Southern Ute Indian Tribe paves way for high-speed internet with 52 miles of fiber

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe has completed the first phase of a $60 million, 300-mile-plus fiber optic broadband internet project that will ultimately deliver high-speed internet services to over 5,000 homes across the Southern Ute Reservation. Tribal Councilor Stacey Oberly said 52 miles of fiber have been installed, and fiber connecting Durango’s Three Springs neighborhood to the town of Ignacio is undergoing testing. Jeff Engman of Southern Ute Shared Services said through the second phase, which will serve 2,800 households, including homes along Highway 151 to Pagosa Springs, is now underway. The plan is to thread fiber optic broadband across the reservation, from the west side down Wildcat Canyon to Highway 140 toward the New Mexico state line. The project will deliver fiber optic broadband internet to every household in Ignacio, the town of Arboles and most communities in between. Fiber will run all the way to Pagosa Springs, making the Tribe’s network more resilient. The Tribe also looks to improve its cellular infrastructure on the reservation.