Custer Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (CusterTel) is proud to announce that it has been awarded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Community Connect Program Grant. This critical funding will enable CusterTel to extend high-speed broadband services from Salmon, Idaho to North Fork, Idaho, bridging a vital connectivity gap for rural communities.
The Community Connect program supports efforts to bring reliable internet access to underserved areas, fostering economic development, education, healthcare, and overall quality of life. With this award, CusterTel will deploy advanced broadband infrastructure to ensure residents, businesses, and community institutions along the Salmon-to-North Fork corridor have access to fast, dependable internet.
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As part of the project, CusterTel will partner with the North Fork Store to establish a Community Center where residents can access high-speed internet free of charge for at least two years. This center will serve as a vital resource for those without home connectivity, providing opportunities for education, telehealth, and business development.
“Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said JD Bennetts, CusterTel General Manager. “This grant allows us to deliver the connectivity that our rural communities need to thrive in today’s digital world.”
Planning, permitting, and engineering will begin in the summer of 2026 with construction expected to begin as soon as summer 2027. CusterTel remains committed to empowering rural Idaho with the tools and technology needed for a brighter future.
For more information about the project or CusterTel’s services, please visit www.custertel.net.