Apr 4, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #tv #ezvideo EZVideo already provides an average savings of $360 per year by eliminating HD and DVR fees, equipment rental fees, and installation costs. But did you know that you’re also saving on your electric bill by using your own streaming set top box to watch TV with EZVideo? According to a... Full Article
Outage Notification By Jason Nugent Apr 3, 2019 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage DirectLink is currently experiencing a general outage that affects Internet, Video and Voice services. We are actively investigating the cause of the issue and working to get the service restored as quickly as possible. Service may work sporadically as we work towards full restoration. Update... Full Article
Possible TV outages due to solar flares By Conner Williams Mar 5, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #outage #tv 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. As DirectLink provides content from about... Full Article
Fall in love with EZVideo TV! By Conner Williams Feb 19, 2019 \| posted by Conner Williams #ezvideo Fall in love with EZVideo this February and save hundreds on TV service. EZVideo is the only app-based TV service in the area that includes all the major live, local broadcast channels, sports, and national networks. Use your Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, smartphone, or laptop to choose how you... Full Article
Take steps to protect your devices this Computer Security Day By Conner Williams Nov 30, 2018 \| posted by Conner Williams #training November 30 is designated as National Computer Security Day. It was started in 1988 by the Association for Computer Security to raise awareness concerning computer protection issues. As technology advances along with our connection to the Internet, protecting our devices becomes... Full Article
Congratulations to our first Blazers tickets giveaway winners! By Conner Williams Nov 13, 2018 \| posted by Conner Williams #news To say thank you to our members, we'll be giving away tickets to Portland Trail Blazers games throughout the regular basketball season on our Facebook page! Our first random winner was Kathy Phillips, who won tickets to the Oct. 20 game against the San Antonio Spurs. Kathy took her son,... Full Article
Learn How to Better Navigate your iPhone Watch the video of our iPhone Community Class By Conner Williams Oct 30, 2018 \| posted by Conner Williams #events #training Did you miss our Community Class on iPhone basics last August? Catch the whole thing on our YouTube channel by clicking the link below! We’ve included timestamps in the video description so you can jump ahead to relevant sections you’d like to learn more about. While you're there, click... Full Article
KGW discontinues Estrella TV By Jason Nugent Oct 2, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #news #tv As of October 1, 2018, KGW will no longer carry estrellaTV (channel 307), the American Spanish-language broadcast network. Quest (channel 320) has been added as its replacement. Quest provides “adventure programming about nature’s greatest dangers, history’s greatest mysteries and man’s greatest... Full Article
Hundreds Turn Out For DirectLink Member Appreciation Day in Mt. Angel By Jason Nugent Aug 28, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #events DirectLink is proud to have served BBQ lunches to more than 600 people at the 2018 Member Appreciation Day in Mt. Angel. The block party, held downtown on Garfield and College streets Aug. 17, saw hundreds of people turn out for an afternoon of fun activities for the whole family. There was... Full Article
The Cooperative Difference: Our Members Come First By Jason Nugent Aug 22, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #company information As a nonprofit, member-owned telecommunications cooperative, our first priority is taking care of our members. That’s why every decision we make is carefully considered by our award-winning team to be able to answer one question: Is this the right thing to do for our members? We’ll work until... Full Article
What Is the Cloud and Why Do I Need It? Jun 26, 2018 \| posted by Conner Williams #education #technology #tips 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... Full Article
We're committed to protecting your personal information By Conner Williams May 25, 2018 \| posted by Conner Williams #company information If you've checked email recently, there have likely been a number of notifications in your inbox from organizations you follow or do business with detailing changes to their privacy policies. On Friday, May 25, 2018, a new European law takes place – the General Data Protection Regulation... Full Article
Annual Meeting Notice 2018 By Jason Nugent Apr 27, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #events Please Join Us For the Annual Meeting & Open House on Thursday, May 10th, 2018. Open House: 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Annual Meeting: Starts 6:30 pm Full Article
Viewer notice: Viacom announces channel blackout Wednesday for National School Walkout By Conner Williams Mar 13, 2018 \| posted by Conner Williams #news Viacom has announced that all of its network outlets will go dark this Wednesday, March 14 in support of the National School Walkout against gun violence. The blackout will occur from 10 a.m. to 10:17 a.m. and includes all Viacom TV networks along with their digital and social media platforms.... Full Article
Possible TV Interruptions Due to Solar Flares By Jason Nugent Mar 5, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage During the Spring Equinox this next week, there is a chance that television services may see interruptions due to an increase in solar flares. This happens for one week twice a year during the spring and fall equinox seasons. As DirectLink provides content from a dozen satellites different... Full Article
Broadcast Programming Fee By Jason Nugent Feb 28, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #company information Dear DirectLink Members: As much as we would like to keep our rates unchanged, the rising cost of programming has made it necessary to pass along a portion of the recently imposed network programming increases. We have removed broadcast programming fees from each package tier to better... Full Article
Emergency Maintenance Thursday \| 3-1-2018 \| 2 am - 4 am By Jason Nugent Feb 28, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage #maintenance Emergency Maintenance: Our primary router must be rebooted. Unfortunately the change we need to make for the router to continue performing as needed requires a full reboot. The reboot will occur early tomorrow morning. --------------------------------------------- Services Affected: All Internet... Full Article
SCAM ALERT! By Jason Nugent Feb 15, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #news #scams There is a new scam email floating around, and the scammer is attempting to masquerade as DirectLink (or Web-Ster in the example below) in order to gain the confidence of potential victims. DO NOT CLICK on any links within the email or reply to it. Our engineering team is already working on a... Full Article
DirectLink Email Currently Under Maintenance By Jason Nugent Jan 26, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage #maintenance Our Email provider is currently working with our email system which may cause connection or slow-down issues when trying to retrieve email or access online webmail. We expect the issues to be resolved soon. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns please call our... Full Article
DirectLink HONORS LATE BOARD MEMBER, DON PETERSON, WITH PORTRAIT AND MEETING ROOM DEDICATION By Jason Nugent Jan 17, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #company information #news January 11, 2018 - Canby, OR: DirectLink held a celebration to dedicate the new Don Peterson Boardroom to the late Canby Telephone Association (CTA) board member, Don Peterson. Don Peterson, served on the CTA board for 27 years. He was elected to the board in 1988 and served as... Full Article
Scheduled Maintenance for Email Thursday, 1/18/2018 12:01 am - 2:00 am PST By Jason Nugent Jan 16, 2018 \| posted by Jason Nugent #maintenance #outage There is a scheduled maintenance to upgrade our email servers. The maintenance window is scheduled for 2 hours, however the expected downtime is approximately 20 minutes. Expected Impact: Users will be unable to access email during system down-time. This will affect any email clients (such as... Full Article
Introducing SmartHub The New DirectLink Online Self-Management System, SmartHub, Arrives in August! By Jason Nugent Aug 1, 2017 \| posted by Jason Nugent #company information #news SmartHub delivers enhanced member options, detailed account information, and customized alerts to your computer, tablet or smart phone. SmartHubwill also change the way DirectLink administers eBill and AutoPay. The old electronic bill pay system was deactivated on August 1, 2017. Members... Full Article
DirectLink Service Outage Today By Jason Nugent May 15, 2017 \| posted by Jason Nugent #outage DirectLink experienced an Internet and Voice service outage today due to a fiber optic cable cut . We apologize to the members of DirectLink for the inconvenience the outage may have caused. Services have been restored as of 2:30 PM. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Full Article
Annual Meeting and Open House May 11th By Jason Nugent Apr 21, 2017 \| posted by Jason Nugent #events The Annual Meeting of Canby Telephone Association is scheduled for May 11, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the company training facility located at 150 SE 2nd Avenue, Canby. The Nominating Committee has nominated John Zieg incumbent director, to run for Position #1. The Board of Directors has unanimously... Full Article
NBC Universal HD Channel Apr 17, 2017 \| posted by Jason Nugent NBC Universal will discontinue distribution of Universal HD. This decision will result in the removal of Universal HD (channel 856) for all DirectLink Digital TV members that subscribe to HD Programming on June 30th, 2017. Full Article
Important Information Regarding Changes To Digital Television Services By DirectLink Member Services Team Mar 20, 2017 \| posted by Jason Nugent We are committed to provide the outstanding products and services, excellent customer service, and the benefits of new technology that you, our members, have come to expect from DirectLink. As much as we would like to keep our rates unchanged, the rising cost of programming has made it necessary... Full Article
SCAM ALERT! Jan 30, 2017 \| posted by Jason Nugent Beware of pop ups even on your smartphones. This came through on a local member's iPhone over the weekend. These messages are not from DirectLink or Canby Telephone Association. Exit out of these messages as soon as you see them. Full Article
NBC Universal – CLOO and Esquire Announcement Jan 24, 2017 \| posted by Jason Nugent NBC Universal has discontinued distribution of CLOO, a network that provides crime and mystery programming. This decision will result in the removal of CLOO (channel 92) for all DirectLink Viewer’s and People’s Choice Digital TV subscribers on February 1, 2017. NBC Universal has also announced... Full Article
Edgewave Spam Filter Maintenance - Dec. 26th Dec 21, 2016 \| posted by Jason Nugent On December 26th, DirectLink's spam filtering service will be undergoing scheduled maintenance. Normal email delivery will NOT be affected. However, some messages that have previously been flagged as spam may be unavailable during this time. Access to all filtered spam messages will be restored... Full Article
Canby and Mt. Angel Offices Will Be Closed Today at 4pm. Dec 15, 2016 \| posted by Jason Nugent Due to the snow today we will be closing both our Canby and Mt. Angel offices at 4pm today. Enjoy the weather, be safe and happy holidays! Full Article
AMC, BBC America, IFC, WEtv Added to WatchTVeverywhere Nov 4, 2016 \| posted by Jason Nugent AMC, BBC America, IFC and WEtv are now available on watchTVeverywhere. Members who subscribe to DirectLink’s Viewer’s or People’s Choice digital TV tier will now have free, unlimited access to the corresponding online services at any time, on any computer in the U.S. with a high-speed Internet... Full Article
Canby Telcom and Mt. Angel Telephone Will Become DirectLink CANBY TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION (d.b.a. Canby Telcom) WILL CONSOLIDATE MT. ANGEL TELEPHONE COMPANY INTO THE COOPERATIVE AND BEGIN OPERATING UNDER A NEW ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME AND BRAND: DIRECTLINK By Merry Shepard Oct 14, 2016 \| posted by Jason Nugent October 14, 2016 - Canby, OR: On November 1st, Canby Telephone Association (d.b.a. Canby Telcom) and Mt. Angel Telephone Company will begin to operate as a single telecommunications cooperative under a new name, DirectLink! Mt. Angel Telephone Company to change to a telephone cooperative... Full Article