In Estes Park, CO, where breathtaking mountain views meet the charm of small-town living, more and more residents are embracing the convenience and peace of mind that comes with a smart home. At the heart of this modern transformation is Trailblazer Broadband—Estes Park’s community-owned, 100% fiber-optic internet service.
With ultra-fast, reliable internet as the backbone, homeowners can take full advantage of today’s smart technology—whether you live here full-time or just during part of the year.
Fiber Internet: The Backbone of a Smart Home
A smart home is only as strong as its internet connection. Devices like smart thermostats, cameras, lighting systems, door locks, and sensors all rely on steady, fast, and responsive connectivity to work as intended. Trailblazer’s fiber network provides the kind of high-speed, low-latency internet that allows these systems to operate smoothly—whether you’re streaming real-time security footage, adjusting your thermostat remotely, or getting alerts about an open window.
Seasonal Hold: Stay Connected, Even When You’re Away
One of the unique challenges of mountain-town living is that many homeowners only spend part of the year here. Trailblazer recognizes this and offers a seasonal hold option that keeps your connection live with just enough bandwidth to support essential smart home functions while you’re away.
This means your security cameras can continue monitoring, your smart thermostat can protect your pipes from freezing, and motion sensors can send you alerts if something’s not right—all without having to fully disconnect your service. It’s a quiet, behind-the-scenes way to maintain peace of mind when your home is sitting empty.
Smart Home Functionality: Beyond the Basics
Most people are familiar with the basics of smart homes—voice-controlled lights, smart thermostats, security cameras—but the possibilities go far beyond that. With a strong fiber connection like Trailblazer’s, here are some lesser-known and surprisingly useful things you can do with smart home tech:
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Remote Pet Monitoring: Set up cameras and treat dispensers that let you watch, talk to, and even reward your pet while you’re away.
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Smart Leak Detection: Water leak sensors can notify you of potential issues before they become major damage—particularly helpful in vacation homes.
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Automated Blinds: Smart shades can adjust based on the time of day or sun position, improving energy efficiency and protecting furniture from UV rays.
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Geo-Fencing: Your home can respond to your location—unlocking the door and turning on lights when you arrive, and adjusting energy settings when you leave.
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Voice-Controlled Appliance Integration: From ovens that preheat on command to washers that text you when the cycle’s done, smart appliances can streamline your routine.
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Smart Plugs & Energy Monitoring: See how much energy specific devices use and automate when they turn on or off to reduce waste.
- Health & Wellness Features: Devices like Alexa or Google Assistant can offer medication reminders, daily wellness checks, and even emergency calling features—making them especially helpful for seniors aging in place. And with a stable internet connection, telehealth appointments are smoother and more accessible than ever, even in a mountain town.
Energy Efficiency: Smart for Your Wallet, and the Planet
One of the biggest benefits of a smart home—especially one connected through a fast, reliable fiber network—is energy efficiency. By learning your habits and making real-time adjustments, devices like smart thermostats, lighting systems, and irrigation controllers help reduce overall consumption.
You can monitor and optimize your energy use room by room, day by day. Not only does this lower your utility bills, but it also reduces your environmental footprint—an especially meaningful choice in a place as beautiful and ecologically sensitive as Estes Park.
A Smarter Way to Live in the Mountains
Trailblazer Broadband gives Estes Park residents the digital infrastructure to support the kind of smart home living that was once only a futuristic dream. Whether you’re automating your home for everyday convenience, monitoring it remotely from across the country, or just trying to reduce your impact on the environment, fast and reliable internet is the foundation that makes it all possible.
Smart, secure, sustainable living isn’t just for big cities anymore—it’s right here in the Rockies, powered by the community and connected by Trailblazer.
Check Out FAST Streaming Platforms
The world of streaming entertainment is no longer just about on-demand movies and television shows. Live streaming TV is everywhere and available on several different platforms.
One of the best ways families can enjoy live streaming TV is through FAST streaming platforms. FAST—short for Free, Ad-Supported Television—is a budget-saving, live streaming TV option for cost-conscious consumers.
With MyBundle, you know you can already build a package of apps and channels you and your family will most enjoy—while saving you money. And now, MyBundle offers its very own FAST streaming platform—another great way to cut costs while still enjoying outstanding home streaming entertainment! Combined with the high-speed fiber internet delivered to your home by Trailblazer Broadband, FAST streaming, including MyBundle’s option, may offer the ultimate, most efficient home entertainment package possible so that you can cut the cable cord (and the bills) for good!
Below we explain more about FAST streaming TV, including how it works and how you can use it for maximum savings. We also detail MyBundle’s FAST streaming platform. Read on to learn more!
What is FAST Streaming?
In a nutshell, FAST streaming TV offers you live entertainment, news, sports, and more streamed over the internet for free.
Like broadcast television served over an antenna, FAST’s programming is free because ads support it.
With FAST streaming TV, you don’t need a new “box,” more wires, or any additional equipment beyond what you already use to access the internet on your devices. And ad-supported FAST streaming TV means you don’t have to shell out more money each month to enjoy live television.
FAST’s advantages extend beyond the cost savings. FAST streaming also brings a deep library of streaming entertainment, including live TV. And high-speed fiber internet creates pristine picture quality, something you won’t always find on traditional broadcast television. Beyond paying your monthly internet service bill, FAST streaming TV is free for you to enjoy.
FAST Streaming Platforms
The growth of FAST channels and platforms over the past few years is stunning.
Today, more than a thousand FAST channels are available in America! As are other leading streaming tech companies, all the major channels are in on the action.
Major broadcast networks offer FAST options, like CBS, which provides Pluto TV through its streaming platform, Paramount, while Fox has Tubi. NBC’s Peacock also features its own FAST service, while Amazon offers the recently re-named Freevee (formerly IMBd TV).
Both Roku and Samsung—major producers of Smart TVs and streaming devices—have FAST streaming services. Other networks are expected to launch FAST streaming services soon, including A&E and AMC, offering their popular and prestige content to stream free with ads.
MyBundle’s FAST TV Option
And coming soon to MyBundle, you’ll be able to enjoy the cost-savings of FAST streaming TV right in the MyBundle dashboard! MyBundle’s fully integrated FAST option will provide many advantages you’ll love.
First, MyBundle’s sleek and intuitive design makes its Live-TV button accessible. You’ll see it at the top right of your screen when you log on. So you’ll quickly start streaming content anytime you want.
Second, your MyBundle account works seamlessly across all your logged-in devices. You can watch MyBundle’s FAST streaming live TV on your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop—anywhere you can connect to the internet!
Third, MyBundle’s unique search and recommendation tools can help you find content across many genres, including top network shows, live news and sports, kids’ entertainment and educational programming, home improvement and design, travel and nature, and Spanish language shows.
Fourth, with its easy alternation between live FAST TV and on-demand apps in one space, MyBundle users don’t have to decide what to watch. Instead, they can simply surf to find something new and unanticipated—without paying excessive extra bills for live TV.
To learn more about how MyBundle saves you money and improves your streaming experience at the same time, click here. And follow Trailblazer Broadband ‘s social pages for more helpful advice on enjoying your high-speed fiber internet!
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Let’s face it, managing finances isn’t typically considered a thrilling activity for most people. However, having the right tools can make a significant difference in reducing stress and improving your financial situation. High-speed internet is one of those essential tools that can transform your financial management experience, helping you save money, earn more, and enjoy a more peaceful financial life.
If you’re still wrestling with your 2024 tax filing, don’t stress! With fast internet, you can e-file your taxes quickly and securely, ensuring faster refunds and fewer errors. Plus, you can access free filing options and affordable tax software from anywhere! 📈 Then use these tips to organize for an even easier tax filing next year!
TRAILBLAZER TOOLBOX: What Is a Digital Footprint?
Did you know that nearly everything we do online leaves behind a trace? Whether web browsing, posting on social media, or shopping for deals online, almost every click and interaction contributes to a record of our digital lives. Collectively, this massive mélange of data about each of us is known as a “digital footprint.” But what exactly is a digital footprint, and why is it so significant?
Understanding what constitutes a digital footprint and how it’s amassed over time is crucial to protecting privacy and security online, so Trailblazer Broadband has prepared this quick guide. Below, we walk you through the details of digital footprints, including the two main types, and the steps you can take to better safeguard and improve your internet experience on Trailblazer’s high-speed fiber network.
Digital Footprint Essentials
At its most basic, a digital footprint is the collection of data you leave behind when you use the internet, whether you do so knowingly or not. You’ll often see it referred to as a “digital shadow” because the collected data closely follows you as you utilize the internet without realizing the trail you’ve left behind.
Your digital footprint includes a vast record of all the websites you visit, usually in the form of “cookies” that a website collects from each unique visitor. Additionally, you directly contribute to your digital footprint whenever you share information (e.g., your name, address, phone number, or Social Security Number), post content (i.e., social media photos and posts), interact with individuals or company websites, and download apps.
Digital footprints can be active or passive. Next, we’ll explore the distinctions between active and passive digital footprints and their impact on online privacy and security.
Active and Passive Digital Footprints
The deliberate actions you choose to take online create an active digital footprint. This includes sharing, posting, or writing content on social media, websites, and blogs. It also means that you’ve added to your active digital footprint any time you post photos, videos, reviews, and comments or interact in almost any way on the web.
For example, when you post or comment on Facebook or Instagram—your own page or anyone you follow—or simply update your LinkedIn profile, you add to your active digital footprint. Even the emails you send or receive can contribute to your digital footprint, as email providers may use tools to digitally analyze the content of your messages for targeted ads and other purposes. Note that each action is intentional on your part—posting content, sending emails, etc.—and, critically, you can control what is shared and how it is presented.
On the other hand, a passive digital footprint is generated without your direct involvement (and often without your knowledge). It includes the data collected automatically about you while you browse the internet. Websites and apps follow your activity using cookies, analytics tools, and other tracking technologies to gather data on your preferences, location, and online behavior—all of which are passively collected and contribute to your digital footprint.
So, when you visit a website, it might automatically track which specific pages you viewed, how long you stayed on each page, or your overall search history. Your physical location—i.e., your city, town, and state—is also frequently tracked. But unlike your active digital footprint, you did not intentionally input information about yourself or post content—you simply clicked, and tracking technology collected the data and added it to your passive digital footprint.
Why Does Your Digital Footprint Matter?
Your digital footprint is not a mere “collection” of digitized information about you—it has considerable real-world implications for your privacy, security, and reputation online and offline.
- Protect Your Privacy: Millions of people use social media to post about themselves daily, and a substantial amount of personal information can be inferred from a digital footprint. From interests and relationships to everyday habits, companies, marketers, and advertisers can access this data and create targeted ads and offers.
- Prevent Identity Theft and Fraud: Unfortunately, savvy cybercriminals can find ways to access your digital footprint and use it for nefarious purposes if it’s not been adequately protected—including the biggest risk: identity theft. This means that cybercriminals could potentially access your name, address, phone number, Social Security Number, or even bank account and credit card details through your digital presence and exploit them.
- Defend Your Reputation: Be mindful that employers, coworkers, friends, and family may search for you online to learn more about you and what you’re up to. Posts or controversial content taken out of context or inappropriate can negatively impact your personal and professional reputation for years—or even lead to termination.
Managing and Protecting Your Digital Footprint
Now that you understand your digital footprint, how it’s created, and its potential implications, you need to learn how to manage and protect it. Below are several simple but often overlooked steps to safeguard your digital presence effectively.
- Reduce Personal Information Shared: First, and most obviously, avoid oversharing personal details online, whether in posts, emails, or online forms. The more you share about yourself, the more data is available for others to see (and use).
- Employ Strong Passwords and Security Tools: Use strong, unique passwords for every account you use. When available, use multi-factor authentication to access your accounts, and install security tools to protect your data from malware and viruses that insidiously collect it and lead to breaches.
- Customize and Enable Privacy Settings: Don’t forget to regularly check the privacy settings on your social media accounts, apps, and other online platforms, as well as the websites and online stores you use. Many apps and websites allow you to adjust your settings to limit who can see your posts and personal information and what data they collect about you.
- Research Apps and Websites First: While trying out a new app or browsing a trendy website can be tempting, it’s advisable to tread cautiously before diving in too deeply or sharing information about yourself on them. Many apps require permission to access your data or online profiles before you can use them, so carefully review their permissions and privacy policies to ensure they are transparent and trustworthy.
Understanding and managing your digital footprint is essential for maintaining privacy, security, and a positive online reputation. Armed with this knowledge and our recommended steps to protect your digital footprint, you can take control of your online presence and feel more confident while using the internet.
For additional tips to help keep you and your family safe online, follow Trailblazer Broadband’s social pages.
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