Pay Bill
Sandhill Brings Big-City Services to Your Front Door
Story by Drew Woolley
Sandhill Telephone Cooperative has been bringing cutting-edge technology to our community for 75 years. As digital communication becomes more important, access to the same internet speeds available in big cities is not a luxury but a necessity.
From fiber service to streaming TV and home automation, Sandhill continues to innovate and find better ways to serve you. Here are just a few examples of how our services have evolved to fit the needs of our members in an increasingly digital world.
Super Speed
1 of the most significant evolutions for the cooperative’s internet service in recent years has been the growth of high-speed broadband. Sandhill now offers speeds up to 5 Gig across the system, providing enough bandwidth for even the most demanding households.
“If you’ve got 3 or 4 people in the same house watching different things, that’s pulling a good amount of bandwidth,” Sandhill Access Network Supervisor Matt Hicks says. “Maybe 1 of them is livestreaming or pulling 8K video, someone else is gaming online. That’s where you’re going to need that higher bandwidth to do all that without buffering or other issues.”
And while there may be other providers offering similar speeds, Matt believes none of them can match Sandhill’s local customer service.
“Sandhill has been the backbone of telecommunications in this area for 75 years,” he says. “We live in the same community as our customers. We know many of the people we’re working with. In my opinion, we’ll take the extra step to make sure every customer is happy and getting good, reliable service.”
TV That Moves With You
That high-speed connection also powers 1 of Sandhill’s newest services— SandhillStream. Offering the same great live TV channels members already enjoy, SandhillStream provides the flexibility to watch your favorite shows and sporting events on the go.
“It’s normal TV service in more of a streaming platform,” Central Office Supervisor David Whitaker says. “You can get it on any device, like a Fire TV Stick or Roku. But the best thing about it is you can take it anywhere, so you’re not just tied to your TV at home.”
SandhillStream includes the same guide that current TV subscribers love, plus the ability to record shows and restart episodes if you happen to tune in late. For David, 1 of the service’s biggest advantages is the ability to take along live TV on a phone or tablet.
Members who continue to prefer a more traditional experience can remain on a set-top box.
“You can still have the look and feel of a traditional box at your house with a regular remote, which some people still like,” he says. “But it can still give you service on a streaming device or whatever might fit your needs.”
SandhillStream just launched this summer, but David and others have been testing it out for months. “I can have it at home and then take it with me and play it at my desk,” he says. “Everything works smoothly. I like it a lot better than traditional TV.”
The Smart Home Connection
Sandhill also offers a variety of security and home automation services that go far beyond cameras and alarm systems, powered by that same high-speed connection.
“There’s so much out there that security can do now,” Member Relations Specialist Leslie Lett says. “Everything works together in 1 app. It’s kind of mind-boggling, actually.”
In partnership with Alarm.com, Sandhill can help members find the suite of automated safety features right for them. Leslie often suggests doorbell cameras, automatic door locks and smart thermostats for people just getting started. Those looking to take the next step often add safety features like water and gas leak detection, while power users can explore smart garage door openers, lights and even devices that can track their vehicle’s condition.
“Once you get everything going, you can set them up so that at nighttime it will automatically set your alarm, have smart plugs dim the lights, change your thermostat and close the blinds,” Leslie says. “It’s pretty wild what all it can do.”
Member Relations Specialist Ashley Parker uses many of those features in her own home, including smart plugs, an alarm system, 2 security cameras and smart locks. The system gives her the convenience of knowing the lights will be on, and the alarm will be off when she walks in the front door. But it also gives her reassurance.
“It honestly makes me feel safe,” she says. “I live out in the country a little bit, so it’s nice to be able to check and see what’s going on. It gives you a little more peace of mind.”
