Fiber to the Home Project

The remainder of the Colton exchange (town and rural) is scheduled for FTTH upgrades in 2023.

Contractors:
Wiring Contractor - Travis Electric
Engineering Consultant - RVW, Inc.
Construction Contractor - North Central Service

Overview Video Cutover Video

Project Updates

January 4, 2024

Travis Electric is trying to reach the remaining customers who have not yet been scheduled for a fiber upgrade.
Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

December 21, 2023

Travis Electric technicians are off next week for the holidays. They will return to Colton on January 2.
Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

December 14, 2023

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in Colton. They are trying to reach the remaining customers who have not yet been scheduled.
Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

December 7, 2023

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in Colton. They are trying to reach the remaining customers who have not yet been scheduled.
Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

November 30, 2023

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in Colton. They are over half way done and are continuing to schedule and complete installations.
Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you have questions about Phase 2 wiring or scheduling.

November 16, 2023

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in Colton. Their crews are off next Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you have questions about Phase 2 wiring or scheduling.

October 26, 2023

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in Colton. This work will continue for the next several weeks.
Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you have questions about Phase 2 wiring or scheduling.

October 19, 2023

Travis Electric started Phase 2 upgrade installations in Colton this week.
Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you have questions about Phase 2 wiring or scheduling.

October 12, 2023

Travis Electric has started scheduling installations for upgrading customers to fiber.
Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you have questions about Phase 2 wiring or scheduling.

October 5, 2023

Travis Electric has started scheduling installations for upgrading customers to fiber.
Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you have questions about Phase 2 wiring or scheduling.

September 21, 2023

Before Phase 2 wiring gets underway, customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.
Golden West technicians are completing wiring in the Golden West office in Colton. When this work is complete, Travis Electric will start scheduling fiber upgrade installations.

September 14, 2023

Golden West is finishing wiring needed in the Colton central office before customers can be converted to fiber.
Before Phase 2 wiring gets underway, customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

September 7, 2023

North Central Service has been cleaning up some areas identified by residents.
Golden West technicians are installing electronics in the central office in Colton.
Before Phase 2 wiring gets underway, customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

August 31, 2023

North Central Service has been cleaning up some areas identified by residents.
Splicing of the newly buried fibers is complete.
Before Phase 2 wiring gets underway, customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

August 24, 2023

North Central Service has been cleaning up some areas identified by residents.
Golden West staff has finished splicing cables in the rural part of the project. They are testing the fibers, then have some wiring to complete in the Golden West building in Colton.
Before Phase 2 wiring gets underway, customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

August 17, 2023

Golden West staff has finished splicing cables in the rural part of the project. They are testing the fibers, then have some wiring to complete in the Golden West building in Colton.
Before Phase 2 wiring gets underway, customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

August 10, 2023

North Central Service has finished the construction phase of the project. They are working on cleanup.
Golden West staff and contractors are pulling cable through the duct that was buried and splicing fiber cables.
When all fibers have been spliced and tested, Golden West crews will finish connecting the fibers in the central office in Colton. After these steps are complete, customers will be receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

August 3, 2023

North Central Service has finished the construction phase of the project. They are working on cleanup.
Golden West staff and contractors are pulling and splicing fiber cables.
When all fibers have been spliced and tested, Golden West crews will finish connecting the fibers in the central office in Colton. After these steps are complete, customers will be receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

July 27, 2023

North Central Service has finished the construction phase of the project. They are working on cleanup.
Golden West staff and contractors are pulling and splicing fiber cables.
When all fibers have been spliced and tested, Golden West crews will finish connecting the fibers in the central office in Colton. After these steps are complete, customers will be receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

July 20, 2023

North Central Service has finished the construction phase of the project. They are working on cleanup.
Golden West staff and contractors are pulling and splicing fiber cables.
When all fibers have been spliced and tested, Golden West crews will finish connecting the fibers in the central office in Colton. After these steps are complete, customers will be receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

June 29, 2023

North Central Service has finished burying cable in the Colton project area.
Golden West staff and contractors are pulling and splicing fiber cables.
When all fibers have been spliced and tested, Golden West crews will finish connecting the fibers in the central office in Colton. After these steps are complete, customers will be receive a letter from Golden West to notify them that Travis Electric will be calling to schedule their fiber cut over appointment.

June 22, 2023

North Central Service is finishing construction in town. Golden West staff and contractors will begin splicing fibers in the next few days.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 15, 2023

North Central Service is finishing construction in town. Golden West staff and contractors will begin splicing fibers in the next few days.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 8, 2023

North Central Service has completed construction in the rural part of the exchange.
Two main line plow crews and one crew plowing lines to customer homes are working in town north of 3^rd Street and south of the railroad tracks.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 1, 2023

North Central Service has completed construction in the rural part of the exchange.
Two main line plow crews and one crew plowing lines to customer homes are working in town north of 3^rd Street and south of the railroad tracks.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

May 25, 2023

North Central Service plans to finish construction in the rural part of the project this week.
One plow crew in town is working from 3^rd Street going north. A second plow crew will begin work south of the railroad tracks.
Construction crews will be off from Friday through Tuesday for Memorial Day weekend.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

May 18, 2023

North Central Service has a crew in the rural area plowing north of Colton near the intersection of 246^th Street and 465^th Avenue.
The town plow is north of 3^rd Street and east of Main Avenue.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

May 11, 2023

North Central Service has a crew in the rural area plowing north of the intersection of 248^th Street and 467^th Avenue.
Two crews are constructing lines to customer homes. Construction activity will be south of 3^rd Street and east of Charles Avenue again this week.
Travis Electric are nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

May 4, 2023

North Central Service started main line construction this week. The rural crew is working north and northeast of town. The town crew is moving south of the Golden West office in Colton, moving east.
Two crews are constructing lines to customer homes. Construction activity will be south of 3^rd Street and east of Charles Avenue.
Travis Electric are nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

April 27, 2023

North Central Service will begin main line construction next week. They will be burying fiber in the southeast part of town and also beginning at the east edge of town and working their way out of town toward the east.
Two crews are constructing lines to customer homes. One crew is working in the town of Colton and the second is in the rural area of the exchange.
Travis Electric are nearly finished installing clamshells, or boxes, on customer premises. If you are in the Colton Fiber to the Home project area and do not have a clamshell or would like to get fiber plowed to your home or business as a new customer, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

April 20, 2023

Travis Electric has technicians working in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
North Central Service began construction on the project this week. They have a crew boring, or drilling while inserting vacant pipe underground, in the rural part of the project.
Two crews are constructing lines to customer homes. One crew is working in the town of Colton and the second is in the rural area of the exchange.
Customers who have questions about clamshell installation or upcoming construction can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

April 13, 2023

Travis Electric has technicians working in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
Weather permitting, North Central Service will begin installing lines to customer homes in the town of Colton next week.
Customers who have questions about clamshell installation or upcoming construction can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

April 6, 2023

Travis Electric has technicians working in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
Weather permitting, North Central Service will begin installing lines to customer homes in the town of Colton next week.
Customers who have questions about clamshell installation or upcoming construction can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

January 26, 2023

Golden West Will Bring Fiber Optic Technology to the Colton and Humboldt-Montrose Exchanges in 2023 

WALL, SD – Golden West continues to expand its fiber network through the towns of Colton, Humboldt, and Montrose, including rural areas. Fiber optic technology allows for greater bandwidth and speeds, offering a more reliable and secure connection to the world for all telecommunications services including internet, phone, and cable TV (where available).

The Fiber to the Home (FTTH) project will convert homes and businesses from copper cable to long, thin strands of glass called optical fibers, like a strand of hair. These fibers use pulses of light to transmit data and are immune to environmental factors such as electrical currents and water. The multi-year process of upgrading all Golden West customers involves burying about 14,000 miles of fiber-optic cable. 

“To put that in perspective, it equates to a cable that would stretch from Wall, South Dakota, to the southern tip of South America and back – that’s 14,000 miles,” emphasizes General Manager and CEO Denny Law. “While the effort is significant, the need is enormous as broadband access plays an integral role in our lives today, both personally and professionally.” 

Golden West will host informational open houses for subscribers in and around Colton and the Humboldt-Montrose areas who are a part of this year’s construction project. Those in attendance can learn more about the projects from Golden West representatives and can talk with contractors who will assist with the local projects. Attendees can also enjoy refreshments and register for door prizes. 

Colton’s open house will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Taopi Community Hall at 102 E. 3rd St.
Humboldt-Montrose’s open house will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb 15 at the Community Hall on 201 S Main St in Humboldt.

Three contractors will complete the projects on behalf of Golden West. For the Colton exchange these include Travis Electric taking care of wiring, North Central Service handling construction, and RVW, Inc. covering easements, permits, and inspections. The contractors for the Humboldt-Montrose exchange include Travis Electric taking care of wiring, Anderson Underground handling construction, and RVW, Inc. covering easements, permits, and inspections. Golden West will take care of customer service.

FTTH is a multi-stage project that can take up to a year depending on factors such as weather. Current customers will be transitioned to the new fiber optic technology after construction is complete late in 2023 or early in 2024. At that time, customers will be able to subscribe to Golden West’s faster internet speeds. 

Golden West will prepare all homes and businesses in the towns of Colton, Humboldt, and Montrose, including rural areas – even homes and businesses that aren’t current customers (with permission) – with infrastructure for fiber optic connections. This involves hanging a small box or “clamshell” on the outside of all homes and businesses within city limits and constructing the duct work underground to the box for future fiber optics. Installing these pieces during the initial fiber construction enables quick and easy connections moving forward. There is no cost to property owners for any of the construction during the FTTH project. 

Currently almost three-quarters of the Golden West service territory is served by fiber. The cooperative is committed to upgrading its entire service territory to fiber within the next four to five years. In addition to the Colton and Humboldt-Montrose exchanges, Golden West will also complete fiber projects this year in rural Custer, Enning, Maurine, and Murdo.