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Helpful Hints

Important Notice

In order to help protect you from spam and ensure prompt delivery of your email, Ballard Internet will soon be making some changes to our email system security. These changes will require you to turn SMTP authentication on in your mail client. Please consult the list below for instructions for your specific mail client.

If you aren't sure which mail client you are using, you are probably using Microsoft's default email client. If your PC has Windows Vista intstalled, this will be Windows Mail. If your PC has Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows 98, this will be Outlook Express. For mail clients not listed here, please consult the software vendor's website or the application's help file for proper documentation.

• Windows Mail
• Outlook Express
• Outlook 2007
• Outlook 2003/XP
• Eudora
• Thunderbird

EMAIL SECURITY CHANGES

The email security changes will take place on the listed dates for our various serving areas. Please find the date for your telephone number. The change to your mail client will have to be made before that date or you will be unable to send emails.

1. Monday, March 31 – Bandana (224), Barlow (334) and Gage (876)
2. Monday, April 7 – Wickliffe (335) and LaCenter (665)
3. Monday, April 14 – Kevil (462) and Heath (488)

If you are unable to make the change to your mail client, please contact us at 665-9600 and we will be happy to help you make the change.

HOW TO STOP UNWANTED CALLS AND PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY

Are you tired of unwanted sales calls or constant credit-card and insurance offers? Below we have listed several groups that can help stop those annoying telemarketers and mail offers. The last website listed is a very helpful site that explains this confusing issue we all face everyday.

1. "Do Not Call" registry – This is managed by the FCC and its purpose is to stop telemarketing calls for five years. To sign up for the “Do Not Call” list call 1-888-382-1222 or visit their website at www.donotcall.gov.
2. Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service – This association will get you off of the catalog and marketing mailing lists. To opt out go to www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing.
3. Network Advertising Initiative – This organization helps stop companies from tracking your online activities. To learn more about this service, visit their website at www.networkadvertising.org.
4. The World Privacy Forum’s website offers advice on how to protect your privacy and protect your personal information from many organizations. It is also a great site for explaining all of the sites above and how to best use them to protect your personal information. For more information go to their website at http://www.worldprivacyforum.org and go to the ‘top ten opt out page’