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Foundation for Rural Service Now Accepting Community Grant Applications

Foundation for Rural Service Now Accepting Community Grant Applications

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) is currently accepting applications for their Community Grant Program.  FRS is a nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association to sustain and enhance the quality of life in America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. As a member of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, rural communities within SRT’s area can apply for the Community Grant Program offered by FRS. This grant program looks for current projects that will improve quality of life and create sustainable rural communities for its residents. The FRS Community Grant Program is a great way for projects in rural communities to receive potential financial assistance. If accepted, the grants awarded range from $250 to $5,000.
 
FRS provides priority to projects that:
 
  • Could be fully funded by the grant maximum of $5,000 or have at least 75% of the project currently funded.
  • Technology and broadband enabled focused projects.
  • Have a long-term impact for the community and its residents.
  • Promote community participation and engagement.
  • Create a more sustainable rural community.
SRT has had two local recipients in recent years. In 2023, $5,000 was awarded to the Minot Regional Impact Centers to develop and launch an online app to identify uneaten prepared food that can be collected and distributed through a network of programs that feed the hungry. 
 
In 2024, Local Motives in Minot received $5,000 to procure three checker/chessboard picnic tables for Citizens Alley to enhance passive recreation, foster community engagement, and enrich the public plaza experience. Citizens Alley will be open to the public this summer.
 
Interested? Click here to fill out an application or pick up an application guide at SRT headquarters in Minot, 3615 N Broadway.
 
The deadline to submit your application proposal is September 3, 2025.

TUTORIAL/FAQ

TUTORIAL/FAQ

Short Tutorial/FAQ – What Are the Downsides of 5G Home Internet?

Download Graphics to View Question: I’m hearing big promises from 5G home internet. What are the downsides?

Answer: As the saying goes, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Some customers who switched to 5G home internet are feeling buyer’s remorse for these reasons:
  1. Service is less stable. Signals for 5G travel through the air rather than in cables underground, and speeds tend to fluctuate more often.

  2. Actual speeds are often slower than advertised ones. Factors such as network congestion, buildings and other obstructions, and inclement weather can slow down speeds.

  3. During peak usage times, your connection may be deprioritized. This is because 5G home internet is a connection shared by many users.

  4. The farther you are from the radio towers, the weaker your internet signal will be. Since 5G home internet uses radio frequencies, the travel distances of the signals are limited.

  5. 5G home internet isn’t as good as fiber internet. Fiber is the fastest, most reliable internet available.

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – “Accidental” Texts May Be First Step in a Scam

Watch Out For Charity Scams People accidentally text the wrong number all the time, and you’ve no doubt received texts that were meant for someone else. Unfortunately, wrong-number texts aren’t always innocent mistakes. Scammers send “accidental” texts to catch you off guard and exploit your friendliness and kindness for financial gain.

These types of texts might say something like, “Sorry I’m running late, I’ll be there in 15 minutes.” Or they may reference a medical appointment or business meeting. Not wanting to be rude, you respond to tell the sender they’ve got the wrong number. The scammer then tries to engage you in an ongoing conversation to gain your trust — often the first step in a romance or employment scam. By using AI messaging bots, some scammers are able to target thousands of people at a time.

Here’s what to do if you receive a wrong-number text:
  1. Don’t respond. If you receive a text from an unknown number, ignore it. Responding, even to correct the mistake, can confirm your number is active.
  2. Block and report. Use your phone’s features to block the number and report the message as spam. This helps prevent others from falling victim.
  3. Be skeptical of investment opportunities. Be cautious if someone you don’t know starts discussing investments or money-making opportunities. Scammers are skilled at making their offers seem legitimate.
If you’ve been scammed, contact your financial institution immediately to try to recover your money, and report the scam to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

TUTORIAL/FAQ

TUTORIAL/FAQ

Short Tutorial/FAQ – What Are the Most Common Passwords?


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Question: What passwords do people use most?

Answer: Nordpass, an online password manager, released its list of 2024’s most used passwords. Here are the top 10:

  1. 123456
  2. 123456789
  3. 12345678
  4. password
  5. qwerty123
  6. qwerty1
  7. 111111
  8. 12345
  9. secret
  10. 123123
It will come as no surprise that these passwords are also the worst ones to use, since they’re extremely easy for hackers to guess and for automated software to quickly “crack.” People choose simple passwords because they’re easy to remember, but that convenience comes at too high of a price in terms of security.

If you’re using any of the passwords on this list (or similar ones), it’s time to do better. Create longer passwords that are a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols such as “%,” “!” and “@.” Don’t include easily guessable information like names, birthdays, and common words, and never use the same password for multiple accounts.

Consider using a password manager, a software application that securely stores all your online account passwords in one place. This allows you to generate strong, unique passwords for each site and access them with only one “master password” you need to remember.

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – Fake PayPal Invoice Scams are on the Rise

Watch Out For Charity Scams The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline has recently seen a rise in reports of PayPal scams. Cybercriminals use the payment system’s invoicing tool to send victims fake invoices for large purchases. When the invoices are sent, PayPal sends an official notification email to the recipient, which makes the otherwise fake invoices appear legitimate. The scammers include an official-looking message in the “seller note to customer” section of the fake invoice, encouraging the victim to call a fake customer service line to prevent the charges from being processed.

If the victim calls this line, the scammers attempt to fool them into paying the invoice or giving them credit card or bank information. In some cases, victims are asked to install software they claim will help with the recovery process. Instead, this software records the victim’s keystrokes or gives the cybercriminals remote access to the victim’s computer.

How to avoid PayPal scams:
  • If you receive a suspicious invoice or money request, don’t pay it.
  • Don’t call any phone numbers in the invoice note or open suspicious URLs.
  • Never send money to a cryptocurrency wallet mentioned in an invoice or money request.
If you receive a suspicious invoice, you’re encouraged to report it by logging into your PayPal account at paypal.com or by using the PayPal app.