October 1, 2020
Updating Maps in our Service Area
Contractor Working in Your Area On Behalf of Golden West
The Federal Communications Commission requires Golden West to verify every location within our service territory, whether the location is currently served by Golden West or not. To meet this requirement, contractors will conduct mapping work around rural South Dakota on behalf of Golden West. Work will begin on or about October 5 and should only take a couple of weeks to complete.
Most of the work can likely be done from a distance, even from inside a vehicle. A few sites, especially those not included on the most recent Google maps, may require a closer physical visit to verify. All contractor vehicles will be marked with a Golden West sticker.
Thank you for your understanding as we work to update the maps of our service territory. Golden West is proud to provide reliable connections for all services and faster broadband internet speeds with state-of-the-art fiber optic technology in your area.
For more information, visit goldenwest.com/mapping or call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department. We are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are contractors working in my area?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires Golden West to verify every location within our service territory, whether the location is currently served by Golden West or not. To meet this requirement, a contractor is conducting mapping work in your area on behalf of Golden West.
What does the work require?
Most of the work can generally be done from a distance, even from inside a vehicle. A few sites, especially those not included on the most recent Google maps, may require a closer physical visit to verify. All contractor vehicles will be marked with a Golden West sticker.
Why are non-customers included?
Golden is an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier**. As such, the FCC tracks how many addresses could be serviced by the cooperative.
** An Incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) is a telephone company in the U.S. that was providing local service when the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted.
What will be done with the mapping information collected?
The information will be shared with the FCC, as required. Golden West will also update its internal mapping database, which will allow Golden West to respond to new customer requests more quickly.