Golden West brings some fiber

Greg Olson, company spokesman for  Golden West Telecommunications,  gave a presentation to about 35 people Feb. 12 at the Hill City Center. Golden West is bringing fiber to homes south of Hill City to the 244 interchange and east on Old Hill City Road.
Olson said the project is part of a state grant to bring fiber to all South Dakotans.
“These areas we’re serving came to us from the state and  we decided to bid for the project and got the project,” Olson explained.
He described the project as “pretty big” and says it will take a majority of the summer.
 It begins this month with clamshell installation on people’s homes.  This is the connective point between the fiber optic cable and the home wiring.
April 1 fiber construction begins, which includes laying the fiber. This is weather dependent and will continue until Oct. or Nov. Service will then be activated, with the project wrapping up no later than the spring of 2026.
This is a “100 percent dedicated fiber optic build with everything coming out of a  building near the Chute Rooster; each home will have its own dedicated fiber line,” Olson explains.
Golden West began in 1916 by “stringing steel wires” between fence posts in rural South Dakota. Those lines were used for telephone transmission. The company now extends from Ardmore to Trent and “specializes” in broadband which Olson says is done by “constructing fiber to the home.”
 It has 300 employees across the state and Olson says the company takes a “ton of pride in making sure our customers get what they need.”
Marty Huether, outside plant manager with Golden West stressed a commitment to customers, saying if a customer reaches out “you’re gonna talk to a local person.”
Olson explained that  fiber provides the “best internet access now and in the future,” saying that copper is “not keeping up with the demands and speeds”  people need.
Fiber uses light pulses  to transmit its signal, meaning there is less interference from things like light lightning strikes. Olson touted fiber’s  benefits of greater bandwidth, greater speed and distance, immunity to water and long term capability.
Golden West is offering three price options and speeds for customers. Customers may rent a router or use their own.
Customers can always upgrade their service. The cost of the internet is not taxed but the router leasing would be. The company is also offering free installation during this construction phase.
“We’re only here for a certain time and then we’re gone,” Olson says.
Most in attendance  were current customers of a competing company and were clearly unhappy.
One  called this a “great gift” for the people adding “this is gonna be transforming.”
People can learn more about the project at goldenwest.com/our-network/fiber-to-the-home/hill-city.