Golden West Wi-Fi Hotspot Locations

Free Public Wi-Fi Hotspots 

Coming to Most Golden West Communities

As part of Golden West’s commitment to keep everyone connected, the company is installing Wi-Fi hotspots in public places and outdoor locations in most of the communities across its service area. The Wi-Fi hotspots will be available to anyone who needs them for free.

“Golden West cares about the communities we serve,” said Golden West CEO and General Manager Denny Law. “During this unprecedented time, the company is supporting these communities by providing internet access to people who currently don’t have broadband services.”

As people practice social distancing, the internet connects family and friends and keeps people informed and safe during the pandemic. The internet also enables remote learning, working, health care solutions and more.

Wi-Fi Hotspot Locations
Golden West public Wi-Fi hotspots are currently active in:

Additional locations coming soon.

Golden West will send Wi-Fi hotspot information to newspapers as communities come online, and Golden West encourages everyone to share this information with those who need it. 

Once at a hotspot, visitors should select “Golden West Cares” from the list of available Wi-Fi networks and then launch a browser. No password is required.

Practicing Social Distancing
Golden West also strongly urges everyone to follow the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at all times, including when using the Wi-Fi hotspots. Visitors should remain in vehicles, when possible, or stay six or more feet away from others. The CDC also recommends using hand sanitizer or frequent hand washing and wearing a cloth face covering. For more information, visit cdc.gov.

Staying Safe on Public Networks
Keep in mind that these are public networks. To protect personal information when using public wireless hotspots, the Federal Trade Commission recommends only sending information to sites that are fully encrypted (have an https at the beginning of their URL), and to avoid using mobile apps that require personal or financial information.

Connecting More People
With proper precautions, these free public Wi-Fi hotspots can connect even more people during this extraordinary time. Golden West will continue to monitor needs as we face the coronavirus together. 

“Broadband internet access is vital to everyone’s overall quality of life,” Law said. “Golden West is committed to connecting rural South Dakotans to the world.”