Rural fiber plan speeds up again

Mid-Rivers accepted a new Universal Service Funding (USF) offer and a new associated build-out obligation in late 2023, providing revenue certainty for the next fifteen years and allowing the cooperative to cut the timeline nearly in half for the remaining rural fiber build-out.

The new Enhanced A-CAM support program includes an historic 100 percent build-out obligation in traditional rural service areas, with an aggressive deadline of December 31, 2028. This presents a significant task, requiring a minimum of 800 miles per year of fiber construction for the next five years - about 150 miles per year more than Mid-Rivers has done in a single year to date. With the contractor relationships the cooperative has spent years developing, and the efforts made to keep plenty of fiber on hand, employees believe they can meet the requirements.

The graphic shown provides a general idea of the massive scope of the obligation, spread across 30,000 square miles of some of the most remote areas of Montana. With an estimated annual capital budget of $30-$35 million, this accelerated fiber plan has already begun, and will follow the tentative schedule below to reach the remaining rural locations in these exchange areas:

• 2024 – Grass Range, Roy, Ekalaka & Linsday

• 2025 – Plevna, Richey, & Circle

• 2026 – Circle

• 2027 – Rock Springs & Jordan

• 2028 – Winnett & Melstone

Project plans are tentative and may change based on permitting or right-of-way delays in any area. Crews will also be going back to locations in previously built exchanges to ensure the 100 percent build-out obligation is met.

Mid-Rivers' own engineering crew will be traveling to landowners in these areas for right-of-way access to get members fiber services and unlimited broadband. The cooperative appreciates all cooperation in helping to meet these buildout requirements. Mid-Rivers employees will contact landowners and make personal visits at the landowners convenience, to discuss preferences on proposed routes and other requests. The cooperative wants to be sure to approach the build-out in a manner that respects property rights and landowner wishes. Stay tuned in these areas for calls from Radley, Eric, Shannon, or Dan!