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 EPA released the pre-publication version of the final lead and copper rule revision (LCRR, 409 pages double spaced) on December 22, and it’s posted on their website. The rule will be published soon in the Federal Register, and that will be listed in a future WS listserv. The changes are significant and affect all community water systems and non-transient non-community water systems in the country. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
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Join IAMU for a fun-filled day on one of Iowa’s great golf courses.
Event Date: Monday, June 28, 2021 Location: Pleasant Valley Golf Course Iowa City, Iowa https://pleasantvalleyic.com/ Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities coming soon. For More Info: Contact Steve Marsh at 515.289.1999 or email smarsh@iamu.org. Click here to view the flyer. A regular newsletter can be a powerful tool to inform customers, but…only if people actually read the newsletter.
Many organizations fail to write, edit, and design newsletters the right way so potential readers pick up the communication and peruse through it. Instead, many newsletters get tossed in recycling bins without ever being opened. Whether you have an existing newsletter that you’ve been producing for years or want to start one, here are 20 essential elements to incorporate:
 From Kansas Municipal Utilities - KMU Dispatch - December 22nd, 2020
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is aware of compromises of U.S. government agencies, critical infrastructure entities, and private sector organizations and issued an alert. CISA said that it is aware of active exploitation of a vulnerability in versions of the SolarWinds Orion Platform software, and the agency expects that removing this threat actor from compromised environments will be highly complex and challenging for organizations. CISA, which falls under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is encouraging affected organizations to read advisories from SolarWinds (https://www.solarwinds.com/securityadvisory) and FireEye (https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/12/evasive-attacker-leverages-solarwinds-supply-chain-compromises-with-sunburst-backdoor.html) for more information. FireEye is a cybersecurity firm. In its security advisory, SolarWinds said it was made aware that its systems “experienced a highly sophisticated, manual supply chain attack” on SolarWinds Orion Platform software builds. In the security advisory, SolarWinds offers several steps for parties to take related to use of the SolarWinds Orion Platform. Meanwhile, DHS on Dec. 13 said that the relevant SolarWinds Orion products are currently being exploited by malicious actors. This tactic permits an attacker to gain access to network traffic management systems, DHS said. Disconnecting affected devices is the only known mitigation measure currently available, it said. “CISA understands that the vendor is working to provide updated software patches. However, agencies must wait until CISA provides further guidance before using any forthcoming patches to reinstall the SolarWinds Orion software in their enterprise,” DHS said. Utilities using the SolarWinds Orion platform software should follow the guidance from CISA as additional information becomes available. More information is available from CISA at: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-352a  The IAMU Office will be closed Friday December 25th and Friday January 1st.
Happy Holidays! The Electric Safety and Training Committee has decided to postpone the Supt – FM Workshop, originally scheduled for Feb 3 – 5, due to the CV-19 restrictions currently in place for several participants and vendors. The committee will make the final decision in the first quarter of 2021 whether the workshop can be re-scheduled or will need to be cancelled.
A one-size-fits-all approach to communications may be the easiest and fastest way to produce communications, but it may be leaving sections of your audience out of the loop.
Each generation consumes information in different manners. Here’s a look at the generations, and the media they typically respond to best: Generation Media most likely to respond to Silent Verbal, written Boomers Verbal, written Gen X eMail, text, podcasts, and videos Gen Y eMail, text, social media, podcasts, and videos This is not to say that each generation will only respond to the specific media listed. So, it is wise to use various media to ensure everyone is comfortable with the communication style and absorbs your message. Here are 3 tips to enhance your communication:
You will also want to think about how many impressions of your message you need to release. “Once-and-done” is no longer a viable strategy with today’s world. Breaking up your messages and releasing them multiple times over a period of time can help customers absorb your messages. Tell your customers, remind them, and then remind them again. Earlier this year, Cedar Falls Utilities was named the fastest internet service provider in the country by PC Mag, beating out large providers across the U.S.
Now, the community-owned broadband network has earned another accolade from PC Mag – Best Gaming ISP for 2021. PC Mag measures the quality of connections to compare internet service providers for the Best Gaming ISP award. To do that they test the latency and jitter on a network. Latency measures the time it takes data to get to its destination and back. On a low latency network, when a gamer hits a button it registers with minimal lag. Jitter checks the consistency of the latency. When they compared the latency and jitter on networks across the country, CFU’s network came out on top. “Low latency and jitter are technical terms, but they simply mean CFU has a high-quality fiber optic network that moves your data without delay,” said Steve Bernard, CFU General Manager. “That’s possible because our network in Cedar Falls has fast connections to the core of the internet at major hub sites across the Midwest.” Gamers are not the only ones who need this type of network. Low latency also helps improve the quality of voice and video calls. “Our customers have relied on their internet connections this year,” continued Bernard. “Everyone in Cedar Falls learning, working and gaming from home in 2020 has benefited from CFU’s fast, stable and well-connected network.” PC Mag Best Gaming ISP for 2021: https://www.pcmag.com/news/best-gaming-isps-for-2021 PCMag has been the leading authority on technology buying since 1982, delivering independent reviews of more than 2,000 products per year. Their editors and analysts are regularly featured in the press as experts. Contact press@pcmag.com to get their advice or schedule an interview. Additional media resources and video at CFU’s online newsroom: Service fact sheet, broadcast quality video clips and print and web-ready images are available at cfu.net/newsroom. ABOUT CFU: The Cedar Falls Municipal Utilities provide water, natural gas, electricity, fiber optic internet, phone and cable television services to homes and businesses in Cedar Falls, IA. The Utilities are owned by the community, operated for public benefit and governed by a local citizen Board of Trustees. The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) launched its new company and contact web application “IUB 24/7” on November 16, 2020. The web application is available on all platforms at any time and allows municipal utilities to easily manage their organization’s contact information, access the IUB electronic filing system (EFS), and communicate company updates to the IUB.
The IUB sent an email invitation to the regulatory contact for each utility, requesting that each contact create a user account on November 16. If you have not yet created a user account, you will need to do so in order to submit the IUB 24/7 company record. If you did not receive an email titled “Invitation Instructions” from ITsupport@iub.iowa.gov, please contact IUB Customer Service to request a new invitation. Also, the regulatory contact for each utility has been assigned the role of Company Administrator in IUB 24/7. On December 21, the company record will be made available to all Company Administrators for municipal utilities. Please complete your company record between December 21 and January 8. The Company Administrator is responsible for maintaining an accurate company record within the IUB 24/7 web application. The company record is used by the IUB to provide general information to the public, outline the services that are regulated by the IUB, and specify who to contact for emergencies, customer service, billing, and other matters as required. If someone else is better suited for the role of Company Administrator in your utility, please have that user register and IUB staff will provide permissions for the Company Administrator. The Company Administrator does not need to be the regulatory contact, and a company can have multiple Company Administrators. IUB Customer Service staff can assist municipal utilities’ staff with completing their company records information. If you have any questions, please email ITsupport@iub.iowa.gov or call 877.565.4450.  The IAMU Office will be closed Friday December 25th and Friday January 1st.
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