Custer

Fiber to the Home Project

Additional portions of the Custer exchange (rural), including areas east of Custer and the first year of a two-year project for areas West of Custer are scheduled for FTTH upgrades in 2023. 

Contractors: 
Wiring Contractor - Travis Electric Inc.
Engineering Consultant - Heberly & Associates
Construction Contractor - North Central Service 

INFORMATIONAL OPEN HOUSE:
Monday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Pine Room at the Custer County Library
447 Crook St. in Custer
 

Overview Video    Cutover Video

Custer 2023 FTTP.PNG

PROJECT UPDATE

March 16, 2023
Custer West:

  • All fibers have been tested and central office wiring is complete.
  • Travis Electric can begin scheduling customers for Phase 2 wiring.

March 9, 2023
Custer West:

  • Project engineers and the splicing subcontractor have been working to verify fiber test results. When they have approved the test results, Golden West technicians will complete the necessary wiring in the Golden West office to connect each customer’s fiber.
  • 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.

February 23, 2023

  • The project engineers are reviewing fiber test results. When they have approved the test results, Golden West technicians will complete the necessary wiring in the Golden West office to connect each customer’s fiber.
  • 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 26, 2023

Golden West Will Bring Fiber Optic Technology to Rural Custer in 2023

WALL, SD – Golden West continues to expand its fiber network through the rural areas of Custer, including areas east of Custer and continuing west of town. 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 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 an informational open house for subscribers in and around Custer who are a part of this year’s construction project. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Library Pine Room on 447 Crook St. in Custer. Those in attendance can learn more about the project from Golden West representatives and can talk with contractors who will assist with the local project. Attendees can also enjoy refreshments and register for door prizes. 

Three contractors will complete the project in Custer on behalf of Golden West. These include Travis Electric taking care of wiring, North Central handling construction, and Heberly & Associates 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. 

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 rural Custer, Golden West will also complete fiber projects this year in the Colton exchange, Enning, Maurine, and Murdo, and in the Humboldt-Montrose exchange, towns and rural.  

January 4, 2023

  • North Central Services is testing fibers. Once the test results have been reviewed and approved, Golden West technicians will complete the necessary wiring in the Golden West office to connect each customer’s fiber.
  • 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

  • North Central Service are pulling fiber cables through previously installed duct at the few remaining customer homes this week.
  • Technicians will be splicing and testing the new fibers through the rest of December.
  • 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.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 12-15-22.pdf

Custer FTTH Construction Progress 12-15-22.PNG

December 8, 2022

  • North Central Service has finished construction on the project.
  • Crews will be working on cleanup before leaving the area.
  • Subcontractors will continue pulling fiber through the duct buried earlier to customer homes.
  • Technicians will be splicing the new fibers through the rest of December.
  • 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.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 12-8-22.pdf

Custer FTTH Construction Progress 12-8-22.PNG

December 1, 2022

  • North Central Service will be finishing work on Wild Rose Glen, Wind Song Valley Road, Katherine Court, and United States Highway 16.
  • Crews will be working on cleanup before leaving the area.
  • Subcontractors will continue pulling fiber through the duct buried earlier to customer homes.

Custer FTTH Construction Progress 12-1-22.PNG

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 12-1-22.pdf

November 23, 2022

  • North Central Service crews are off this week. They will return next week to finish construction on Wind Song Valley Road as well as place the last of the buried vaults.
  • Subcontractors will be pulling fiber through duct buried earlier to customer homes.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 11-23-22.pdf

Custer FTTH Construction Progress 11-23-22.PNG

November 17, 2022

  • North Central Services will continue working along Wind Song Valley Road, as well as on Hay Creek Road, Katherine Court, and Pleasant Valley Road. Crews boring under roadways and approaches, rock sawing, and pre-ripping will be working in these areas.
  • Several crews will be pulling fiber lines through duct that was buried earlier in the project.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 11-17-22.pdf

Custer FTTH Construction Progress 11-17-22.PNG

November 10, 2022

  • NCS will be working on Wind Song Valley Road, plowing and boring (inserting pipe under driveways and waterways).
  • There will be two crews constructing lines to customer homes also working on Wind Song Valley Road, as well as throughout the project area on addresses that were added during construction.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 11-10-22.pdf

Custer FTTH Construction Progress 11-10-22.PNG

November 3, 2022

  • NCS will continue burying main line fiber on Pleasant Valley Road, Veterans Trail, and Wind Song Valley Road.
  • The boring crew is drilling and inserting pipe on Wing Song Valley Road near the intersection with Woodnote Lane.
  • The rock saw is working on Wing Song Valley Road.
  • Crews constructing lines to customer premises are also working on Wind Song Valley Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 11-3-22.pdf

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 11-3-2022.PNG

October 27, 2022

  • NCS will be burying main line fiber and rock sawing along Pleasant Valley Road.
  • NCS will have a bore crew drilling and inserting pipe underground on Wind Song Valley Road.
  • Two crews will be burying lines to customer homes on Pleasant Valley Road, then will move to Wing Song Valley Road
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

 Custer West FTTH Construction Area 10-27-22.pdf

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 10-27-22.PNG

October 20, 2022

  • NCS will plowing in the area behind the trailer park across from Pilot Road, then move to Wittrock Road.
  • NCS will have a bore crew drilling and inserting pipe underground on Pleasant Valley Road.
  • Another crew will be rock sawing on Blue Skies Road and Melanie Lane.
  • Two crews will be burying lines to customer homes. One crew will be on Blue Skies Road and Melanie Lane, while the second will be on Pleasant Valley Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 10-20-22.pdf

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 10-13-22.PNG

October 13, 2022

  • NCS will plowing in the area behind the trailer park across from Pilot Road, then move to Wittrock Road.
  • NCS will have a bore crew drilling and inserting pipe underground on Pleasant Valley Road.
  • Another crew will be rock sawing on Blue Skies Road and Melanie Lane.
  • Two crews will be burying lines to customer homes. One crew will be on Blue Skies Road and Melanie Lane, while the second will be on Pleasant Valley Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 10-13-22.pdf

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 10-13-22.PNG

October 6, 2022

  • NCS will be burying main line cable on Chevy Lane. They will be off from Wednesday afternoon through October 5th. When they return, they will start work on Beaver Lake Road.
  • NCS will have a bore crew drilling and inserting pipe underground as well as rock sawing on United States Highway 16 near Pleasant Valley Road, Blue Skies Road, and Melanie Lane.
  • Crews burying lines to customer homes will be on United States Highway 16 by Palomino Place. They will move to the trailer court across from Pilot Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 10-6-22.pdf

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 10-6-22.png

 

September 29, 2022

  • NCS will be burying main line cable on Chevy Lane. They will be off from Wednesday afternoon through October 5th. When they return, they will start work on Beaver Lake Road.
  • NCS will have a bore crew drilling and inserting pipe underground as well as rock sawing on United States Highway 16 near Pleasant Valley Road, Blue Skies Road, and Melanie Lane.
  • Crews burying lines to customer homes will be on United States Highway 16 by Palomino Place. They will move to the trailer court across from Pilot Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet. 

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 9-29-22 v2.pdf

September 22, 2022

  • The main line plow will be on Dakota Pine Road, then move to Palomino Place, then Pinto Lane.
  • NCS will have a bore crew drilling and inserting pipe underground on Beave Lake Road.
  • Rock saws will be on Wittrock Road.
  • Crews burying lines to customer homes will be also be working on Wittrock Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 9-22-22.pdf

 Custer West FTTH Construction Progress 9-22-22.png

 

 

September 15, 2022

  • North Central Service will be rock sawing on Beaver Lake Road and Fox Tail Lane.
  • NCS will have a bore crew drilling and inserting pipe underground on Nuthatch Lane.
  • The main line crew will be burying cable along United States Highway 16 between Wittrock Road and Pleasant Valley Road.
  • Crews burying lines to customer homes will be working on Beaver Lake Road, Stagg Road, Wind Song Valley Road, and Woodnote Lane.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

September 8, 2022

  • North Central Service is boring, rock sawing, and doing cleanup on Beaver Lake Road.
  • A crew is burying lines to customer homes on Stagg Road and Mill Pond Estates Road.
  • A second crew is installing lines, or drops, to customer premises on Windsong Valley Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 9-8-22.pdf

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 9-8-22.png

September 1, 2022

  • North Central Service is rock sawing and pre-ripping in advance of burying main line cable.
  • A crew is boring (drilling and inserting pipe) on Stagg Road, Palomino Road, and Pinto Lane.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

August 25, 2022

  • North Central Service is rock sawing and pre-ripping in advance of burying main line cable.
  • A crew is boring (drilling and inserting pipe) on Stagg Road, Palomino Road, and Pinto Lane.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 8-25-22.pdf

 Custer West FTTH Construction Area 8-25-22.png 

 

August 18, 2022

  • A crew is boring, or drilling and inserting pipe underground, on Dakota Pine Road.
  • A second crew is working on Stagg and Dakota Pine Roads. They are pre-ripping a trench and rock sawing as needed to bury the main fiber line.
  • The drop crew is burying lines to customer homes on Mill Pond Estates Road and Chevy Lane.
  • A second drop crew will start work later this week on Beaver Lake Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 8-18-22.pdf

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 8-18-22.PNG

August 11, 2022

  • Crews have been boring, or drilling and inserting vacant pipe under roadways and obstacles, on Stagg Road. Next week NCS will be rock sawing on Stagg Road.
  • Another crew is burying lines to customer homes. They will be working on Mill Pond Estates and Chevy Lane next week.
  • NCS is plowing main line fiber along the highway, then will move to Stagg Road and Dakota Pines Road.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West FTTH Construction Area 8-11-22.pdf

 Custer West FTTH Construction Area 8-11-22.png

 

August 4, 2022

  • NCS has been working along United States Highway 16 west of Custer.
  • Construction will be on Stagg Road in the coming week.
  • Travis Electric has installed clamshells on most customer homes. Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you received a letter about the project but don’t have a clamshell or box on your home yet.

Custer West Construction Progress 8-4-22.pdf

Custer West Construction Progress 8-4-22 (002).png

 

July 21, 2022

  • North Central Service has been working in Custer near the Golden West office.
  • Travis Electric starting installing boxes, or clamshells, on customer homes this week.
  • Please call Golden West at 1-855-888-7777 and ask for the engineering department if you have any questions about this project.

July 14, 2022

  • On Monday, North Central Services will begin construction for a project west of Custer.
  • Golden West has sent a letter to all customers included in the area to be upgraded to fiber.
  • Travis Electric has begun scheduling clamshell installations. They will begin attaching boxes, or clamshells, to customer homes next week.

July 8, 2022

Golden West is excited to announce that we are bringing Fiber to the Home (FTTH) to you and your area west of Custer for internet and phone service. Fiber optic technology, which uses pulses of light to transmit information, will provide you with faster, more reliable broadband speeds and stronger connections. We’re excited to make this investment and bring the latest technology to your home or business.

Work Starts With Wiring Contractor Travis Electric
With your assistance, Golden West’s contractor Travis Electric will soon begin preparing your home or business for FTTH with the following two steps:

  1. “Clamshell” Installation – Clamshells are small boxes that house fiber optic components on the exterior of a building. The clamshell will be the point to which the fiber optic cable will be buried.
  2. Equipment Board and Pre-Wiring – Before connecting you to fiber, an equipment board needs to be hung inside your home or business and the wiring from the clamshell to the board may need to be updated. This may happen when the clamshell is hung or scheduled at a later date.

Contractors Handle Project, Golden West Covers Customer Service
In addition to Travis Electric, two additional Golden West contractors will work in your area. Sometime later this summer and into fall, North Central Service will complete the main construction portion of the project, and Heberly Engineering will handle all issues related to easements, permits, and inspection. Golden West will take care of customer service, so direct any questions or report any issues directly to us.