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Fiber to the Home Project

The remainder of the Bonesteel (rural) exchange is scheduled for FTTH upgrades.

Contractors: 
Wiring Contractor - Travis Electric Inc.
Engineering Consultant - RVW Inc. 
Construction Contractor - MasTec North America

 Cutover Video

PROJECT UPDATE

September 21, 2023

  • Travis Electric plans to complete the final wiring upgrades for customers in the Bonesteel rural and Fairfax locations this week.
  • Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department

September 14, 2023

  • Travis Electric has fiber upgrades scheduled for this week and next week in the Bonesteel area. They expect to complete this wiring project by the end of next week.
  • Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department

September 7, 2023

  • Travis Electric is working on another project this week. They will return to the rural Bonesteel area next week and continue upgrades until the project is complete.
  • Travis Electric is over three-fourths finished with upgrading customers in the Bonesteel area to fiber. Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 31, 2023

  • Travis Electric will not be scheduling upgrades next week. They will return to the area on September 11th.
  • Customers who are not yet upgraded or scheduled, please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department

August 24, 2023

  • Travis Electric has finished upgrading over two thirds of the customers in the Bonesteel rural project area. They are currently in the area working on cut overs.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 17, 2023

  • Travis Electric has finished upgrading over half of the customers in the Bonesteel rural project area. They are currently in the area working on cut overs.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 10, 2023

  • Travis Electric has completed upgrading approximately half of the customers in the Bonesteel rural project area. They are currently in the area working on cut overs.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

August 3, 2023

  • Travis Electric is working out of the area on training staff. They will return to the Bonesteel project on August 7.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

July 27, 2023

  • Travis Electric is working out of the area on training staff. They will return to the Bonesteel project on August 7.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

July 20, 2023

  • Travis Electric is working out of the area on training staff. They will return to the Bonesteel project on August 7.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

July 13, 2023

  • Travis Electric is upgrading customers in the Bonesteel rural area to fiber this week. They are training staff next week and will return to the area later this month.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 29, 2023

  • Travis Electric will be working on other projects for the next two weeks. They will return to the Bonesteel area on July 10th to continue with fiber upgrade installations.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 22, 2023

  • Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in the Bonesteel area this week. They will be working on other projects for the next two weeks. They will return on July 10th.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 15, 2023

  • Travis Electric is working on another project. Their crew will return to the Bonesteel area to continue upgrades on June 19th.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 8, 2023

  • Travis Electric is working on another project for the next two weeks, and will return to the Bonesteel area continue upgrades on June 19th.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

June 1, 2023

  • Travis Electric is upgrading Bonesteel customers to fiber this week. They will be working on another project for the next two weeks, and will return to continue upgrades on June 19th.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

May 25, 2023

  • Travis Electric has been working on another project this week. They will be back in the Bonesteel area on May 30 to continue upgrading customers to fiber.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

May 18, 2023

  • Travis Electric is upgrading customers to fiber in Fairfax this week. They will work on another project next week, then return to the Bonesteel area on May 30th.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

May 4, 2023

  • Travis Electric has moved up the date they plan to return to Bonesteel to May 15. They will be upgrading customers in Fairfax to fiber.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

April 27, 2023

  • Travis Electric has been working in another project area. They plan to resume installations in Fairfax and rural Bonesteel the week of May 22nd.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department. 

April 20, 2023

  • Travis Electric has been working in another project area. They plan to resume installations in Fairfax and rural Bonesteel later this month.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

April 13, 2023

  • Travis Electric has been upgrading customers to fiber in the town of Fairfax this week. They will be working in another project area for the next two weeks. They plan to resume installations in Fairfax and rural Bonesteel later this month.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

April 6, 2023

  • Travis Electric has been upgrading customers to fiber in the town of Fairfax this week. They will be working in another project area for the next two weeks. They plan to resume installations in Fairfax and rural Bonesteel later this month.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

March 30, 2023

  • Travis Electric will begin Phase 2 installations in Fairfax on Monday. During this install, technicians will convert, or cut over, the customer’s service from copper to the new fiber optic infrastructure.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

March 23, 2023

  • Travis Electric will begin calling customers the week of April 3rd to schedule Phase 2 installations. They will begin cut overs on April 10th, starting in Fairfax.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

February 2, 2023

  • Golden West technicians have finished the final step of wiring for the Bonesteel Rural project. Travis Electric will begin scheduling Phase 2 installations later this month. During this installation, each customer’s service will be converted from being delivered on copper cables to the new fiber optic network.
  • Customers who have questions about wiring installation or scheduling can call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department.

January 19, 2023

  • Golden West technicians are completing the necessary wiring in the Bonesteel office to connect all the new fibers.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

January 12, 2023

  • Fiber splicing and testing is complete.
  • The next step will be completed by Golden West technicians. In the Bonesteel Golden West office, they will connect each customer’s fiber strand to the network.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

January 4, 2023

  • Fiber splicing and testing is complete.
  • The next step will be completed by Golden West technicians. In the Bonesteel Golden West office, they will connect each customer’s fiber strand to the network.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

December 15, 2022

  • Fiber testing is complete. Once the test results have been reviewed and approved,  Golden West will complete the final connections in the Golden West office in Bonesteel. This is final step before Phase 2 wiring to upgrade customers begins.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

December 8, 2022

  • MasTec has completed construction. They will return in the spring to address any clean up items that are identified over the winter.
  • Fiber testing should be complete by the end of the week. Once the test results have been reviewed and approved,  Golden West will complete the final connections in the Golden West office in Bonesteel. This is final step before Phase 2 wiring to upgrade customers begins.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

December 1, 2022

  • MasTec has finished construction on the project.
  • Fiber splicers have finished splicing the new fibers. They plan to be done testing by the end of this week.
  • Once all fibers are spliced and tested, Golden West will complete the final connections in the Golden West office in Bonesteel. This is final step before Phase 2 wiring to upgrade customers begins.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

November 23, 2022

  • MasTec has finished construction on the project.
  • Fiber splicers are finishing work in the southern part of the exchange.
  • Once all fibers are spliced and tested, Golden West will complete the final connections in the Golden West office in Bonesteel. This is final step before Phase 2 wiring to upgrade customers begins.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

November 17, 2022

  • MasTec has finished construction on the project.
  • Fiber splicers are finishing work in Fairfax and on Scalp Road.
  • Once all fibers are spliced and tested, Golden West will complete the final connections in the Golden West office in Bonesteel. This is final step before Phase 2 wiring to upgrade customers begins.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

November 10, 2022

  • MasTec plans to finish burying lines to customer premises in Fairfax this week, which will complete construction for the project.
  • Fiber splicers will be working in Fairfax through next week, then the fibers will be tested.
  • Customers will receive a letter from Golden West to notify them when Phase 2 wiring begins. During this installation, customer services will be converted from copper to the new fiber optic system.

November 3, 2022

  • MasTec has completed main line construction in the rural part of the exchange.
  • Crews expect to finish plowing lines to customer premises in the next week.
  • Fiber splicers are connecting the new fibers from customer homes to the main line fiber cables. They are nearly finished, with Fairfax and some areas west of Bonesteel to complete.

October 27, 2022

  • MasTec will be pulling cables through the pipes they have buried in Fairfax.
  • Construction is nearly finished in the rural part of the project.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

October 20, 2022

  • MasTec will be burying main line cable as well as cables to customer premises in Fairfax during the coming week.
  • Construction is nearly finished in the rural part of the project.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

October 13, 2022

  • MasTec will be burying main line cable as well as drop cables to customer premises in Fairfax during the coming week.
  • Construction is nearly finished in the rural part of the project.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

October 6, 2022

  • MasTec is working in Saint Charles. They are pulling main line cable through the duct they buried earlier. They will also be burying vacant pipe in Fairfax.
  • The crew burying lines, or drops, to customer homes will be working southwest of Bonesteel.
  • Technicians are splicing the new fibers.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

September 29, 2022

  • MasTec will be plowing in Saint Charles this week. Next week they will move to Fairfax, starting on the northwest corner of town.
  • The crew burying lines, or drops, to customer homes will be working southwest of Bonesteel.
  • Technicians are splicing the new fibers.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

September 22, 2022

  • MasTec has two main line plows working near Saint Charles.
  • The crew burying lines directly to customer homes is working on SD Highway 1806.
  • Technicians are splicing the new fibers.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

September 15, 2022

  • MasTec has a main line fiber crew working south of US Highway 18 on 356th Avenue.
  • The crew burying lines directly to customer homes is working on Whetstone Road and Old 1806 Road.
  • Fiber splicers are pulling fibers through ducts to customer premises in the southeast part of the exchange.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

September 8, 2022

  • MasTec is burying main line fiber in Nebraska heading south on 358th Avenue, south of 303rd Street.
  • Fiber splicers are pulling fibers through ducts to customer premises. They will begin testing the fibers this week.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

September 1, 2022

  • The main line plow crew is working south along 385th Avenue from 303rd Street.
  • Fiber splicers are working east of Bonesteel.
  • Crews will be off over the Labor Day weekend, returning to work next Wednesday.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

August 25, 2022

  • MasTec is burying main line cable east on 301st Street near 355th Avenue.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

August 18, 2022

  • MasTec has a main line plow working west on 908th Road on 476th Avenue in Nebraska. They will move east to work south of Fairfax.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

August 11, 2022

  • One main line plow is working along 360th Avenue. Next week they plan to continue south along 360th Avenue.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

August 4, 2022

  • One main line plow is working along Old 1806 Road this week.
  • The second main line plow is burying fiber west along Highway 18, south on 361st Avenue, and south on 360th Avenue.
  • A crew burying lines from the main line to customers homes has been working east of Bonesteel.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

July 21, 2022

  • MasTec has a main line crew plowing north Old 1806th Road, then they will move back south to do the east portion of the road.
  • A second main line crew is working west of Bonesteel, going north on Hwy 1806, then they will move to US Hwy 18.
  • A third crew is plowing lines to customer homes just south of Bonesteel. Next week they will be working east on US Hwy 18.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

July 14, 2022

  • MasTec has a main line crew plowing north along 360th Avenue.
  • A second main line crew is working on US Hwy 18 east of 374th Avenue.
  • A third crew is plowing lines from the main fiber line to customer homes. They are working on Beaver Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

July 7, 2022

  • One of MasTec’s main line crews is plowing on Whetstone Road.
  • A second mainline crew is working on US Hwy 18 east of Moose Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

June 30, 2022

  • One of MasTec’s main line crews is plowing on 296th Street. They will continue on Whetstone Road.
  • A second mainline crew is working on US Hwy 18 east of Moose Road.
  • Construction crews will be off on Friday and Monday to celebrate the Fourth of July Holiday.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

June 23, 2022

  • MasTec has one mainline plow working north of Bonesteel on Cabin Road.
  • A second mainline crew is burying fiber east of 366 Avenue along Highway 18.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

June 16, 2022

  • MasTec will have several crews working in the rural part of the exchange, south and east of town, in the coming week.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

June 9, 2022

  • MasTec will be plowing main line fiber north east of Fairfax. They will move to 364th Avenue, then will move south of Bonesteel on 362nd Avenue.
  • A second crew will start work next Tuesday, burying main line cable along US Hwy 18 between Bonesteel and Fairfax.
  • One boring crew will be drilling and inserting pipe from Fairfax to 368th Avenue.
  • The second boring crew will be south of Bonesteel on 362nd Ave, then will move northwest of Bonesteel to work from US Hwy 18 on Highway 1806.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

June 2, 2022

  • MasTec is plowing cable along 302nd St, moving east from 368th Ave.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes and businesses. If you are a customer in Fairfax or rural Bonesteel and do not have a box, or clamshell, installed on your premise, please call 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the Engineering Department.

May 12, 2022

  • MasTec has a crew boring, or drilling and inserting pipe under roadways, on Quarry Road from 297th Street going north and east for 4 miles. They will move to S Wheeler Road from Quarry Road and go north for 3 miles.
  • MasTec’s plow crew will be burying main line cable on North Plum Road from 299th Street to 297th Street. On 297th Street they will go east from Plum Road for 2. 5 miles, then north on Plum Road from 297th St for 4 miles.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on over half the houses and businesses in the project area.

May 5, 2022

  • MasTec has a crew boring, or drilling and inserting pipe under roadways, on Plum Road three miles south of 297th Street. From there they will head north to Quarry Road, then work east for three miles.
  • MasTec’s plow crew will be burying main line cable from the intersection of 299th Street and Highway 18, moving east to Plum Road, then going north on Plum Road for five miles.
  • Travis Electric will be in the area next week to install clamshells on customer premises.

April 28, 2022

  • MasTec plans to start boring, or drilling while installing vacant pipe, under roadways by the end of this week.
  • Plowing to bury main line fiber is planned to begin next week.
  • Travis Electric is scheduling appointments to install clamshells on customer premises. 

April 21, 2022

  • MasTec plans to start boring, or drilling while installing vacant pipe, under roadways by the end of this week.
  • Crews will be moving materials and equipment to the area next week.
  • Travis Electric is scheduling appointments to install clamshells on customer premises.

April 14, 2022

  • MasTec plans to start boring, or drilling while installing vacant pipe, under roadways next week.
  • Travis Electric is scheduling appointments to install clamshells on customer premises.

April 7, 2022

  • MasTec is moving equipment and locating buried utilities in the project area.
  • Travis Electric is scheduling appointments to install clamshells on customer premises.

March 31, 2022

  • Next week, MasTec will be locating buried utilities and drilling and inserting pipe under roadways on roads 299th Street, N Plum Road, 297th Street, 366th Avenue, Quarry Road, and Wheeler Road east of Bonesteel.
  • MasTec will move additional equipment to the area in mid-April.
  • Travis Electric has started installing clamshells on customer premises, starting in the town of Fairfax.

March 24, 2022

  • Beginning the week of April 11, MasTec crews will begin drilling and inserting pipe under roadways and other locations that can’t be plowed.
  • MasTec will move additional equipment to the area in mid-April.
  • Travis Electric will begin clamshell installation starting in Fairfax.

February 4, 2022

Golden West Announces 2022 Construction of Fiber to the Home in Rural Bonesteel

WALL, SD – Golden West Telecommunications will expand its fiber network through rural Bonesteel this year. Fiber allows for greater bandwidth and speed and offers a more reliable and secure connection to the world for all telecommunications services including phone and internet in rural Bonesteel, and phone, internet, and cable TV in Fairfax.

The Fiber to the Home (FTTH) project will convert homes and businesses from copper cable to long, thin strands of glass called optical fibers. These fibers use pulses of light to transmit data and are immune to environmental factors such as electrical currents and water.

“Fiber is one of the best investments Golden West can make on behalf of its members,” Golden West General Manager and CEO Denny Law said. “Strong and secure broadband internet connections are a necessity these days. Fiber optic technology will provide residents and businesses throughout the community of Bonesteel with a seamless online experience and new opportunities in the coming years.”

The cooperative is working to upgrade its entire service territory to fiber within the next five or six years. In addition to Bonesteel, Golden West will also complete fiber projects this year in Corsica, Bridgewater, Clearfield, rural Enning, and the town of Mission, including the communities of Antelope and White Horse.

Three contractors will complete the project in Bonesteel on behalf of Golden West. These include Travis Electric taking care of wiring at homes and businesses, MasTec Inc. 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 to complete depending on factors such as weather. Current customers will be transitioned to the new fiber optic technology after construction is done late in 2022 or early in 2023. At that time, customers will be able to subscribe to the fastest internet speeds Golden West offers.

Golden West will prepare all homes and businesses in Fairfax – even those who aren’t current customers – 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 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. It also ensures the entire area is positioned for the future, which will demand even faster internet speeds.

Visit goldenwest.com/FTTH for an overview of the project, to submit questions, and 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 asking for the Engineering Department.