Humboldt-Montrose :: Golden West Telecommunications

Humboldt - Montrose

The Humboldt-Montrose exchange (towns and rural) is scheduled for FTTH upgrades in 2023.

Contractors:
Wiring Contractor - Travis Electric
Engineering Consultant - RVW, Inc.
Construction Contractor - Anderson Underground

Overview Video

2023 PROJECT UPDATE

December 19, 2024

Travis Electric is nearly finished upgrading customers in Humboldt and Montrose to fiber.
If you are a customer who had a line constructed to your home and have not been upgraded to fiber, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

December 12, 2024

Travis Electric is nearly finished upgrading customers in Humboldt and Montrose to fiber.
If you are a customer who had a line constructed to your home and have not been upgraded to fiber, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

December 5, 2024

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

November 21, 2024

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber this week. They will be doing installs next week on Monday through Wednesday, then are off the rest of the week for Thanksgiving.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

November 14, 2024

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber this week.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

November 7, 2024

Travis Electric is working in another project area. They will return to Humboldt-Montrose on November 12.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

October 31, 2024

Travis Electric is working in another project area. They will return to Humboldt-Montrose on November 12.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

October 24, 2024

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber this week. For the next two weeks they will be working in another project area. They will return to Humboldt-Montrose on November 12.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

October 17, 2024

Travis Electric technicians are working on another project this week. They will be back on October 21 to continue upgrading customers to fiber.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

October 10, 2024

Travis Electric will not have a technician in the area next week. They will be back on October 21 to continue upgrading customers to fiber.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

October 3, 2024

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 26, 2024

Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 19, 2024

Fiber testing is completed and reviewed.
The remaining customers in the project will receive a letter from Golden West to inform them Travis Electric will be contacting them to schedule a fiber upgrade.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber.
If you have questions about scheduling a fiber installation, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 12, 2024

Fiber splice tests are completed and approved.
Next, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Golden West central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber.

September 5, 2024

Anderson Underground is completing the last area to be spliced in rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Golden West central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in the Montrose area and in Humboldt town.

August 29, 2024

Anderson Underground is completing the last area to be spliced in rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Golden West central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in the Montrose area and in Humboldt town.

August 22, 2024

Anderson Underground is completing the last area to be spliced in rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Golden West central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in the Montrose area and in Humboldt town.

August 15, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers in Humboldt, then will finish rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Crews are completing cleanup in the project area.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the Montrose area to fiber. They will begin scheduling installations in Humboldt town next week.

August 1, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers in Humboldt, then will finish rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the Montrose area to fiber.

July 25, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers in Humboldt, then will finish rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the Montrose area to fiber.

July 18, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers in Humboldt, then will finish rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the Montrose area to fiber.

July 11, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers in Humboldt, then will finish rural Montrose.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the Montrose area to fiber.

June 27, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers.
They are working on cleanup and grass seeding.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

June 20, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers.
They are working on cleanup and grass seeding.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

June 13, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers.
They are working on cleanup and grass seeding.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

June 6, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers.
They are working on cleanup and grass seeding.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Customers will receive a letter from Golden West when their home or business is ready for the fiber upgrade installation.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

May 30, 2024

Anderson Underground is splicing and testing fibers.
When fiber test results are approved, Golden West technicians will connect the fibers in the Montrose and Humboldt central offices.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

May 23, 2024

Anderson Underground has completed construction.
Splicers are splicing and testing the new fibers.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

May 15, 2024

Anderson Underground has completed construction.
Splicers are splicing and testing the new fibers.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

May 2, 2024

Anderson Underground plans to finish burying lines to customer homes in the town of Humboldt this week.
Rural plowing should also be finished by the end of the week.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

April 25, 2024

Anderson Underground is placing lines to customer homes in the town of Humboldt.
A plot crew is working southeast of Humboldt.
Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber.

April 19, 2024

Construction has been delayed by wet weather.
Anderson Underground is placing lines to customer homes in the town of Humboldt.
When weather permits, construction will continue near 455^th Avenue and 259^th Street.
Travis Electric started fiber upgrade installations for customers in the town of Montrose this week.

April 11, 2024

Splicers are finishing with testing the newly installed fiber in the town of Montrose and rural areas.
Anderson Underground has a plow crew burying fiber near 259^th Street and 454^th Avenue southwest of Humboldt.
A crew is burying lines, or drops, to customer premises in Humboldt town this week. Late this week they will move to the rural area.
A second drop crew is working in Humboldt town. They are working on Carlson Street and then will move east.
Travis Electric will begin upgrading customers in Montrose Town to fiber on April 15.

April 4, 2024

Anderson Underground was able to do some rural plowing in the Humboldt area between winter storms. They are monitoring conditions and will resume construction as soon as the weather permits.
Travis Electric will begin upgrading customers in the town of Montrose to fiber on April 15.

March 28, 2024

Due to the winter storm, Anderson Underground had to suspend construction work this week.
Golden West technicians are completing wiring work in the central office in Montrose, which is the final step before Travis Electric can start installations in the town of Montrose to connect customers to fiber.

March 22, 2024

Engineers are reviewing splice tests from the town of Montrose.
Splicers are finishing work in rural Montrose.
Anderson Underground has resumed construction work in the Humboldt area. The mainline plow crew is working south of town on Highway 42 between both 453^rd and 454^th Avenue. They will move north from there.

March 15, 2024

Engineers are reviewing splice tests from the town of Montrose.
Splicers are finishing work in rural Montrose.
Anderson Underground has resumed construction work in the Humboldt area. They are boring (drilling and placing duct) in town.

March 8, 2024

Splicers have finished splicing and testing fibers in the town of Montrose.
Splice tests will be reviewed and updated maps provided to Golden West. The next step will be for Golden West technicians to complete connecting the fibers in the Montrose Golden West office.
Anderson Underground will be moving resources and equipment into the Humboldt area in the next two weeks. They will begin work with a boring crew and will start plowing mainline cable and lines to customer homes after that.

February 15, 2024

Anderson Underground has finished splicing in the Montrose part of the project. They are currently testing fibers. When testing is complete, the fibers will be connected in the Montrose Golden West building.
Construction crews will return in the spring to finish work in rural Humboldt.

January 11, 2024

Anderson Underground’s fiber splicer is working in the Montrose area.
Construction crews will return in the spring to finish work in rural Humboldt.

January 4, 2024

Anderson Underground is in the area doing cleanup.
Fiber splicers will be pulling lines through previously buried duct.

December 21, 2023

Anderson Underground will finish construction for the year this week. They will return to the area in the spring to resume work.
After the first of the year, a crew will be back in the area to do cleanup.
Fiber splicers will continue work in the rural Montrose area after the holidays.

December 14, 2023

Mainline plowing in rural Montrose will be completed next week. The crew will be between 450^th and 451^st Avenue on 257^th Street.
Splicers are working in rural Montrose.
A second crew will be working near the intersection of 257^th Street and 455^th Avenue.
Work continues in Humboldt town to bury duct to homes and businesses.

December 7, 2023

Next week in rural Montrose, a crew will begin pulling fibers through duct that was previously buried to customer homes.
Two crews are plowing mainline fiber in rural Humboldt. One is working north from the intersection of 257^th Street and 456^th Avenue. The second crew is north and east of 455^th Avenue and 258^th Street.
Work continues in Humboldt town to bury duct to homes and businesses.

November 30, 2023

Anderson Underground is plowing mainline fiber near the intersection of 256^th Street and 453^rd Avenue.
A second mainline plow crew is working at 454^th Avenue and Hawk Drive west of Humboldt.
A crew installing lines to customer homes is working in the town of Humboldt.
A second crew will start plowing lines to customer premises next week in rural Humboldt.

November 16, 2023

Anderson Underground will be plowing mainline fiber in the rural Montrose area south of the interstate next week.
A second plow crew will be working southeast of Montrose town.
A third crew will be plowing north of Humboldt on 456^th Avenue.
Fiber splicers are working in the rural part of the Montrose exchange.

November 9, 2023

Anderson Underground has two mainline plow crews burying fiber along 488^th Avenue.
Next week a third plow crew will start work on 451^st Avenue south out of Montrose.

November 2, 2023

Anderson Underground has two mainline plow crews working near the intersection of 448^th Avenue and 251^st Street.
Fiber splicing has begun in the rural part of the project.

October 12, 2023

Fiber splicers will be starting work in the town of Montrose.
In the town of Humboldt, crews are finishing installation of fiber vaults and will begin pulling cable through duct next week.
In the rural part of the project, crews are burying mainline fiber north of 254^th Street.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

October 5, 2023

Anderson Underground has installed all of the duct for mainline fiber. They will start pulling fiber cables through the duct next week.
Crews placing duct to customer premises in Humboldt town will be working west of Main Street.
Splicers will begin work in the town of Montrose in the next few days.
Again this week, crews are plowing in the rural area north of 254^th Steet, working north.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 28, 2023

Anderson Underground plans to finish mainline construction this week in Humboldt town. Crews will work on placing duct to customer premises west of Main Street.
In the town of Montrose, the work to pull fiber lines through duct should be complete by the end of the week.
Crews are plowing in the rural area north of 254^th Steet, working north.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 28, 2023

Anderson Underground plans to finish mainline construction this week in Humboldt town. Crews will work on placing duct to customer premises west of Main Street.
In the town of Montrose, the work to pull fiber lines through duct should be complete by the end of the week.
Crews are plowing in the rural area north of 254^th Steet, working north.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 21, 2023

In the town of Humboldt, construction work will be north of Second Avenue .
In the town of Montrose, crews have finished placing duct. Splicers will begin pulling fiber cables through the buried duct.
Anderson Underground is plowing main line cable east of Valley Road.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 14, 2023

In the town of Humboldt, construction work will be east of Main Street.
In the town of Montrose, crews are burying duct and pulling fibers south of Main Street.
Anderson Underground is plowing main line cable east of Valley Road and north of 254^th Street.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

September 7, 2023

Anderson Underground is working in the town of Humboldt. They will be moving east of Main Street.
Crews are burying duct and pulling fibers through the duct to customer homes in the town of Montrose.
Anderson Underground has a crew burying main line cable north of Montrose. They are working near the intersection of 454^th Avenue and 254^th Street.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 31, 2023

Anderson Underground is burying duct in the town of Humboldt south of Second Avenue.
Crews are burying duct and pulling fibers through the duct to customers homes in the town of Montrose.
Anderson Underground has a crew burying main line cable north of Montrose. They are currently north of 254^th Street and east of Valley Road.
Construction crews will be off on Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 24, 2023

Anderson Underground is burying duct in the town of Humboldt. They are working west of Main Street and south of 2^nd St.
Crews are placing orange duct in Montrose north of Walker Street. Next week technicians will begin pulling fiber cables through the duct to customer premises.
Crews started construction in the rural part of the project on Wednesday. They are east of Montrose on 254^th Street, working from Valley Road east and north. They will then plow near Valley Road to 455^th Ave between 251^st and 254^th Streets.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 17, 2023

Anderson Underground is burying duct in the town of Humboldt this week.
A crew will be boring in the rural area north out of Montrose.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 10, 2023

Crews are working in Montrose to place lines, or drops, to customer premises.
Anderson Underground is working in the town of Humboldt from Main Street going west.
Next week a crew will start with boring in the rural area north out of Montrose.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 3, 2023

Anderson Underground is finished burying main line fiber in Montrose. Crews will be pulling cables to customer premises in the coming weeks.
Main line construction is underway in the town of Humboldt.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

July 27, 2023

Anderson Underground is almost finished burying mainline orange duct in Montrose.
Construction will begin in Humboldt on Main Street and west in the coming week.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

July 20, 2023

The Anderson Underground crew is working on Lynn Avenue.
Next week construction will begin in Humboldt, starting on 4^th Avenue north.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

July 13, 2023

The Anderson Underground crew is still burying main line duct south of Walker Street in Montrose.
The crew burying duct to customer homes is continuing work north of Walker Street.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

July 6, 2023

The Anderson Underground crew is working south of Walker Street in Montrose.
The crew burying duct to customer homes is working north of Walker Street.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 29, 2023

Anderson Underground crews are working south of Walker Street in Montrose.
Crews will be off from Friday afternoon through July 5^th for the Fourth of July holiday. They will be back to work in Montrose on July 6^th.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 22, 2023

Anderson Underground will be moving south of Walker Street in Montrose to bury mainline duct as well as duct to customer premises.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 15, 2023

Anderson Underground is plowing mainline fiber as well as lines to customer homes in Montrose north of Walker Avenue.
Travis Electric is installing clamshells for customers in the project area. If you are a customer in Humboldt or Montrose and don’t have a clamshell installed on your home or business, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 8, 2023

Anderson Underground has two boring rigs working in Montrose north of Walker Avenue.
Travis Electric has been in the town of Humboldt hanging clamshells. They have left notes on homes where they were unable to contact the homeowner.
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.

June 1, 2023

Anderson Underground has a boring rig working in Montrose. They are working north of Walker Street, then will move south of Walker. A second bore rig will be working in the same area next week.
Travis Electric has been in the town of Montrose hanging clamshells. They have left notes on homes where they were unable to contact the homeowner.
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.

May 25, 2023

Anderson Underground has started boring (drilling and inserting vacant duct underground) in Montrose. They are working north of Walker Street, then will move south of Walker.
Travis Electric has been in the town of Montrose hanging clamshells. They have left notes on homes where they were unable to contact the homeowner.
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.

May 18, 2023

Anderson Underground will begin moving equipment to Montrose next week. They plan to start construction after Memorial Day.
A Travis Electric technician is in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
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.

May 11, 2023

A Travis Electric technician is in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
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.

May 4, 2023

A Travis Electric technician is in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
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 27, 2023

A Travis Electric technician is in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
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 20, 2023

A Travis Electric technician is in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build. He is working in Montrose this week and expects to be in Humboldt 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 13, 2023

Staring next Monday, a Travis Electric technician will be in the area to hang a box, or clamshell, on homes included in this year’s fiber build.
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. 3^rd 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.