Phone

Provided with Fiber Optics

Your home phone service is provided with our state-of-the-art fiber optic network, and it requires A/C electric power to operate. To avoid a disruption of home voice service during a power outage – and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services, RTC Networks will install, or have previously installed, the battery backup power at this location.

Where to Obtain Your Battery Backup

RTC Networks would like to ensure that our customers are provided reliable backup batteries that allow you to continue to use your home voice services during a power outage. That is why we install a battery backup power for your home voice service, at no charge. The battery backup power source will also be replaced at no charge by RTC Networks when needed.

What Your Backup Battery Can (& Can’t) Do for You

The battery installed by RTC Networks is a Backup unit and expected to last at least 8 hours on standby power. That means the backup battery should give you approximately 6 hours of talk time. If you live in a multiple dwelling unit (MDU), your backup battery may be in a shared location. If you live in a MDU and want to know where your battery backup is located, contact RTC Networks for location information. In an MDU situation, voice talk time may vary. Our backup battery does not provide power to any services other than voice. Home security systems, medical monitoring devices, routers and other equipment will not run on a home phone backup battery. Our backup battery does not provide power to any cordless telephones. In the event of a power outage, your cordless phones will not work. To have voice service you will need a standard, corded phone hooked up to a phone jack.

Instructions for Proper Care & Use of Your Battery

RTC Networks installs the battery according to manufacturer’s specifications. Environmental factors such as temperature can shorten your battery’s useful life. We recommend that you store your battery above 41°F and below 104°F. They will not last forever and should be replaced when your device starts to make a beeping sound, and/or the indicator light is no longer green. This indicates that the battery is depleted and must be replaced. You will need to contact RTC Networks at (701) 862-3115 when your battery needs to be replaced.

Contact Information for Battery Power Backup

If you have any questions regarding your battery power backup, please contact RTC Networks at (701) 862-3115 or email us.

Yes.

Equal Access means you have the ability to select the long distance carrier of your choice. All RTC Networks exchanges are equal access exchanges for all jurisdictions. This means all RTC Networks subscribers have the ability to choose a primary long distance carrier by jurisdiction.

Your primary carrier becomes your “1+” carrier and “1+” equal access will provide you with simplicity in dialing your long distance calls. No matter which long distance company you choose, calls may be completed by simply dialing the digit ‘1’ followed by the called party’s area code and telephone number. Subscribers can have one long distance carrier for each jurisdiction, e.g. one carrier can be chosen for interlata calls and the same or a different carrier for intralata calls.

1+ Equal Access Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do I have to choose a long distance company to place my calls?

The restructuring of the telephone industry has introduced competition into the long distance calling arena. Multiple companies are interested in providing you with the “1+” long distance service.

2. How do I designate a company as my “1+” long distance toll provider?

Contact the RTC Networks Business Office at (701) 862-3115.

3. How will “1+” Equal Access benefit me?

“1+” Equal Access will provide you with simplicity in dialing your long distance calls. No matter which long distance company you choose, calls may be completed by simply dialing the digit “1” followed by the called party’s area code and telephone number.

4. Are all of my long distance calls affected?

Yes. Equal Access applies to interlata calls and intralata calls.

5. What should I consider when making my selection of a long distance company?

Most of the companies have slightly different rate structures. By examining your specific long distance calling requirements, you will be able to choose the company that can best serve your needs. To learn more about the rates of the long distance companies, contact the companies directly.

6. How much will it cost me to make my selection?

There is no initial cost to you to have the long distance company of your choice connected to your telephone line. Once you have made a selection, however, any further change will require a service charge.

7. What happens if I don’t choose?

If the subscriber doesn’t choose at the time of application then they will not be able to make long distance calls.

8. Will I receive more than 1 bill?

In some cases you could receive more than one telephone bill. That would depend upon your selected long distance company’s billing arrangement. RTC Networks bills only for NDLD (North Dakota Long Distance).

9. Can I notify the long distance company of my choice instead of the local telephone company?

Yes, but to ensure that your choice is recorded accurately it is worth the extra call to RTC Networks.

You’ve probably heard many times that switching to SmartHub is good for the environment by reducing paper use and saving trees. What you might not realize is just how beneficial SmartHub is in other ways.

SmartHub is a convenient way to access your RTC Networks account and lets you manage all aspects of your account online or on your mobile device.

With SmartHub, you can pay your RTC Networks bills online and receive your monthly statements from us by email, and pay them online with your financial institution in a safe and secure environment.

Not only can you use SmartHub to pay your RTC Networks bills, you can use it to set bill reminders, and contact customer service with any services issues.

Creating a SmartHub account takes less than 3 minutes. Gain access to your SmartHub account online or on your mobile device with apps available for download for iOS and Android.

For more information on how to set up your free SmartHub account, follow the instructions below or call us at (701) 862-3115.

How to Pay Your Bills Using SmartHub

• To access SmartHub, go to RTC.coop and click on “Pay Bill” in the upper right corner or select “Smarthub” from the “My RTC” drop down menu found by selecting  the three white lines in the same corner.
• If you were previously signed up for RTC E-Bill, just log-in using your E-Bill username and password.
• If you were not signed up for E-Bill, click on the “New User” link at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions to sign up.

There is also a SmartHub app available for your smart phone and table computers. Once you are logged in to the SmartHub website click on links at the left to download the app for your particular device.

If you’re having issues with any of your RTC Networks services, please call our office immediately at (888) 862-3115. Many times, customers will tell us they’ve been experiencing troubles for days, weeks, or even months. By waiting to call us, they experience a longer period of technical difficulties than is necessary. Remember, RTC Networks typically does not know you’re having an issue until you informs us.

RTC Networks’ business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. RTC Networks does have an after-hours answering service that can troubleshoot email and Internet troubles over the phone. We also have technicians on call for emergency situations. If it’s not an emergency, we can try to fix the service issue over the phone. If the problem cannot be resolved over the phone, we’ll send out a technician the next business day.

When you call to report a technical issue after hours, please provide the following information so we can help you in a timely manner:

• Name
• Home telephone number
• Cell phone number
• Account number

If you’re not available when we return your call, we’ll leave you a message if possible. (Sometimes when we call cell phone numbers, the mail box is full or not set up, and we can’t leave a message.)

Prices Vary

The Northwest North Dakota Telephone Directory is the official directory for RTC Networks’ service area. RTC Networks subscribers receive a free copy in the mail in the late summer. The book is a good resource for any questions about your cooperative and the services RTC Networks offers.

Directory Listings

RTC Networks subscribers are automatically listed in the telephone directory. Your first listing in the directory is free. Additional directory options include:

Unpublished Number

Your telephone number is not listed in any telephone directory and no one calling Directory Assistance will get your number.

Administration Fee: $10
Monthly Charge: $1

Unlisted Number

Your telephone number is not listed in any telephone directory, but anyone calling Directory Assistance can get your number.

Administration Fee: $10
Monthly Charge: $0.50

Extra Listing

If you would like your phone number listed under two different names, you can get an Extra Listing. For Example, you and your roommate would both like your names listed with the same phone number.

Administration Fee: $10
Monthly Fee: $1

Foreign Listing

A Foreign Listing allows you to have your number listed in a directory other than the directory of your local telephone provider. For example, you live in Plaza and you also want your number listed under Berthold.

Administration Fee: $10
Monthly Fee: $2

80¢ per call

Dial 411 to get any number anywhere in America and get connected. It is a quick and easy way to get:

• Local listings
• National listings
• Canadian listings
• 800 numbers

Toll charges may apply to calls connected outside your service area. Local call completion may not be available in all areas.

RTC Networks knows it’s annoying to receive unwanted, nuisance calls and even worse to be plagued by illegal robocalls to defraud you of your hard-earned money.

To help reduce the number of illegal robocalls that may originate on our network, effective July 1, 2021, RTC Networks has implemented robocall mitigation efforts to monitor our network and verify that calls originating over our network are from legitimate numbers belonging to a valid RTC Networks customer.  In line with FCC rules, users of RTC Networks voice services are prohibited from originating illegal and spoofed robocalls with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongly obtain anything of value from the recipient of the call. Violation of these terms can result in suspension or termination of the user’s voice telephone service.

For more information on RTC Networks robocall mitigation efforts contact us at (701) 862.3115.

A PIC freeze will prevent a change in your long distance carrier without your consent. Once a PIC freeze is in place, RTC Networks cannot change your interlata or intralata long distance carrier until you personally lift the PIC freeze. To sign up click on the PIC Freeze Request Form below, fill it out, print it and send it to RTC Networks.

• Pic Freeze Request Form (PDF)

To make calls between RTC Networks exchanges listed below, just dial the listed number without the area code.

Alexander (828)*
Arnegard (586)*
Beach (872)
Douglas (529)
Emmet (337)
Garrison (463)
Homesteaders Gap (565, 569)
Keene (675)
Kenmare(385)
Makoti (726)
Mandaree (759)
Max (679)
Medora (623)
New Town (627)
Norma (467)
Parshall (862)
Plaza (497)
Roseglen (743)
Ross (755)
Ryder (758)
Spencer (848)
Stanley (628)
Watford City (842, 444)*

* At this time, Alexander (828), Arnegard (586), and Watford City (842,444) are also able to call Williston (572, 774, 577) as a local call.

Service Area Map:

Fill out the International Call Block Removal Form (PDF), print it, and send it to RTC Networks.

Call (888) 382-1222

To address consumer concerns about unwelcome telemarketing calls, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have established a national Do Not Call Registry. The registry applies to all telemarketers (with the exception of certain non-profit and political organizations) and covers both interstate and intrastate telemarketing calls. Commercial telemarketers are not allowed to call you if your number is listed on the registry.

Your registration will not expire. Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008. Read more about it on this FTC news release.

The Do Not Call Registry will not prevent all unwanted calls. It does not cover the following:

• Calls from organizations with which you have established a business relationship;
• Calls for which you have given prior written consent;
• Calls which are not commercial or do not include unsolicited advertisements;
• Calls by or on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit organizations.

Consumers may register their residential telephone number on the national Do Not Call Registry at no cost by telephone or on the Internet. To register by telephone, consumers may call (888) 382-1222. For TTY call (866) 290-4236. You must call from the phone number you wish to register. You may also register online at the Do Not Call Registry website. Inclusion of your telephone number on the national Do Not Call Registry will be effective within 30 days following your registration. Please be aware that if you have a wireless phone, you may also register the wireless phone number on the registry.

Do Not Call Registry

Contact RTC Partners

For information on North Dakota’s Relay Service visit their North Dakota Relay website or call them at 701.328.2300. For information on North Dakota’s Interagency Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT) visit their IPAT website or call them at (800) 895-4728.

For information on Montana’s Relay Service visit their Montana Relay website or call them at (800) 833-8503.

Accessing Your Mailbox:

1. Dial ✱99
   Then either:
   – If using Auto Login and accessing from your home phone, no entry is required,
   Or
   – If calling from away from home, enter your telephone number, press # when greeting begins.
2. If requested, enter your password, followed by the # key. Your password will be a default of 4 zeros (0000) until you change it. For security purposes, we suggest you change your password.
3. Main Menu:
   Press 1 to retrieve messages,
   Press 7 for current date and time, or
   Press 9 for mailbox setup.
   Note: When you have a new voice mail message, your dial tone will sound like a fast busy signal.

To Set-up Mailbox:

4 options in Mailbox Set-up menu:

• Press 1 – Greeting options.
  Disregard this step if you choose the default greeting.
• Press 2 – Change password.
• Press 4 – Disable/Enable Auto-Login.
• Press ✱ – Return to main menu.

To change or record your greeting:

• Press 1 – Greeting options.
• Press 2 – Save your greeting.
• Press # – End recording function.
• Press 1 – Listen to new greeting.

To create multiple greetings: (Gold Package Only)

• Press 5 – Pick a new greeting.
  Then choose a new greeting # (2-9).
• Press 2 – Record greeting.
• Press # – End recording function.
  Repeat steps 5 and 6, choosing a different greeting # each time.
• Press 5 – Pick a new greeting.
  Then choose the greeting you wish to become active.
• Press ✱ – Return to main menu.

To Retrieve Messages:

3 options in Message Retrieval menu:

• a. Press 1 – New Messages.
• b. Press 2 – Saved Messages.
• c. Press ✱ – Return to Main Menu.

Listen to messages:

• Press 1 – Play or re-play message.
• Press 2 – Save message and go to next.
• Press 3 – Delete message and go to next.
  • Undelete Message: Don’t hang up. Follow the voice prompts to listen to the messages. Once you have played the message you deleted, select proper number.
• Press 4 – Save message as new.
• Press 7 – Skip back three seconds.
• Press 8 – Pause or continue message.
• Press 9 – Skip forward three seconds.
• Press ✱– Return to main menu.

To change your password:

• Press 2 – Change your password.
• Enter new password, followed by the # key. The password is any series of up to 16 digits you choose. You will be unable to access your mailbox without this password, so be sure to choose one you will remember.
• To verify, enter your password, followed by the # key.

If you have any questions or if you need additional help call (701) 862-3115.

RTC Networks offers Winter and Summer disconnect plans. Contact us to place your services on a seasonal disconnect plan.