Range Telephone and Vision Net partner with Freedom Calls Foundation to allow families to hear and see each other across great divides - All at no charge.

Imagine participating in the birth of your child - from a distance of nearly 8000 miles. What about saying "I do" to your new spouse while stationed a continent away? And what about all those other milestones - birthdays, anniversaries or a child's first straight-A report card - that happen while our service people are deployed overseas?

Range Telephone Cooperative in conjunction with Montana-based Vision Net (in which Range has ownership stake), is providing a means for servicemen and women to participate in such events - at no charge - through their videoconferencing services. The video calls, which allow families to connect face-to-face in real time, are part of a larger, national effort known as Freedom Calls.

With the tagline "Deploying state-of-the-art technology to keep our troops in Iraq in touch with their families", the Freedom Calls Foundation is a nonprofit organization created by John B. Harlow II and Edward Bukstel and supported by private and corporate donations.

Range and subsidiaries RT Communications, Dubois Telephone Exchange and Advanced Communications Technology (ACT) are taking the lead in their Montana and Wyoming service areas by opening their vdeoconferencing facilities to military families. Offices in Forsyth, Sheridan, Worland, Newcastle, Pine Bluffs and Dubois are part of the Freedom Calls network. Military families interested in arranging a Freedom Call may simply contact Range, RT, DTE, ACT or Vision Net to begin the process.

"We were excited and honored to learn of the Freedom Calls Program and to have the opportunity to get involved. Our participation certainly doesn't compare to the sacrifices our service men and women have made, but at least this is something that may help them and their families feel a little closer while they're apart," said Range CEO and General Manager, Rob Stephens.

Families interested in Freedom Calls may contact their local telephone office or Vision Net at 1-877-449-8638. More Information on Freedom Calls may be found at www.vision.net or www.freedomcalls.org.

Youth Tour

Range Telephone Cooperative, Inc., in conjunction with the Foundation for Rural Service, is once again sponsoring an essay contest for high school juniors to win what has been referred to as a "trip of a lifetime."

One high school junior will be selected to receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour, June 2-6, 2012. He/she will be joined by approximately 100 other high school juniors from across the United States.

To enter the contest, students must write an essay on the following topic, "Why are telecommunication products and services important to you now and what do you predict technology to be like in five years?" The essay should be typed, double-spaced, and no less than 400 words in length.

To qualify, students, or their parents:

• must receive their local phone service from Range Telephone and reside in one of the following exchanges: (In Montana -- 342, 346, 347, 356, 421, 427, 436, 477, 554, 592, 757, 784, 828, 984 or in Wyoming -- 283, 736, 737, 750, 758, 878),
• must be a high school junior, and
• must have parental authorization.

Students attending the Youth Tour will gain a first-hand look at the telecommunications industry and receive education on government processes. Students will also have an opportunity to visit famous historical sites including the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Cathedral, the U.S. Capitol and Arlington National Cemetery. For more information and photos, please visit the Foundation for Rural Service website at www.frs.org

Scholarship Program

Scholarship Application

In 2012, Range Telephone Cooperative, Inc. will award twenty scholarships valued at $1,500 each. Five of the scholarships will be earmarked for students who will be enrolling in a field of study that may be vital to the telecommunications industry. Examples of some of these fields of study include, but are not limited to, Telecommunications, Data Communications, Electronic Technology, Mechanical Drafting/Design Technology, Computer Systems Technology, Engineering, Construction, Accounting, Marketing and Web Design. One of these five scholarships, the Ron Bixby Memorial Scholarship, will then be further earmarked for a student who is a tribal enrolled member.

Applications are available from (a) your local high school counselor, (b) by calling Range Telephone at 406-347-2226 or 800-927-2643, or (c) by downloading the Range Scholarship Application and corresponding financial statement.

Eligibility requirements:

1. The applicant must have a GPA of at least 3.0.

2. The applicant must be a resident of either Montana or Wyoming.

3. The applicant must be a current member of Range Telephone (with local phone service), a current member's dependent (son or daughter), or an employee's dependent. The telephone exchanges served by Range Telephone are:

   In Montana:
   Hysham - 342 Forsyth - 346 or 356 Rosebud - 347 So. Miles City - 421 So. Broadus - 427 Alzada - 828 Birney - 984	No. Broadus - 554 Busby - 592 Decker - 757 Ashland - 784 Broadus - 436 Lame Deer - 477

   In Wyoming:
   Sundance - 283 Arvada - 736 SE Sheridan - 737	Decker - 750 Clearmont - 758 Alzada - 878

4. The applicant may be either a graduating high school senior entering his/her freshman year of college or another year of college undergraduate work. Past winners may reapply.

5. The applicant must complete an application and a personal letter of application. The personal letter must include at least one paragraph dealing with (a) academic achievements, (b) community involvement and (c) educational goals. The applicant must also complete a financial statement (link above) indicating their financial need. At least one current letter of recommendation, but no more than three, may accompany the scholarship application. Please include a copy of your most recent school transcript (the transcript should contain the school’s grading scale).

6. Incomplete applications will not be returned for completion and will be immediately disqualified. In addition, applications received or postmarked after the deadline shall also be disqualified.

7. Applications must be submitted to Range Telephone Cooperative, Inc., Attn: Scholarship Committee, P. O. Box 127, Forsyth, MT 59327 and postmarked by no later than March 15, 2012.

8. IMPORTANT: : Recipients are no longer required to attend the Cooperative's Annual Meeting in May in order to receive the scholarship award. High schools will be notified of the winners and then Range will attempt to have a representative present the awards at the individual graduation/award ceremonies. If a representative is not available, we will simply have the school announce the winners from their area.

Other Scholarship Programs

Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Scholarship Program