We’re seeking a highly motivated person to join our award-winning customer service team! Specifically, we’re looking for a fast learning, multi-tasking individual that has excellent communication skills for customer service, data input, and sales. We offer a fantastic benefits package & friendly teamwork environment. Salary DOQ. HCC is Drug Free Workplace. Interested? Please send resume to: CSR Manager, Hood Canal Communications, P O Box 249, Union, WA 98592 or email to:  careers@hcc.net. Please, no walk-ins or phone calls.

We are seeking a highly motivated, technologically diverse Help Desk Specialist. Must be a fast-learning, multi-tasked individual with excellent communication skills for troubleshooting, resolving, and documenting end user issues with various Internet Access Technologies including Fiber to the Premise, Cable Modem, in-home router setup, WiFi and small networks. Must have skills in PC Problem Solving, Troubleshooting, and Repair as well as being knowledgeable in-home router setup and small networks. Job duties also include ISP equipment recycling, provisioning, and inventory maintenance. Email resume to: careers@hoodcanal.net, or mail to: ISP Manager, PO Box 249, Union, WA 98592

We are seeking a full time Telecommunications Install & Repair Technician. Position requires installation and repair of all necessary cable/telephone/fiber-to-the-home/network wiring, in and out of the customer premise and also the hardware from the distribution system to the customer’s equipment for the reception of cable, broadband and telephone services. Additionally, maintaining and repairing outside plant facilities. Great benefits package for employees. Salary DOE.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 2 years of Telecommunications installation experience
• Minimum of a High School Diploma, valid WDL and clean driving record
• Excellent computer skills. Proficient in Internet related applications such as email clients and web browsers.
• Great oral communication skills for direct customer interaction
• Must be punctual, reliable and able to retain newly learned information
• Must be willing to actively learn new skills and expand knowledge. Satisfactorily accomplish multiple tasks. Interpret a variety of instructions. Work independently and efficiently to meet deadlines. Familiarity and experience with construction techniques. Familiarity with networks and telecommunications issues.
• Must be self-motivated, organized and detail oriented
• Must be drug free

If you wish to mail in a resume, please send to CS Manager, PO Box 249, Union, WA 98592.

Please NO walk ins or phone calls. Hood Canal Communications is a drug free, equal opportunity employer.

Right now, we’re presented with a unique opportunity to meaningfully support our community by supporting our local businesses. You can benefit by making some great purchases for yourself and the community can benefit by ensuring these local companies have a much stronger chance of returning to normal when the crisis has passed.  It’s truly a case of doing well by doing good.

Here are some ways you can contribute to the local economy and come across some golden finds!

• Check websites and social media pages for details on how your favorite places are operating, including hours and any special instructions. For example, while restaurants and retail businesses have closed their inside areas, they are offering curbside service, delivery, or drive-thru. Bonus: Some restaurants provide an online menu, which allows you to place your order online or by phone—this provides less exposure for them and shorter wait times for you.
• Find out if your favorite businesses that are unable to offer a to-go service are curbside delivery. Many local retailers, financial planners, and consultants are making their services available online. Additionally, many tutors, art, and music instructors offer online classes as well.
• Can you buy locally before resorting to placing an online order from outside the community? Even if your favorite shop doesn’t have a robust online ordering platform, reach out to them by phone—they may have other resources available to meet your request.
• For waitstaff who rely on tips for a good portion of their wages, consider a larger tip for curbside service or delivery, if you are able.
• For businesses that are currently unable to provide services, such as hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, and so on, consider purchasing a gift card for later use. Small businesses can use those funds now to stay afloat now and they’ll be ready to serve you when life returns to normal.

How else can you help? Spread the word! Share information with your friends and neighbors about what is available from local businesses.  Leave a great review about a local business. Make a post on social media about that great meal or that beautiful flower arrangement you picked up curbside.

By supporting our community businesses, we’re supporting our friends, family members and neighbors. If we all do our part to keep our community connected and supported, we’ll all come out the other side of this better!

Many of us are spending more time than normal on our screens, whether we are working from home, homeschooling our children, or binge-watching our favorite shows to help pass the time indoors. While COVID-19 has many of us staying home to help save lives, unfortunately it’s not only outdoors that we need to take care.

Scammers and hackers are taking this opportunity—while the country is vulnerable—to launch new phishing and malware attacks. Phishing is when people try to get you to give them sensitive information, like social security numbers, credit card numbers, and so on. Malware is a program that can get into your computer and damage files, delete them, or give your computer a virus. Here are some things you can do to stay vigilant while you’re on your computer more than usual:

Don’t open that attachment or click that link

If you don’t recognize the person who sent the email, don’t click on an attachment or link. Even if you do recognize the sender, if there is no personal information in the email, don’t click. You might receive an email that says “Look at this” along with a link or an attachment. Only open attachments or click on links if they are clearly from someone you know. If you’re unsure, call the person to verify.

Watch out for pop-ups

If a pop-up appears on your computer or phone that sounds too good to be true, it is. Pop-ups promising that you have won something or saying there’s a problem on your computer should be treated with skepticism. HCC does NOT use pop-ups to announce that you have won a prize, like an Amazon gift card or an iPad.

Don’t fall for a scam

There is no prince in Nigeria who will give you seven million dollars. If you receive a message from a loved one who says they have been kidnapped and need money immediately, take a deep breath and call the person to check before you do anything else. Never give out personal information—bank account or credit card information, social security number, etc.—unless you are certain it is going to the right place.

Use a strong password

Just about every safety checklist starts with this simple tip. When you create a password, make sure it is nearly impossible to guess. Do that by creating a long password (8 or more characters) that includes both uppercase and lowercase letters, at least one number, and at least one special character (like ! or @ or $ or %).

Double check the address

If you get to a website asking you to download something or input information, check the web address to be sure. If you see a trusted website, like “https://www.hcc.net/” then you’re okay. But if you see something like “hcc.134870xkajg.com” that’s a scam. This advice applies to email addresses, too. A common email scam is an email that appears to be from a friend, family member, or coworker saying, “Can you please open this attachment and print it for me?” A familiar name may be there, but the email address will be wrong.

Unfortunately, some people are taking this vulnerable time to exploit people. Stay vigilant and you’ll be fine. If you have questions about something you think may be a scam, don’t hesitate to contact us.

As the world faces COVID-19 and we, as a nation and a community, work together to prevent its spread, the federal and state government as well as the CDC recommend staying at home if at all possible. Thank you for your commitment to helping us all stay healthy. Here’s our guide to staying connected at home.

Working from home

If you have a job that allows you to work from home, you’re probably already working there. Here are some best practices for working from home:

1. Work in a space separate from the rest of your house. To concentrate on work, you need a space to work that is set apart from the normal bustle of home life. While family members, pets, TV, and other people and things are a part of your day-to-day life, they will probably make it harder to get work done. Ideally, your home office has a door that shuts—maybe even locks.
2. Use a high-speed internet connection. As an HCC customer, that won’t be a problem. If you’re working wirelessly, don’t forget these wireless router tips:
   1. Place the router away from metal, thick walls, or major appliances
   2. Put the router the main floor of your house
   3. Make sure your router is able to handle high speeds
3. Take breaks. At home, you may be sitting for longer periods that you normally would at work. Get up, take a walk, spend a few minutes with your family. Especially during this uncertain time, maintaining connection and taking time for your emotional health is vital.

Learning from home

If you have children and who are at home right now, there are many ways they can continue to learn online—no matter their age. Here are some helpful resources for helping kids learn at home:

1. For younger children:
   1. Each day since COVID-19 shut schools across the country, children’s author Mo Willems has held a short (about 20 minutes) drawing class live on YouTube. Click here to learn more.
   2. BrainPop offers all kinds of educational programs for small children. Click here to learn more.
   3. NASA has all kinds of online activities for kids in the NASA Kids Club. Click here to learn more.
2. For older kids and teenagers:
   1. If your child studies a foreign language in school, they can keep their skills up on DuoLingo, which offers free language instruction in dozens of languages. Click here to learn more.
   2. Your child may want to keep a journal of their time at home. They can practice better writing skills by using Grammarly’s free writing help. Click here to learn more.
   3. Let your kids explore TED Talks or take a course on Lynda to learn more about a topic they’re already interested in.

Playing from home

Your internet connection puts a world of entertainment options at your fingertips, even when you’re stuck inside. Many services are streaming movies that would normally be in theaters right now. Others are offering discounts or free service for people who have lost their jobs.

HCC offers a streaming service called nexTV. With features like full HD and live TV included, home entertainment has never been easier. nexTV also offers up to 200 hours of cloud DVR recording, to watch on your TV, smartphone or tablet with HCC’s nexTV app. Equipment is easy to install – just plug your streaming nexTV device into a power source, your TV’s HDMI port and sign into your nexTV account (provided to you by customer service).

Most of us have more time at home right now than we expected. Whether you’re working at home, learning at home, playing at home, or some combination of the three, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Before COVID-19 hit so close to home, the internet generally seemed like a handy tool. Depending on your job or interests, the world wide web might not have been something you gave any thought to. The internet was just there.

Now, as we practice social distancing, that “handy tool” may be becoming a central part of our lives. While it certainly cannot replace good old-fashioned conversations at the neighborhood bakery or hands-on learning in the classroom, it does have the ability to keep us connected in many ways. And let’s face it, generally, we are social beings. The internet provides that outlet.

Here’s a handful of creative ways people are using their internet connection to connect:

• Chef Michael Symon is offering daily dinner tutorials via the Food Network Kitchen’s Facebook page. Each video also features a link to the recipe. Click here to learn more.

• Musical groups are streaming live “virtual” shows. NPR compiled a list, sorted by date and then genre. Click here to learn more.

• Many art studios are using Facebook Live to teach free art classes. Artist at Heart Paint Party is one, daily at noon. Previous daily videos are stored under “Videos.” Click here to learn more.

• Museums and parks are offering free virtual tours. Southern Living compiled a guide. Click here to learn more.

• Gyms and other fitness outlets are all closed to the public, including Union Square Fitness. Planet Fitness is offering free classes on Facebook Live at 7 p.m. for anyone. Click here to learn more..

We want to make sure you are having the best experience with your internet. Feel free to give us a call to troubleshoot issues you may be having with Wi-Fi or to increase your bandwidth as your needs grow during this time. We’re in this together.