The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe announced the arrival of high-speed, fiber-optic internet to homes throughout the Towaoc and White Mesa communities this summer, with crews now beginning free installation of the necessary technology.
“Fiber optic internet is the fastest and most reliable type of internet available,” the tribe said in a news release. “This project will ensure that every home in Towaoc and White Mesa has access to modern, high-speed internet for education, telehealth, remote work and everyday use.”
Construction crews are connecting fiber-optic cables running through the community to homes via a network interface device, a small box mounted on the outside of residences.
The project will enter its second phase later this summer, when technicians install indoor equipment connecting the fiber to a Wi-Fi router. The router also will be provided at no cost to residents.
Internet service is expected to begin later this summer after completion of both installation phases, with dates to be announced. The tribe also will provide information to residents about the cost of internet plans as summer approaches. In a statement, the tribe said residents who decline installation now could face future installation costs of $1,500 or more.
The project is funded by state and federal grants, allowing for free installation of fiber-optic technology. In 2022, Colorado state and nonprofit grants provided the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe with $4.65 million to expand broadband internet to homes and businesses. That same year, the federal government awarded the tribe $22 million to build high-speed internet infrastructure and lay fiber-optic lines, with funding lasting through August of this year.
Ute Mountain Ute tribal members can contact the tribe’s IT department at (970) 238-6828 or visit the IT office at the Tribal Complex, 125 Mike Wash Rd., to sign up for services once they become active later this year.
avanderveen@the-journal.com
