NEW LOCATION

Effective March 15, 2004, the financial functions of the Division of Communications has moved to Room 1326 in the State Capitol and are part of DAS central finance. The telephone numbers and email addresses for the employees will remain the same.

If you pay your monthly telecommunications bill in person, you will now need to go to Room 1326 to make your payment.

OFFICEVISION ID'S

By now all of you should have received and are using your 2004 Nebraska State Government Directory. Over the past few years as we have compiled the Directory, we have noticed a significant drop in the number of OfficeVision ID's we are publishing. If your Agency is one of the few that is still publishing these ID's, our office will be contacting you over the next several months and discussing the possibility of removing these ID's from the 2005 Nebraska State Government Directory. If you have any questions, please contact Renee at 402/471-4701.

IF YOU'RE DIGGING, PLEASE BE SURE TO DIAL!

As construction season begins, make sure you dial before you do any digging. What you don't know can hurt you and others. So before you dig, contact Diggers Hotline of Nebraska and get the scoop on underground electrical, phone and cable lines and gas pipes.

Calling Diggers Hotline of Nebraska is also the law. You must call, fax or e-mail Diggers Hotline at least two business days prior to digging excluding weekends and holidays. You need to do this even for minor additions like a new deck or shrubbery. The service is free and it could save your life -- not to mention possible fines of up to $500,000. The statewide number is 1-800-331-5666. You can also submit location requests by visiting their website at www.ne-diggers.com.

*Article taken from Washing County HunTel Communicator Spring 2004.

NEW LOWER RATES FOR OMAHA VOICE MAIL

Effective January 1, 2004, voice mail boxes in Omaha have a new lower rate. Voice mail in Omaha has gone from $9.00 per month to $5.00 per month with a retroactive start date of January 1, 2004. If you have questions regarding your voice mail box or wish to receive information about a new box, contact Lana ( lbrox@doc.state.ne.us) at 402/471-7890 at the Division of Communications.

CELLULAR VOICE MAIL UPDATE

To update your Alltel cellular phone voice mail:

This will take you into the voice mail instructions to set up your new voice mail greeting and password. If you have any questions, contact Erin (eschmit@doc.state.ne.us) at 402/471-6391.

FAX MACHINE DISPOSAL GUIDE

When returning your facsimile machine to the Division of Communications for surplus, we are requesting your assistance with the following:

1. Please mark on the machine, "works", or "does not work".
2. Remove all paper from the paper trays.
3. If possible, remove all stored numbers.
4. Tape all cords and parts/pieces to the machine.
5. Write the serial number/tag numbers on a slip of paper and attach that piece of paper to the machine.

If you have any questions regarding fax machine disposal, please contact Norma (nwhite@doc.state.ne.us) at 402/471-3562.

CALLING CARDS

Alltel is our Calling Card vendor as of October 2003. If you have an AT&T calling card, please return it to the Division of Communications or cut it up and throw it away. AT&T calling cards for the State have been cancelled. If you have not received your Alltel calling card or would like to order one, please contact Renee (rbramhall@doc.state.ne.us) at the Division of Communications, 402/471-4701.

When using your Alltel card, please remember to key in your 10 digit card number AND your 4 digit PIN when prompted for your card number.

You can also get nationwide directory assistance with your calling card by dialing 402/471-1411 when prompted to enter the number you wish to call. Directory assistance calls are billed a 25 cent surcharge and 12 cents per minute.

INCOMING CALL DETAIL TO BE PROVIDED ON CELLULAR TELEPHONE BILL

Alltel has advised the Division of Communications that additional cellular call detail will be provided in the near future on your cellular bill. Currently incoming calls are not provided on the call detail. However, within the next few months the incoming caller telephone number will be shown.

NEW CELLULAR CONTRACTS

We are requesting your patience over the next few months with requests for cellular plan changes. As a result of new cellular contracts, there are new rate plans and cost savings that the Division of Communications has been implementing.

Here is a summary of the changes:

We will review all agency cellular usage in the spring-summer cycle and advise you about cost efficiencies and changes in plans. At that time, we will make additional adjustments to your agency plans as needed. Please review your cellular charges and encourage employees to make cellular-to-cellular calls if it is advantageous to avoid toll calls in the state. If you have any questions, contact Mike (mjeffres@doc.state.ne.us) at 402/471-3719.

Directory Listing Closing Dates:

For more information, contact Renee at 402/471-4701.