Witten
The remainder of the Witten exchange where all necessary rights of way have been secured will be upgraded to fiber in 2024.
Contractors:
Wiring Contractor – Travis Electric
Engineering Consultant – RVW, Inc.
Construction Contractor – Cable Communications Services
Update Contact Information & Win
PROJECT UPDATE
December 19, 2024
- Fiber splice test results showed areas that need to be retested and repaired. Splicers will return to the area in early January to make any needed repairs.
- CCS is working on cleanup in the project area this week.
- Customers will be notified by letter before Travis Electric begins scheduling installations.
December 12, 2024
- RVW is reviewing the fiber splice tests and updating maps in preparation for upgrading customers to fiber.
- A crew from CCS will return to finish cleanup when the ground freezes.
- Customers will be notified by letter before Travis Electric begins scheduling installations.
December 5, 2024
- Fiber splicers are working on testing the fiber now that all splicing is complete.
- A crew will return to finish cleanup when the ground freezes.
- Customers will be notified by letter before Travis Electric begins scheduling installations.
November 21, 2024
- Cable Communication Services has replaced the sections of damaged fiber found during testing.
- Fiber splicing should be completed by the end of the week, then the fibers will be tested.
- A crew will return to finish cleanup when the ground freezes.
- Customers will be notified by letter before Travis Electric begins scheduling installations.
November 14, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is replacing segments of cable this week. The repaired segments will need to be spliced and tested before any services can be connected to the new fiber.
- After these steps are finished, customers will receive a letter informing them that they should expect a call from Travis Electric to schedule their upgrade appointment.
- CCS is also working on cleanup before leaving the project area.
November 7, 2024
- During splice testing, some cable needing repair was identified. Cable Communication Services will be back next week to replace segments of damaged fiber. The repaired segments will need to be spliced and tested before any services can be connected to the new fiber.
- After these steps are finished, customers will receive a letter informing them that they should expect a call from Travis Electric to schedule their upgrade appointment.
October 31, 2024
- Cable Communication Service crews are working on cleanup throughout the project area.
- Fiber splicing is nearing completion. When splicing is done, engineers will review the splice test results, then Golden West will complete the wiring in the Witten Golden West building.
- After these steps are finished, customers will receive a letter informing them that they should expect a call from Travis Electric to schedule their upgrade appointment.
October 24, 2024
- Cable Communication Service crews are working on cleanup throughout the project area.
- Fiber splicing is nearing completion. When splicing is done, engineers will review the splice test results, then Golden West will complete the wiring in the Witten Golden West building.
- After these steps are finished, customers will receive a letter informing them that they should expect a call from Travis Electric to schedule their upgrade appointment.
October 17, 2024
- Cable Communication Service has finished main line fiber plowing.
- Plowing to customer premises is complete. Splicers are working to pull fiber cable through the buried duct.
- Crews are working on cleanup and hydroseeding. They expect to finish cleanup next week.
- When fiber splicing is complete, engineers will review the splice test results. Then Golden West will complete the wiring in the Witten Golden West building.
- After these steps are finished, customers will receive a letter informing them that they should expect a call from Travis Electric to schedule their upgrade appointment.
October 10, 2024
- Cable Communication Service has finished main line fiber plowing.
- Crews will be doing cleanup work before leaving.
- Fiber splicers will be working throughout the project area.
- When splicing is complete, engineers will review the splice test results.
October 3, 2024
- Cable Communication Service has finished main line fiber plowing.
- Crews will be doing cleanup work before leaving.
- Fiber splicers will be working throughout the project area.
September 26, 2024
- Cable Communication Service has two plows near US Highway 183 and 258th Street.
- Fiber splicers will be working throughout the project area.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
September 19, 2024
- Cable Communication Service has one main line plow working at US Highway 183 and 261st Street.
- A second plow crew is working near US Highway 183 and 258th Street.
- Fiber splicers will be working throughout the project area.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
September 12, 2024
- Cable Communication Services has one main line plow working near the intersection of 268th Street and 302nd Avenue.
- A second plow crew is working near 266th Street and Highway 18.
- Fiber splicers will be working throughout the project area.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
September 5, 2024
- Cable Communication Services has one main line plow crew near the intersection of 304th Avenue and 268th Street.
- A second plow crew is working near 305th Avenue and 271st Street.
- Beginning this week, splicing crews will be working throughout the project area.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
August 29, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is plowing main line fiber as well as lines to customer homes on Highway 44 near 304th Avenue.
- Crews will be off Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.
- They plan to begin splicing the new fibers in September.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
August 22, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is plowing north of Witten.
- They plan to begin splicing the new fibers in September.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
August 15, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is plowing near 269th Street and 296th Avenue.
- A second plow is working on Highway 44 going north from Witten.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
August 1, 2024
- Cable Communication Services has a main line plow working near the intersection of 299th Avenue and 266th Street
- Travis Electric has finished clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
July 25, 2024
- Cable Communication Services has a main line plow working near the intersection of 297th Avenue and Hwy 44.
- A second plow is near 262nd Street and 299th Avenue.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
July 18, 2024
- Cable Communication Service has a main line plow working near the intersection of 297th Avenue and 273rd Street. They are moving west, then will head north.
- A second plow is near 269th Street and 299th Avenue, moving east.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
July 11, 2024
- Cable Communication Service crews are plowing near 297th Avenue and Highway 18.
- The crew plowing lines to customer homes is working west of Carter, then will move north.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
June 27, 2024
- Cable Communication Services crews are plowing near 304th Avenue and Highway 18.
- Crews will be off from July 4th through July 8th.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
June 20, 2024
- Construction has been halted for the rest of the week due to rain.
- Cable Communication Services will return next week to resume plowing mainline cable at the 278th Street and 304th Avenue.
- A drop crew will return to work north of Carter near Highway 18 and 297th Avenue.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
June 13, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is plowing mainline fiber near 304th Avenue and 278th Street.
- A second plow is working north of Carter near 297th Avenue and Highway 18.
- A bore crew is working along with the plow crews.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
June 6, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is pulling fibers into the Golden Wes central office in Witten.
- One rural plow crew is working on Highway 18 near 300th Avenue.
- A second plow is at the corner of 278th Street and 304th Avenue.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
May 30, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is working in town, placing duct and pulling fiber to customer premises.
- The rural plow crew is working on Highway 18 near 303rd Avenue, moving west.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
May 23, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is working in town, placing duct and pulling fiber to customer premises.
- The rural plow crew is working on 304th Avenue near 275th Street, heading west.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
May 15, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is working in town on 304th Avenue. They are finishing work on Novak Street.
- A crew is boring and placing duct south of town.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
May 2, 2024
- Cable Communication Services was rained out earlier this week.
- Crews are working in town on Main Street and Second Avenue.
- Travis Electric is nearly finished installing clamshells on customer premises. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
April 25, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is placing duct in town on Main Street and 2nd Street.
- Next week CCS will two crews working in town and a crew boring (drilling and inserting pipe) southwest of town.
- Travis Electric is trying to reach the remaining customers who do not have a clamshell on their home. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
April 19, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is placing duct in town. They are working along W First Avenue to the edge of town.
- A drop crew is installing duct to customer premises on First Avenue between Elm and Apple Streets in the south part of town.
- Travis Electric is trying to reach the remaining customers who do not have a clamshell on their home. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
April 11, 2024
- Cable Communication Services started construction this week in town.
- Travis Electric is trying to reach the remaining customers who do not have a clamshell on their home. If you are in the project area and have not yet had a clamshell installed, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
April 4, 2024
- Cable Communication Services is on site but has not started burying fiber cables due to the recent snow. Depending on the weather, they plan to start construction on Tuesday, April 9.
- Travis Electric has installed clamshells on three-fourths of customer premises.
- If you have any questions about the project, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
March 28, 2024
- Cable Communication Services will be moving equipment to Witten next week. They plan to start construction at the end of next week or early the following week, depending on weather conditions.
- Travis Electric technicians are installing clamshells on customer premises.
- If you have any questions about the project, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.
February 5, 2024
Golden West will bring fiber optic technology
to more Wood/Witten rural areas
Golden West will continue to expand its fiber network to areas around Wood and Witten this year. 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 and phone.
The Fiber to the Home (FTTH) project will convert subscribers there 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.
“Fiber optic technology helps brighten the future of the communities and customers we serve,” says General Manager and CEO Denny Law. “Broadband allows telemedicine to reach every corner, plugs rural classrooms and students into the world, and handles the needs of farm fields pulsing with data.”
This latest project will connect the remainder of the Wood and Witten exchanges – where all the necessary rights of way have been secured – to the fiber optic network. Every subscriber who will be upgraded will receive a personal letter in the mail from Golden West soon. Potential new subscribers in these areas should contact Golden West.
Golden West will host an informational open house for subscribers who are part of this year’s construction project. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Community Hall at 130 S. Dakota St. in Wood. Those in attendance can learn more about the project from Golden West representatives and talk with contractors who will assist with the local project. Attendees can also enjoy refreshments and register for door prizes.
Four contractors will complete the work in the rural areas of Wood and Witten on behalf of Golden West. North Central Service (NCS) will handle construction around Wood, while Cable Communications Services will construct around Witten. RVW Inc. will cover easements, permits, and inspections in both areas, and Travis Electric will serve as the wiring contractor for both exchanges. 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 2024 or early in 2025. At that time, customers will be able to subscribe to Golden West’s faster internet speeds.
Currently more than 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 three to four years. In addition to Wood and Witten, Golden West will also complete fiber optic upgrade projects this year for subscribers in rural Custer and rural Hot Springs.
Visit goldenwest.com/FTTH for an overview of the project now and throughout the year. For those who are unable to attend the open house or for things that may come up afterwards, the page also offers the option to submit questions and to fill out a form for a chance to win valuable prizes. Please contact Golden West with any additional questions, concerns, or comments by calling 1-855-888-7777, option 3, and ask for the Engineering Department.