Category Archives: Internet

Coconino County Provides Successful Test Platform for SpaceX Starlink Mobile Units

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FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County continues to lead the effort in connecting students with SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet across Northern Arizona, including multiple tribal communities within the region, and now on school buses.

With continued focus on education, Coconino County collaborated with Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) and Page Unified School District (PUSD) to identify and select routes with an emphasis on connecting students who must ride the bus more than one hour to and from school. SpaceX provided Coconino County with two of their Flat High Performance Starlink kits that are installed on the buses, enabling students to stay connected and complete homework during their transit.

“The opportunity to deploy new technology to connect underserved rural communities is a tremendous achievement,” commented Supervisor Fowler. “The collaboration between SpaceX and Coconino County illustrates what can be achieved when the right people come together at the right time. We are incredibly thankful to our partners for the opportunities they have enabled by delivering enhanced connectivity throughout our most underserved communities.”

Coconino County began conversations with SpaceX when District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler and Coconino County’s Chief Information Officer Matt Fowler both met with the company in 2019. This resulted in securing a private donation for the County to utilize Starlink and make high-speed internet accessible to rural areas of Northern Arizona. Coconino County successfully became an early customer, purchasing and launching Starlink internet in a 45-household trial on May 6, 2021. Shortly after, the County identified K-12 students living on the Navajo Nation without access to the internet or existing speeds less than 5 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. The County Information Technology Department engaged with the Board of Supervisors and the Flagstaff Unified School District, seeking collaboration opportunities to identify eligible students living on the reservation.

To date, Coconino County facilitated approximately 300+ implementations of Starlink internet services for a free 2-year period, which was made possible by private donations. This provides students the ability to connect with education providers and continue their studies remotely.

“This journey would not have been possible without the continuous teamwork from SpaceX, County Management, our Board of Supervisors, FUSD and PUSD. We rely heavily on our public and private partners to offer internet where it historically has been unavailable. This is truly an exciting moment,” commented CIO Matt Fowler. “We have amazing community partners, and this opportunity to embrace new technologies has greatly benefitted students in our region,” commented Deputy CIO Helen Costello.

Kaibab National Forest Considers New Alignment for Fiber Optic Line to Support Grand Canyon Schools

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WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest (KNF) is considering authorization of a new fiber optic line. The Grand Canyon Unified School District and the Town of Tusayan obtained grant funds for the new fiber optic cable to provide high speed internet service to the school at the Grand Canyon, which is needed to deliver bandwidth to students whose access to high-speed internet lags badly behind other Arizona schools. Commnet Wireless would build the fiber system.

The southern terminus of the fiber optic line would be located at an existing Commnet facility near Airport Road and Interstate 40 in Williams, follow an Arizona Public Service (APS) utility easement to Arizona State Route 64 (SR 64), and extend north primarily along the west side of the Arizona Department of Transportation right of way for SR 64 to the vicinity of the Tusayan Airport, for a total of 53.8 miles. A total of 19.1 miles of line would be located on KNF lands, with 7.8 miles on the Williams Ranger District and 11.3 miles on the Tusayan Ranger District. The remainder of the line would be on state and private lands.

The KNF approved a different alignment for this fiber optic line in 2020. The former alignment, which would have totaled approximately 68 miles, would have generally followed the Grand Canyon Railway. The proponents requested the KNF analyze this new alignment instead of the alignment approved in 2020 because of logistical and cost considerations.

When is your sister not your sister?

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Earlier in the evening of November 25, I got an unusual friend request on Facebook. It was from my sister. Which is unusual because I did not know that we were on unfriendly terms. It was a particularly busy afternoon, so—presuming that she accidentally unfriended me and friended me again—I accepted.

“She” started to PM me, which is highly unusual since she has my phone number. No you cannot have it.

The “conversation” started off with how ya doin’, how’s your day kind of messages. Then she told me that the IMF is giving away grants for money that does not have to be paid back. All I would have to do is fill out an application and if approved, pay a delivery fee.

Bingo. The scam.

First of all, the IMF is presumably the International Monetary Fund. That IMF is hardly in the business of giving away money. They are a group of scumbag bankers whose function is to consolidate the wealth of countries—particularly the United States—for use by global elitist who believe it is their job to rule the earth. They are not nice, they are not friendly and they are hardly charitable.

The second point was the “delivery fee.” You are telling me that the IMF is giving away money and cannot pony-up 35-cents for a stamp? I have been contacted by overseas people by phone telling me that Obama was going to send me a million dollars, all I had to do was pay a $250 delivery fee.

I replied as much to my “sister.” I logged off because I had other things to do. When I logged back on, I received a message demanding that it was not a scam because the delivery fee was not much. When I went to look at the message, Facebook had, apparently, caught up with the scam and deleted the profile.

The point of the story is this was obviously not my sister. If you get caught up in a “free money” scam and go to any links attached to them, you might actually go to an official looking “application.” Meanwhile the web site is loading viruses and Trojans into your computer. If you fill out any application, you are giving them your personal information for identification theft.

So here are some Facebook tips.

If you receive a friend request from a friend and you have their phone number, call them and ask them if they “friended” you.

Click on the name of any person wanting to friend you. Check their profile. If they have very few posts or haven’t posted for awhile or if their posts are exactly what you would post and you do not know them, delete the friend request.

The government creates profiles and friends people they want to fry. Those profiles are not deleted by Facebook because they know about them.

So choose your friends wisely.

Consumer Labels for Broadband Services

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Comparing prices, performance and network practices of broadband service providers can be challenging, even for savvy consumers. With this in mind, the FCC created Open Internet transparency rules requiring providers to convey sufficient information for consumers to make informed choices about available broadband services. Based on recommendations from its Consumer Advisory Committee, the FCC provides templates for broadband labels – one for landline and one for mobile – that service providers may use to supply consumers with information about their services.

If a provider uses a broadband label template, here’s the type of information you can expect to see:

  • Pricing details, including all of the various charges that seem mysterious to consumers – overage fees, equipment fees, early termination fees, other monthly fees beyond service fees such as insurance, administrative fees, or regulatory recovery fees.
  • Monthly data allowance – namely, the carrier-defined plan limit after which consumers will incur additional charges.
  • Broadband speed and other performance metrics.
  • Network management practices – namely, precautions providers may take to manage heavy traffic on their networks.

Service providers who use the labels will satisfy the FCC’s requirement to make transparency disclosures in the proper format, or a format that meets the needs of consumers. However, providers may still be in violation of FCC rules if the content of their labels is misleading or inaccurate or if they make misleading or inaccurate statements to customers in ads or elsewhere. In such cases, consumers can file complaints with the FCC at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.

The new rules will go into effect later this year, but service providers may begin using the broadband label templates anytime. The labels can serve as a helpful comparison shopping tool for consumers. Look for and consider them when you shop for service.

More information

ADEQ Announces New Search Feature for Public Records

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PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announced today it now has available through its website an online search engine allowing faster, more direct access to the agency’s 19 environmental databases containing information such as a facility’s operating permits and compliance history.

Known as MegaSearch, the tool allows customers to enter search criteria such as a facility’s name and address or its unique ADEQ file number to view a list of relevant environmental records and files of interest. Once identified, the files may be selected from the results page and emailed to the ADEQ Records Center for retrieval and viewing. By conducting their own independent research, customers can save time by eliminating the need to wait for results from a traditional records request with the help of Records Center staff.

“MegaSearch helps prospective land and business owners or anyone who wants to see instantly what environmental activity has been reported for a given location,” ADEQ Records Manager Eric Flohr said.

For example, Flohr said if you previously had wanted to know if a nearby gas station had a history of leaking underground storage tanks, you would have contacted ADEQ to submit a research request. Staff would then have accessed these same databases now available online to see what records of activity had occurred at the site. The process could take several days depending on the number of pending research requests, he said.

“Tools like MegaSearch give customers direct and instantaneous access to ADEQ’s vast amounts of environmental data from all over the state, which supports more transparent government for our citizens,” Flohr said.

ADOT: Beware of fraudulent ‘DMV’ websites and misleading

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PHOENIX — Many motor vehicle services can be performed online nowadays. Unfortunately, scam artists, misrepresenting themselves as official motor vehicle division entities, are using the Internet to take a customer’s money and personal information.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division wants to alert customers that there are fraudulent websites falsely offering motor vehicle services such as Arizona driver licenses, IDs, and vehicle titles and registration. The fraudulent websites appear in searches with keywords such as MVD or DMV.

ServiceArizona.com is the only authorized website for all Arizona MVD transactions. Customers can use ServiceArizona.com to conduct many routine motor vehicle transactions, such as applying for a duplicate driver license or driver license reinstatement, renewing a vehicle registration and purchasing a specialty or personalized license plate.

Currently, a person cannot obtain a driver license online. To do so a customer must visit a local MVD or Authorized Third Party office.

Additionally, ADOT does not offer MVD services through phone solicitations, nor does it endorse or advertise for online businesses claiming to provide MVD services.

There are, however, legitimate Authorized Third Party businesses that are licensed and authorized to perform MVD transactions in person. A list of Authorized Third Party businesses can be found at azdot.gov/locations.

ADOT’s goal is to prevent its customers from becoming victims of fraud or identity theft. ADOT also wants customers to be aware of unauthorized sites that may offer MVD services at an extra cost. The only authorized ways to conduct Arizona driver license or motor vehicle services are either in person at any ADOT MVD or Authorized Third Party office, online through ServiceArizona.com or by standard mail.

For more information about MVD services, please visit azdot.gov/mvd.

PDFZilla PDF converter review

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I have a need to convert Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files to various formats. Mostly text. As an author, I sometimes have to convert PDF files to text so that I can copy and paste certain portions for articles and reviews. As a news reporter I often get large files in PDF format. The need to convert these to text format is obvious. In those PDF files there are sometimes graphics which I require for news reporting. I have been using the old Print Screen and save system requiring a graphics program to cut out the graphic. If I could extract the graphic easier, it makes my job that much easier.

Supreme Court decisions are a good example. Many are in PDF. It is helpful to convert to text so that I can copy and paste portions of the decisions into my articles. Other times I need to covert the whole file with graphics—as in the case of military manuals or other PDF files I might download from Archive.org or Project Gutenberg.

I have searched for and used several online options. They do all right, but tend to produce some gobbledygook in the translation. They do not seem to work well with graphics.

During my search I ran across PDFZilla. Having experience with Mozilla and Filezilla, I was hoping this was free. It is not, however. As a disclaimer I should note that I downloaded the trial version that only translates 50% of the file and has other limitations. I am writing this review based on that version and am told I can get a license for writing this review.

I will give you the bad first. You can select where the output file goes, but you cannot create a new folder while saving a file. You should plan to set up your folders before translating PDF files or separate them into folders later if you need to. Also the windows cannot be resized for easier viewing.

You can see the various conversion options in Figure 1. I did not use the PDF to Excel Converter because I do not have files that I need converted into that format. At least I have not run across any yet.
slide-1aTwo options I like are the PDF Merger and PDF Cutter. The PDF Merger is a good option. In the trial version they add a water mark. I had two particular files to test. I downloaded two SEABEE manuals. The came in Volume I and Volume II. Though the word “Merger” is misspelled in the window for this option, PDFZilla merged the two files seamlessly. This option I can find useful at times. The one problem with this option is that it does not give you the option to export the file to a folder you select. You can select the output folder by clicking on the link at the bottom.
PDFMeger-2
PDFCutter-1The other option, PDF cutter, allows you to cut out pages. I had some problems with testing this one. I chose a file over 700 pages longs with graphics at first. This file sent the PDF Cutter into a tizzy. It uses drag-and-drop functionality. That is you drag the PDF to the cutter window. The file did not show up and I had to eventually restart the computer to clear the memory. The second time I tried a plain Supreme Court text PDF and it displayed (50% of it) and I edited out a few pages. The edited output file appeared in the folder that I selected it from. You can resize the file, but not the window. The window should be about the same size as the main screen to see the file easier. Again the cut file in the trial version adds a watermark.

Transferring from PDF to Word was difficult for me, but might not be for you if you use Microsoft Word. I use Openoffice.org—A Microsoft Word clone. It has to import the Microsoft Word DOC file into ODT format. It does well, but the formatting is odd. In most cases I would not use that option anyway preferring PDF to text.

The PDF to Text converter works well saving in RTF format or TXT. While on this feature, I will go over some of the options on the screen.
conversion-screen-1
On the upper-right portion of the window you will see a drop-down menu for output formats. I selected PDF to txt and this is what shows. You can use the drop-down menu to select other formats in case you mistakenly push the wrong option from the main screen. Just above that is the Options where you can select the first page and last page to covert and whether or not you desire page breaks. Below that you can select the folder you desire to output to and, of course, the button to start the conversion is at the bottom.

You can drag-and-drop the PDF to the screen. Or you can choose the file by selecting the green cross on the File Menu. Next to the green cross is a folder with a green cross. This option allows you to add an entire folder of PDF files for bulk conversion. This is very useful to convert bulk PDF files to a specific format. The red X allows you to delete some of the PDF files if you do not desire to convert them. Thus you could select a folder and delete those you do not want to convert.

The PDF to text works good. Especially with straight text PDF files such as articles and Supreme Court decisions. There will be some formatting required. For example if you convert a file with a large a table of contents. You might have to remove the table of contents depending on your need. But it converts the text well. I have used the PDF to RTF format and it converts everything including the graphics, but the graphics appear upside down. You can rotate the graphics depending on the program you use to for your final print. You can also save the graphic and adjust it for your need in a graphics program.

The PDF to HTML seems to convert the text flawlessly even to recreating the format of the PDF. This makes a long HTML file, in some cases, with narrow columns. The trial version does not seem to translate any graphics, but the registered version might. It also automatically adds links to other portions of the HTML file. For example the file I translated adds an appendix and the HTML added several links to that Appendix and various graphics.

The other option I found useful was the Image to PDF Converter. I just happened to download several graphics for a technical document. PDFZilla converted them into a PDF file with watermarks. I then tried to convert that document to text, but only got the watermarks. The Image to PDF converter, as you see in the figure, allows you to add your own document title, an author, subject and keywords. You can also select an output path for the file. You can also adjust the quality of the file which will in turn make it smaller or larger.

Overall the trial version seems to work well. I would give it 3.5 out of five stars. I do not know if the registered version, allowing all functions, will work better. Some of the faults I cite may be corrected in future upgrades.

You could, of course, use register for Acrobat Pro. This requires a subscription of $14.99 a month (as of this writing) and a one year commitment. That is $179.88 per year. This is a good option for a large company having to edit or convert a large number of files. In addition to that you convert online in “the cloud” were anyone can have access to your files and the national government normally does.

PDFZilla is a program on your computer which converts the file on your computer. Although the NSA still has access to the file, it makes it difficult for others. If you are converting files for research for, say, a new invention idea, you probably do not want it floating on a “cloud” where any devil can intercept your work and develop your idea first. It is still a little more difficult to hack into your computer. The other advantage is that PDFZilla is $49.95 (as of this writing).

This program seems to be relatively new and may not covert everything absolutely flawlessly. What it does convert for me makes the price worth it. They could probably even squeeze a few more dollars from poor reporters such as me.

SMART meters explode in Stockton after accident

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Updated 4/2/2015, 9:49 p.m.

STOCKTON, CA [March 30]— According to CBS 13 in Stockton, California, more than 8,000 customers were left without power when their SMART meters exploded after a truck crashed into a utility pole.

Leigh Martinez reported that residents of South Stockton:

…described it as a large pop, a bomb going off, and strong enough to shake a house.

She said that more than 100 PG&E workers were working to restore power. The amount of time to restore power to a home depended on how bad the meters were damaged.

SMART meter caused fires have been suspected for some time, but utility companies are obviously reticent to reveal just how many. The California Public Utilities Commission has proposed an opt-out plan for customers who do not want the wireless technology. It would require the customer to pay additional charges.

Utility companies are allowed to sell the personal information they gain from SMART meter technology to other companies without your permission. SMART meters collect data on how you use electricity including what appliances and how you use the Internet.

SEE ALSO: Wireless Smart Meters and Potential for Electrical Fires (PDF)

Fiber line cut near Carefree causes massive Internet and phone outage in Northern Arizona

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PHOENIX – Northern Arizona lost phone, Internet and television due to a fiber line that was cut near Carefree, Arizona. The outage affected from Page to Williams.

Channel 3 in Phoenix reported that Century Link officials confirmed that a fiber line that was deliberately cut caused the outage. The cut line caused outage of communications from about 11:30 a.m. until about 6 p.m. Other Internet and service providers using the line were also affected.

911 calls were immediately re-routed through another line.

Officials are still investigating the incident.

Scam Emails About Phony Court Cases Carry Computer Virus

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In January, the federal judiciary learned of an email scam, in which emails purporting to come from federal and state courts are infecting recipients with computer viruses.

According to the Security Operations Center of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the emails are instructing recipients to report to a hearing on a specified day and time. The emails also instruct recipients to review an attached document for detailed case information. When the attachments or links in the email are opened, a malicious program is launched that infects the recipient’s computer. Several state courts have reported similar schemes, and also are warning the public about potential viruses.

Unless you are actively involved in a case in federal court and have consented to receive court notifications electronically, you generally will not be served with court documents electronically.

If you receive an email and are not involved in a court case or have not given your email to a court, do not open it. Contact the court in question. If your virus scanner checks emails, ensure that it is set up properly to detect viruses in emails.