FOCUS Broadband's 68th Annual Meeting of Members will be held on Friday, October 3rd, at 2:00 p.m. at the FOCUS Broadband headquarters, located at 640 Whiteville Road NW in Shallotte.
We are always working to serve our members well and provide communications services that add quality to the lives of the residents and businesses we serve. It is our privilege to provide you with information on what your cooperative has accomplished this year and take this opportunity to tell you how much we appreciate your patronage.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Annual Meeting this year?
The 68th Annual Meeting of Members will be held on Friday, October 3rd, at 2:00 p.m. in the Public Assembly Room at the FOCUS Broadband headquarters in Shallotte, located at 640 Whiteville Road NW. Seating is limited, and members do not have to be present to win prizes. A recording of the meeting will also be made available on the corporate website on Saturday, October 4th. Parking will be available in the lot in front of the main building.
How do I register for the Annual Meeting?
Member registration and voting will be conducted online and by mail. Casting a ballot in the election will constitute as successful member registration.
Members who receive their monthly FOCUS Broadband billing statement online will receive their Annual Meeting notice via email along with the registration materials and voting instructions. Incoming emails will appear from the address: FOCUS Broadband Election Coordinator or noreply@directvote.net. Please ensure that this email address is whitelisted to continue to receive information and instructions about the voting process.
Members who receive their monthly FOCUS Broadband billing statement by mail will receive their Annual Meeting notice, registration information and a mail-in ballot by mail.
The registration and voting process are being conducted by a third-party vendor, Survey Ballots & Systems. Registration materials will be sent to members via mail beginning September 9th and via email on September 11th. There will be no in-person registration or voting at this year's Annual Meeting.
When will registration and voting begin and end?
Registration and voting will begin on September 11th at 12:01 AM and will end on October 1st at 11:59 PM.
How do I submit my vote?
Members will receive a set of unique login credentials for access to their online ballot. On the opening day of the election, these credentials will be emailed to each member who has opted to receive their FOCUS Broadband billing statement online. All other members will receive their paper ballot and registration materials by mail and their unique credentials will be printed on their paper ballots. Paper ballots and registration materials will be mailed on September 9th. Members may only vote one time per membership.
Each paper ballot will have a unique ID number printed on it that is tied to your specific membership. This number is created by the company overseeing the election and it prevents a member from submitting multiple votes for the same membership. Only original paper ballots will be accepted. Photocopies or scanned copies will not be accepted. Members who receive a paper ballot may choose to vote online in lieu of returning a paper ballot.
Once an online ballot is submitted, you will not be able to login again to change a vote or resubmit. If you attempt to login after a vote has been submitted, you will get an error message alerting you that your ballot has already been submitted. If a member votes online and then submits a paper ballot, the paper ballot will be the vote that counts.
Registration and ballot material may not be mailed directly to or brought to a FOCUS Broadband location. Registration and ballot material mailed to or brought to any FOCUS Broadband office will be considered void and will not count.
How do I know my online vote is secure and validated?
The voting process will be managed by Survey & Ballot Systems, a third-party vendor who specializes in elections for cooperatives. Survey & Ballot Systems will collect and validate all votes that are filled out correctly and turned in on time.
What if I need help while I’m casting my vote?
For technical support (available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), please call 866-909-3549 or email support@directvote.net. For any other questions, please call FOCUS Broadband Customer Care at 888-367-2862.
Will there be in-person registration and voting?
No, there will not be in-person voting on the day of the Annual Meeting. Registration and voting will be available online and by mail-in ballot and will take place between the dates of September 11th at 12:01 AM and October 1st at 11:59 PM.
Will there be a gift for registering for this year’s meeting?
Members who register for the Annual Meeting will receive a $20 bill credit on their November billing statement.
Will there be prizes given away during this year’s meeting?
FOCUS Broadband will award $3,000 in cash prizes, including a grand prize of $750 at the end of the meeting on October 3rd. Winners will be announced on the FOCUS Broadband corporate website and Facebook page by Saturday, October 4th. All members who register will be entered into the drawing for cash prizes. Members do not have to be present at the Annual Meeting to win.
If my name is announced during the prize drawing, how do I claim my prize?
FOCUS Broadband will announce prize winners by Saturday, October 4th, on our corporate website. A list of winners will also be posted on the FOCUS Broadband Facebook page (@focusbroadband). FOCUS Broadband will begin contacting winners on Monday, October 6th, to pick up their prize. Winners will be able to pick up their prize at FOCUS Broadband’s Shallotte office beginning October 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Winners will have until October 31st to claim their prize.
The registration and voting process will be handled through a third-party vendor, Survey Ballots & Systems (SBS).
