Valley In The News Articles & Press Releases

Shortly after the initial grants were awarded, the Arizona Broadband Office contacted Valley, acknowledging the project's merit but explaining that there were insufficient funds to grant the award. Since then, changes in a few previously funded projects have freed up additional resources, making further funding available.

“We are very excited to have been awarded the Graham County Project,” said Troy Judd, CEO of Valley. “Expanding our services to meet the needs of Graham County residents has been a long-standing goal for us. This project builds on the investment and expansion we made in Thatcher back in 2021. With the additional funding from the Arizona Broadband Office, we can now extend high-speed connectivity even further west, bringing critical connections to some of our most rural communities.” 

Graham County Regional Fiber Project - This grant award of $4,810,148 will fund the extension of Valley's backbone network by 8.3 miles from Thatcher to Ft. Thomas and the construction of 65.5 miles of last-mile infrastructure serving the communities of Bryce, Eden, and Ft. Thomas. To support this effort, the Graham County Board of Supervisors has allocated $250,000 in matching funds, with Valley contributing an additional $463,722. Together, these contributions represent 13% of the total project cost of $5,523,870—a valuable investment in enhancing connectivity for Graham County residents.

In the initial round of funding of the Arizona Broadband Development Grant, Valley was awarded 2 grants. Those projects were the Fiber Investment for West Willcox Rural Community and the Santa Cruz County Patagonia Regional Broadband Project - Patagonia. Both projects are currently under construction with anticipation of services being available in the spring of 2025.

Valley TeleCom Group is deeply committed to the communities it serves. They are thrilled to bring high-speed connectivity to Bryce, Eden, and Ft. Thomas, enhancing the quality of life and opening up new opportunities for residents. Valley’s ongoing efforts, including the new Graham County Regional Fiber Project, reflect their dedication to expanding access to essential services in rural areas. Valley is proud to contribute to the development and prosperity of Graham County, ensuring that rural communities stay connected and thrive in the digital age.

 

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter @azcommerce.

 

The expansion is a strategic move as part of what Valley says is its ongoing commitment to support the educational aspirations of its members in rural communities. "The expansion of our scholarship categories to include vocational and technical schools underlines our commitment to all forms of higher education and our belief in the diverse career paths our members choose," said Troy Judd, Valley CEO. Scholarship outreach initiative is spearheaded by Pauline Cook, Executive Assistant, and Camme Carlson-Watkins, Marketing Representative. The team traveled extensively, visiting high schools and colleges within Valley's service area, throughout Southeastern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico.

Recipients of this year’s Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation scholarships are Oren Allsup, Harley Boone, Mia Cazares, Kennedy Cook, Valerie DeLaCruz, Mikala Driscoll, Phoebe Dullum, Kaylee Essary, Aubry Evans, Lilly Friend, Alec Fuentes, Jazmyn Garcia, Elyse Gonzales, Cadence Green, Clara Guy, Alexa Hernandez, David Hurt, Heather Lentz, Letty Lopez, Brooke Lunt, Kash Macumber, Maycee Michaels, Edelweiss Molinar, Kayla O'Connell, Jack Owen, Marissa Paz, Kyrie Pollard, Helena Ramirez, Diego Renteria, Karissa Riggs, Bridger Sanborn, Rachel Sumner, Edward Tingle, Keeley Wagley, Brody Waters, Parker Winkler.

The vocational scholarship winners are Bryson Kibler, Jose Lopez and Zaley Medina.
Applications for the 2025 scholarships will be available at www.vtc.net starting in early January. Valley said it encourages all aspiring students within the service areas to apply and take advantage of the opportunity to advance their education and career prospects. The funding for these scholarships comes from the Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation, primarily through unclaimed capital credits. These funds also support various other community enhancement projects, including the Washington Youth Tour.
On March 28, Valley announced that for a second year, they would be sending students on their Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Washington Youth Tour. This year, seven students from three different high schools entered the Washington Youth Tour contest. To qualify, students had to complete an application and submit a 500-word essay on the topic, "What moment in American History do you wish you had been a part of and what would you have contributed?" Essays covered a wide range of topics, from the era of buffalo roaming the plains to the Space Race.
Selected to represent Valley on the 2024 FRS Washington Youth Tour in June are Ayshleen Lopez, a junior from Deming High School, and Paige Evans, a sophomore from Animas High School. Britany Gomez, Valley's Customer Care Specialist, who has been a part of the interview team for two years, expressed her excitement about the process. "I love being a part of the WYT interviews because it is exciting to hear our youths' responses and to interact with them," she said. "I also love seeing their excitement and interest in the trip."
During their time in D.C., the students will have the opportunity to tour the U.S. Capitol, meet with their Congressional Offices, visit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and explore Mount Vernon. According to Gomez evening tours of iconic memorials including the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, WWII Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial are planned.

Heather Floyd, Valley's PR Specialist, shared her enthusiasm for the program based on her experience traveling with two students from Animas High School last June. "The experience was awe-inspiring. Yes, there were the expected aspects, history, patriotism, and the beauty that DC offers; but the interaction among the students and focused conversations with Congressional staffers were the true highlights," Floyd said.

 

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.

 

Floyd expressed, "The experience was awe-inspiring. Yes, there were the expected aspects – history, patriotism, and the beauty that DC offers; but the interaction among the students and focused conversations with Congressional staffers were the true highlights."

This year, seven students from three different high schools entered the Washington Youth Tour contest. To qualify, students had to complete an applica􀆟on and submit a 500-word essay on the topic, "What moment in American History do you wish you had been a part of and what would you have contributed?" Essays covered a wide range of topics, from the era of buffalo roaming the plains to the Space Race.

Britany Gomez, Valley's Customer Care Specialist, who has been a part of the interview team for two years, expressed her excitement about the process: "I love being a part of the WYT interviews because it is excitng to hear our youths' responses and to interact with them. I also love seeing their excitement and interest in the trip!"

Selected to represent Valley on the 2024 FRS Washington Youth Tour are Ayshleen Lopez, a junior from Deming High School, and Paige Evans, a sophomore from Animas High School. They will be accompanied by Valley chaperones and will embark on their journey to Washington DC on June 3rd, returning on June 7th.

During their time in the nation's capital, the students will have the opportunity to tour the U.S. Capitol, meet with their Congressional Offices, visit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and explore Mount Vernon. Additionally, evening tours of iconic memorials including the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Mar􀆟n Luther King Memorial, WWII Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial are planned. The tour will conclude with visits to various sites at the National Mall.

Valley remains committed to supporting educational opportunities for students and looks forward to witnessing the enriching experiences Ayshleen Lopez and Paige Evans will encounter during their 􀆟me on the FRS Washington Youth Tour.

 

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.

 

In a statement from VTG, the company pointed out the project to upgrade to broadband and fiber for faster speeds is an endeavor long awaited by the company as well as the customers.

“VTG has completed a significant milestone in its mission to provide cutting-edge Internet and Voice services to its ever–expanding customer base. The company embarked on a core router upgrade, a crucial component of its network infrastructure, designed to meet the growing demand for high–speed connectivity.”

In October, the equipment for the core router upgrade was finally delivered after a long wait on a back order.

“Now, VTG is poised to be able to offer the speed and reliability our customers deserve. The new equipment has a 100G (gigabytes) connection for core routing services, ensuring that VTG can not only accommodate a burgeoning customer count, but also meet the surging demands for Internet services, including streaming, gaming, and data services.”

While preparations were well underway for the core router upgrade, the “incumbent core router began experiencing issues in August which led to intermittent disruptions in the network, particularly affecting bandwidth speeds. The team diligently employed troubleshooting measures to maintain services until the new equipment arrived.

“Upon integrating the new hardware alongside the aging core router, network performance issues escalated, culminating in more pronounced disturbances on October 26. It was at this point that the transition to the new core router became imminent.”

The integration of the new equipment officially began in the early morning of Oct. 31st and was scheduled to wrap up by Nov. 2.

As technology continues to advance, so does VTG, and this upgrade represents a significant leap forward in the pursuit of delivering top–quality services.

 

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.

 

The grant from the Foundation for Rural Service was made available to the Chamber through Foundation member Valley Telecom Group.

“We commend the Graham County Chamber of Commerce for their well-deserved Foundation for Rural Service Grant and are honored to have played a part in offering this opportunity. This milestone highlights our shared commitment to fostering technological advancement and community enrichment in the Gila Valley. We look forward to the positive impact of this collaboration in our local area,” Valley Telecom Group CEO Troy Judd said in a prepared statement.

The Graham County Chamber of Commerce was the only Arizona grant recipient. Total amount awarded was $105,000, supporting 23 different projects across the nation.

“Through the community grant program, FRS is proud to help multiply the work NTCA members are often already doing to give back so that their efforts can have an even greater impact on the communities they serve,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. “We are grateful to the 23 NTCA companies that partnered with FRS this year to support these grants and would also like to thank Farm Credit East and the Carri Bennet Economic Development Fund for the additional support."

 

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.

 

During his summer at Valley, Jacob worked diligently alongside the Network/IT department, gaining valuable experience in mapping drives and troubleshooting internet connections. He developed a strong admiration for the Network Team, referring to them as "the smartest guys here." Witnessing the team's expertise and dedication inspired Jacob to pursue a career in telecommunications.

When a full-time position for Internet Technician became available this summer, Jacob eagerly applied, driven by his interest and the positive experience from his previous tenure at Valley. His hands-on experience during the summer program had instilled the confidence to pursue this opportunity, making him an ideal candidate for the role.

The Student Summer Employment Program, spearheaded by Valley TeleCom Group, aims to expose local youth to the world of telecommunications and spark interest in potential future careers within the company. Valley recognizes the unique challenges of hiring in rural communities and is committed to cultivating local talent and investing in their growth within the industry. As Valley's Interim CEO/CFO, Troy Judd, expressed last year, “The program seeks to offer students a chance to learn about the telecommunications sector and explore potential job opportunities right within their local communities.”

For Valley TeleCom Group, witnessing Jacob's rapid progression from a summer student to a full-time employee is a testament to the program's success and the dedication of its staff in mentoring and supporting these bright young minds. The entire Valley team is excited to welcome Jacob into his new role and looks forward to witnessing the positive impact he will undoubtedly make as an Internet Technician.

As Valley continues its commitment to fostering local talent, this year's summer student class includes five individuals embarking on their own career journeys. The company eagerly anticipates the potential growth and future success of these students, as they may follow in Jacob's footsteps and eventually become valuable members of the Valley family.

 

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.

 

Troy Judd's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in accounting from Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM. Troy Judd's telecommunications career began at the auditing firm Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss. His journey with Valley TeleCom Group began over two decades ago, and he has since played a pivotal role in shaping the organization's growth and success. Troy's understanding of the industry, combined with his expertise in administrative functions such as finance, human resources, regulatory and compliance, billing, and marketing, uniquely positions him to lead the company into its next phase of innovation and expansion.

Troy's leadership skills were demonstrated in 2021, executing the merger of Valley Telephone Cooperative and its subsidiary Copper Valley Telephone. This strategic move streamlined operations and paved the way for increased efficiency and customer satisfaction. Additionally, Troy secured a $45 million loan from the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS), earmarked to fund an expansive fiber-to-the-home internet rollout across a significant portion of the cooperative territory. This ambitious initiative will undoubtedly enhance connectivity and bridge the digital divide in the region.

"I am honored and excited to step into the role of CEO at Valley TeleCom Group," remarked Troy Judd. "Our commitment to delivering telecommunications solutions to our communities remains unwavering. With the ongoing fiber expansion and the upcoming Arizona and New Mexico State Broadband Grant projects, I am excited to work alongside the dedicated Valley Team to bring advanced connectivity to our valued members."

Troy Judd's ascent to the role of CEO signifies a new chapter for Valley TeleCom Group. With his industry insight and dedication, the cooperative is poised to continue its legacy as a trailblazer in the rural telecommunications sector.

David Thompson, President of the Board of Directors, expressed his confidence in Troy's capabilities, stating, "Troy's extensive experience, remarkable leadership, and dedication to our company's mission make him the perfect choice to lead Valley TeleCom Group into this new chapter. We are enthusiastic about the future under his guidance."

 

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.

 

Steve’s tenure in the telecommunications industry spanned over 35 years. Steve served as the CEO of Valley TeleCom Group for 17 years, leading the cooperative to a strong financial position and driving innovation to meet the communication needs of its members. Most recently Steve, along with the Board and Management Team, worked diligently in expanding Valley’s fiber network into rural southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. He also served as President of the New Mexico Exchange Carrier Group for 17 years.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the Metts’ family as we all mourn his tragic loss. A viewing will be held at 5:00pm on Friday June 23^rd, with the funeral service beginning at 6:00pm at Hansen Mortuaries (6500 E. Bell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254). A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, July 1^st at the Willcox Elks Lodge (247 E Stewart St, Willcox, AZ, 85643).

As for operations of Valley TeleCom Group, Board President, David Thompson, designated Troy Judd, CFO as the interim CEO until further notice. Day to day operations of Valley will be managed by Troy Judd and Kristi Lee, COO who have over 50 years of combined service with Valley. They are working in coordination with President Thompson, who has served on the Board since 1999. With their leadership, Valley’s 78 employees will continue to provide dedicated and quality service to Valley’s members and customers.

Read the full article on Corina and other Gila Valley Influencers here.

Valley submitted its application for $3,704,815 in December to qualify for the second wave of funding. Valley's project totals $5,699,716 to build 49.25 miles of fiber Internet with Valley offering 35% matching funds in the amount of $1,994,901.

 

The project is wholly located in Luna County, covering 4 areas to the North of Columbus, NM. The project will connect 822 premises with fiber Internet providing speeds up to 1 Gig. (map provided).

Valley expects that the Columbus community will benefit directly and indirectly from the availability of reliable high-speed broadband. Subscribers to the new service will have immediate access to online services including remote learning, telehealth, and work-from-home opportunities. The high-speed service will be a conduit to improved physical and mental health, and higher education. Members of the community will also be able to access federal, state, and local government websites for job search activities and program registration purposes. Indirectly, VTC expects that economic opportunities will improve as businesses gain access to rural jobseekers, providing opportunity for higher-paying jobs.

“Since 1962, Valley’s sole mission has been to enhance the quality of life in rural communities by connecting them to the communications network. Connecting our rural communities to high-speed fiber internet is not just about access to technology, it’s about access to opportunity. By investing in infrastructure that brings reliable and affordable internet to those in poverty-stricken areas, we are opening doors to education, healthcare, and economic growth that were previously closed. This is not just a technological advancement, it’s a step towards equality and progress for all. “said, Steve Metts, CEO of Valley TeleCom Group.

 

Local Community Support

 

Christine Ann Harvey, Executive Director of the - Greater Luna County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. shared her perspective in a support letter for the project, saying: "This grant directly speaks to Deming Luna County Community and Economic Development’s mission to build and maintain a flourishing community by growing from withing. Creating opportunities for our diverse population is our priority. This project is consistent with the goal of enabling economic business vitality and community development in communities like Columbus."

 

Mayor Salas, Village of Columbus shared, "As the Village grows, Valley Telephone plays an important role in economic development. The Columbus Regions project is essential and will provide additional connectivity for our local workforce and will continue to spur economic development in Luna County."

 

The project will be built out within 3 years of the grant award, Valley provides regular updates on project construction at www/vtc.net/fiber.

The Deming Headlight published the following article on April 1, 2023:
"Rural broadband project will connect Columbus, Luna County"
Read the article here.

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.  www.vtc.net

SRC is a national network of communities with innovative rural broadband providers that help achieve brighter prospects in smaller townships and rural areas. It promotes rural broadband and its role in supporting innovative economic development, effective education, efficient energy distribution and use, state-of-the-art healthcare and other important issues for rural areas. The Rural Broadband Association is an association representing more than 800 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small towns across the country. To receive recognition Valley was required to affirm that it offered 100 Mbps broadband to at least 50% of its service area, that it had broadband subscription rates of at least 50%, and that it is committed to program principles of collaboration and innovation.

NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield recognized Valley for this achievement, saying, “We are so excited to welcome another Smart Rural Community provider into this growing network of innovative broadband providers delivering the internet’s fastest speeds in some of the most remote and rural communities of our country. I applaud Valley and the communities for their commitment to enabling cutting-edge technologies that drive innovation and promote economic development in their region and nationwide."

At the luncheon Valley’s Business Sales Executive Corina Pino-Reyes highlighted their new partnership with local internet provider Fiber Homes, the nation’s first fiber internet search service. Their service allows anyone looking to buy or rent a home to determine the quality of internet available at any given address in an area they serve. Locally Valley said it certified over 5,000 fiber serviceable addresses with Fiber Homes, joining a cross-country real time database of more than 100 fiber providers with over 1.8 million certified fiber addresses. “Reliable broadband internet is no longer optional for homebuyers; it’s become a basic requirement for anyone wanting to fully participate in the modern economy. Our goal with Fiber Homes is to make sure that anyone looking to buy or rent a home has access to this crucial information,” said Robert Gilbert, CEO of Fiber Homes. Heather Floyd, Valley PR specialist, interacted with guests from various arenas of the community, from business, education, and spoke about the advantages of Fiber Homes and the current projects in Willcox.

Speakers noted that Fiber Homes have become a boon for real estate agents looking to add a competitive amenity to their listings. The database is actively working with MLSs around the country to add this crucial information to the property listings. Homes with fiber broadband internet capabilities can provide a critical service for those people working from home, online education, or medical care communication, and modern homes are more heavily reliant on streaming for their television and entertainment services. Valley will be hosting a second luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 15, in Thatcher, to provide an overview of SRC and Fiber Homes and their benefit to that community.

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.  www.vtc.net

Mr. Judd comes to NM Fiber Network with more than 21 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and has held numerous senior roles in the telecom space. After graduating from Western New Mexico University in Silver City with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting, he spent a year at Bolinger, Segars, Gilbert & Moss in Lubbock, Texas as an auditor for telecommunications companies. Judd is currently CFO at Valley TeleCom Group, which he joined twenty years ago, where his responsibilities have included finance, strategic planning, human resources, regulatory & compliance, billing, and marketing for the organization that spans over southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.

In addition to his work with Valley TeleCom Group and NM Fiber Network, Judd is currently the board chair for Cochise Credit Union, President of the Arizona Local Exchange Carrier Association and also past president of the Arizona New Mexico Telecommunications Association.

Local fiber internet provider, Valley Telecom, has partnered with Fiber Homes, the nation’s first fiber internet search service, to give people looking to buy or rent a home in their service areas a convenient way to determine the quality of internet available at any given address.

Judd's involvement on the local and regional level reflects his belief that communities can grow by collaborating together. When asked why he supported the decision to form NM Fiber Network, he referred to its 11 founding members and said, "These local providers have been meeting the needs of New Mexico residents for decades and are best poised to navigate the future needs and hurdles to achieve a connected New Mexico for all of our residents. Leveraging the knowledge of telecommunications professionals across the state will lead to a comprehensive solution for the state’s telecommunications needs as well as addressing the needs at a local level."

Judd is keen to move NM Fiber Network forward, as he believes building fiber out to New Mexicans will improve the quality of life in New Mexico and provide more economic opportunities by providing connectivity to the unserved and underserved areas of New Mexico. He said, "Business owners, medical professionals, first responders, teachers, students, farmers, consumers, and many others depend on high-speed internet in their daily lives, it is these individuals who will benefit the most from enhanced middle mile connectivity in New Mexico."

Josh Beug, CEO for NM Fiber Network, supported Judd’s appointment by stating, “Not only does he bring financial expertise, but understands the challenges we face as rural broadband providers and knows our unique state landscapes, communities, and industry well.” NM Fiber Network continues to structure their organization as they continue to build a fiber middle mile network in the state of New Mexico.       

About NM Fiber Network, LLC

NM Fiber Network, LLC’s founding companies are Baca Valley Telephone Company, Inc., Dell Telephone Cooperative, Inc., ENMR Telephone Cooperative, La Jicarita Rural Telephone Cooperative, Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., Peñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc., Roosevelt County Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., Sacred Wind Communications, Inc., Tularosa Communications, Inc., Valley Telephone Cooperative, Inc., and Western New Mexico Telephone Company, Inc. NM Fiber Network will concentration offering high-speed fiber-optic backbone capabilities to owners and other telecommunications providers and direct business customers such as hospitals, schools, and government agencies.

Visit http://www.nmfibernetwork.com to discover more about NM Fiber Network.

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.  www.vtc.net

In order to receive recognition as a SRC provider, Valley was required to affirm that it offers 100 Mbps broadband to at least 50% of its service area; that it has broadband subscription rates of at least 50%; and that it is committed to program principles of collaboration and innovation. As a result of Valley’s national recognition, Willcox, Safford, Thatcher, and Sunsites will now be celebrated as a Smart Rural Communities in program materials and online at www.smartruralcommunity.com, joining a national network of similarly innovative communities.

NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield also recognized Valley for this achievement, noting, “We are so excited to welcome another Smart Rural Community provider into this growing network of innovative broadband providers delivering the Internet’s fastest speeds in some of the most remote and rural communities of our country. I applaud Valley and the communities of Willcox, Safford, Thatcher and Sunsites for their commitment to enabling cutting-edge technologies that drive innovation and promote economic development in their region and nationwide.” 

Fiber Homes – Local fiber internet provider, Valley Telecom, has partnered with Fiber Homes, the nation’s first fiber internet search service, to give people looking to buy or rent a home in their service areas a convenient way to determine the quality of internet available at any given address.

Valley has certified over 5,000 fiber serviceable addresses with Fiber Homes locally. They join over 100 other fiber providers from around the country in Fiber Homes’ database of over 1.8 million certified fiber addresses. The database is updated in real time, ensuring that when new homes are connected to a fiber network, consumers consulting FiberHomes.com are the first to know.

“Reliable broadband internet is no longer optional for homebuyers, it’s become a basic requirement for anyone wanting to fully participate in the modern economy. Our goal with Fiber Homes is to make sure that anyone looking to buy or rent a home has access to this crucial information,” said Robert Gilbert, CEO of Fiber Homes.

In today’s world, people are working from home, getting work assignments, medical care, taking college courses and of course getting entertainment through HD online streaming services. As a result, fiber broadband internet services that provide for these capabilities have become as critical to consumers as connections to gas, electricity, and water supplies.

A boon for real estate agents

Fiber Homes offers real estate agents services through Fiber Homes Pro that deliver a competitive edge. If they are a listing agent, they get access to materials for marketing the home as a connected “fiber home,” and if they are a buyer's agent, they get access to products and pricing from the provider for that house. Additionally, Fiber Homes is actively working with MLSs around the country to add this crucial information to the property listings.

Currently, nearly 2 million addresses in a total of 22 states are in the database - thousands of new addresses are being added each day. Over 100 providers around the country are currently contributing to the database and more will follow soon.

Join the Conversation

Valley will be hosting two luncheons, one in Willcox and one in Thatcher to provide an overview of Smart Rural Communities and Fiber Homes to start conversations on how these programs can be leveraged for the benefit of the community. The Willcox Luncheon will be on Tuesday, November 1^st and the Thatcher Luncheon will be on Tuesday, November 15^th. Contact Heather Floyd, Public Relations Specialist at heather.floyd@teamvtg.net or 520.384.8912 for more information or to register.

About Valley TeleCom Group
Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.  www.vtc.net

About NTCA

The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. NTCA members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. 

About Fiber Homes

Fiber Homes, the nation’s first fiber internet search service for rural and suburban home buyers and realtors, provides home buyers and realtors the ability to check any home address for fiber high-speed internet connectivity. To make sure your next house is a fiber home, please visit www.fiberhomes.com. 

The project will connect more than 500 households at a cost of $3,275,206, with Valley contributing $297,746 of the investment. The grant will boost local broadband infrastructure investment. It will enhance the speed and reach of high-speed internet for customers. It has the capacity to strengthen economic growth, thereby improving the economic conditions and quality of life in rural Cochise County. “Many areas the city is annexing do not have fiber,” Willcox Mayor Mike Laws said. “The Fiber Investment for West Willcox Rural Community project is essential and will provide additional housing options to our local workforce and will continue to spur economic development in Cochise County.”

The project will include the city’s Quail Park, where increasing internet access to this community resource would be a benefit. “Inadequate broadband services marginalize our rural residents. These projects help to close the digital divide in Patagonia and the rural area west of Willcox,” wrote Randy Heiss, executive director of the Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization in a letter to the ACA supporting the project. “Providing high quality internet access enhances opportunities for education, telemedicine and connection to a broader society,” Heiss stated. “What we have right now is OK, but it’s wireless, it can be inconsistent,” said Louise Walden, owner of Walden Aviation and manager of Cochise County Airport, an early supporter of the fiber optic investment grant. The airport sits on the boundary of the proposed project area. “Having access to high-speed internet empowers us to serve those who use Cochise County Airport at a higher level,” Walden said. The airport is the base for more than 30 aircraft and home to Flight Fundamentals Inc., a flight school. The school specializes in advanced flight instruction and specialty training. “We can take you all the way to the airlines,” said Brett Bossert, FFI flight instructor. He sees the improvements in infrastructure as only a positive. FFI, like most modern businesses, relies increasingly on being connected to the internet. Bossert said, “It’s definitely going to help out, with updating our databases, avionics, and maintaining contact with our online scheduling, billing and even maintenance.”

Willcox Unified School District Superintendent Kevin Davis was a proponent of the project since it was announced. The school district serves more than 1,000 students, with about 19% below the poverty line. In a letter in support of the fiber optic project Davis highlighted the need for the improvements and wrote of the impact the COVID pandemic restrictions had on students. “The difference in attendance and absorption of material for students with quality internet services versus those with lower quality in services was dramatic,” said Davis. While the schools have returned to in-person learning, Davis said the differences still exist and are experienced daily by students needing to access resources and doing homework. “I’m glad to see Arizona being proactive and making the necessary investment in internet services, especially in rural areas,” Davis wrote.

Fiber Investment for West Willcox Rural Community 

Valley was awarded grant funding to bring fiber internet to 8.2 square miles north of Interstate 10 in the Willcox Region. The cost of the project will be $2,977,460 with Valley contributing matching funds of $297,746. This project would install 46 miles of fiber and connect 513 households. This project will be 100% fiber optic Internet with the ability to operate at Gigabit speeds.

The awarding of this grant accelerates local broadband infrastructure investment; enhancing the speed, redundancy and reach of high-speed internet for customers, strengthening their capacity and competitiveness for economic growth – thereby improving the economic conditions and quality of life in rural Cochise County.

“As the City continues to grow, Valley Telecom plays an important role in economic development. Many areas the city is annexing do not have fiber. The Fiber Investment for West Willcox Rural Community project is essential and will provide additional housing options to our local workforce and will continue to spur economic development in Cochise County. This project also includes the City of Willcox Quail Park, increasing fiber Internet access to this vital community resource would be a benefit for the many events hosted at the park” wrote, Michael Laws, Mayor of Willcox in a letter to the ACA supporting the project.

Santa Cruz County Regional Broadband Project – Patagonia

Valley, in partnership with Santa Cruz County, was awarded grant funding to bring fiber internet to Patagonia, AZ. The cost of the project will be $2,103,585 with Valley contributing matching funds of $210,359. The Patagonia project will cover 1.26 square miles bringing access to fiber internet to 633 residential structures and businesses within the project footprint. This project will be 100% fiber optic Internet with the ability to operate at Gigabit speeds.

Building on a feasibility study commissioned by Santa Cruz County in 2020, the Patagonia Project is the first phase of a multi-phase approach to build out a middle mile network and provide fiber to the home and businesses to the most rural areas of Santa Cruz County. For Santa Cruz County and its local communities to successfully execute its economic plan and achieve future economic goals, high speed broadband must be available and affordable to support business development, health care advancements and improve higher education opportunities in the area.

City of Safford Downtown Wifi Project

The City of Safford was awarded an ACA AZ State Broadband Development Grant to install fiber optic cable, access points and other equipment required to provide broadband Internet in downtown Safford and at all Safford public parks including Glen Meadows, Firth, La Tierra, and El Paso Park (to be developed). The City of Safford is collaborating with Valley to provide the internet access and install the equipment necessary to allow residents and visitors to have free broadband internet access. 

The project will address the broadband needs of low-income residents in Safford by offering internet access at no cost. The Census shows 75.6% of the populations has broadband internet but that means 24.4% of Safford populations and estimated 2,471 residents do not have broadband. The Safford City-Graham County library has over 115 people a day visit the library to access the internet, illustrating the need for more broadband access in Safford.

The Safford projects support the Arizona Broadband Development Grant priorities to accelerate broadband infrastructure, strengthening economic growth and economic conditions in rural Arizona. The project will provide a big impact for this rural city at a low cost.

“This grant directly speaks to SEAGO’s mission to enhance economic and social progress for communities in our four-county region. Inadequate broadband services marginalize our rural residents. These projects help to close the digital divide in Patagonia and the rural area west of Willcox. Providing high quality internet access that enhances opportunities for education, telemedicine, and connection to a broader society“ stated, Randy Heiss, Executive Director of SEAGO in a letter to the ACA supporting the project.

The AZ State Broadband Development Grant Program was announced on November 15, 2021. The grant program had $100M to award with $75M designated specifically for rural areas. The minimum speed of 100/25mbps needed to be achieved to be eligible receive award funds. Proposed grants must have a minimum 10% match in funds with higher matches encouraged and a positive factor in evaluating the application.

The ACA received two times the number of applications that were anticipated, in total they had 87 applications to process for a total of more than $400M. The multitude of applications delayed the announcement of awardees by four months but that wait is now over.

About Valley TeleCom Group
Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.  www.vtc.net

Contact: Kristi Lee
Email: kristi.lee@teamvtg.net
www.vtc.net

High speed internet that is reliable and affordable will transform rural communities.

Businesses that were once limited to only providing store fronts will now be able to expand their reach and serve a broader customer base, and residents that live in the area can enjoy the same connectivity offered in urban areas.

In addition, high speed broadband will also provide opportunities for distance learning, telemedicine, telecommuting, smart agriculture, and allow access to public safety agencies and other government facilities maximizing available resources to bring the best services to the area. Valley’s proposed design will deploy new fiber to deliver speeds of up to 1 Gbps over the fiber network.

“Valley’s mission has always been to provide high-quality communications service in rural areas. We have had great success in the areas where we have already been able to provide fiber-to-the-home and are very excited to soon be able to offer the Internet service that customers in our more rural areas both need and deserve.” said, Steve Metts, Valley’s CEO.

It will be a heavy construction period for Valley as it upgrades and connects over 4,000 locations in Arizona and over 1,000 in New Mexico, over the next 5 years. 

Valley has secured a $45 million loan from USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to upgrade 90% of its Cooperative Service territory to fiber Internet. The Valley Cooperative territory spans Southwest New Mexico and Southeastern Arizona encompassing 16 communities.

•         Animas, NM
•         Bonita, AZ
•         Bowie, AZ
•         Clifton, AZ
•         Columbus, NM
•         Duncan, AZ
•         Elfrida, AZ
•         Morenci, AZ
•         Pearce, AZ
•         Playas, NM
•         Portal, AZ
•         Rodeo, NM
•         San Simon, AZ
•         Sunizona, AZ
•         Virden, NM
•         York Valley, AZ

The first service territory to be getting the fiber upgrade is the Bonita/Klondyke area. Soon those residents and many more throughout Southeastern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico will have access to Internet speeds that will enable remote learning, telemedicine, work from home opportunities and endless streaming capabilities.

About Valley TeleCom Group
Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.  https://www.vtc.net/

Interest in the summer employment program was robust with 32 applicants. Applicants were required to be age 16 and up and currently enrolled in high school. Hours are flexible and will be tailored to each student employee for a maximum of 400 hours.  “Hiring in rural communities is a challenge which we face on a regular basis. One of the main goals of our Student Summer Employment Program is to expose local youth to the telecommunications industry and create interest in their future employment with Valley. We are looking forward to spending time with these PRESS Press Releases + + - students over the summer and helping them to learn about our industry and the future jobs they may be interested in locally.” said, Troy Judd, CFO. The Valley interviewing team was impressed with the student applicants. It was evident that the student applicants had prepared for their interviews and had done research on Valley.  The team will have a hard decision to make narrowing down the interview pool to the final four student employees. The student employees will gain valuable work experience during their summer employment, enabling them to build their resumes. Exposing students to the telecommunication industry benefits Valley creating future employment interest in the field.

About Valley TeleCom Group
Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Valley has offices in Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been providing services since 1962.  www.vtc.net

The grant is part of the Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program (ABDG) – a $100 million project under the Arizona Commerce Authority that represents one of the largest broadband investments in state history. The funding is focused on helping communities to construct or improve broadband infrastructure in rural areas.

“It’s a federal grant specific to rural Arizona, and that’s why our board was particularly anxious to get this done,” Graham County Supervisor Paul David said.

“Ordinarily, when we’re competing against metropolitan areas, we have a much lower success rate. We hate reading about other areas that took a chance, put money into a project and do see that success. So we thought, why not us? And we have high hopes,” he said.

After surveying a number of underserved areas, the board decided to expand broadband access northwest from Thatcher for this project, as Thatcher is the current terminus of fiber internet in Graham County. Valley Telecom invested around $9 million to bring fiber internet capability to the Town of Thatcher, and completed its first round of residential connections in October. “We really admired what Valley Telecom had done in Thatcher, and we really jumped at this opportunity because we’ve seen the return and the benefit to our county residents,” David said.

The pandemic also laid bare the importance of better internet connectivity for daily life. “Whether it’s school kids or people working from home, COVID definitely emphasized the fact that high-speed connectivity was missing, and because we don’t have four or five million to get into the business ourselves or the expertise for something like this, we thought partnering on this project, in essence, was the best way to deliver broadband to these communities,” David said.

Depending on the outcome of this grant cycle, David said the county’s success here could lead to further broadband expansion into the areas south and east of Safford, and between I-10 and Duncan. “Of course, we’re still hopeful. It’ll be a bitter pill if we don’t get anything, but if we do, boy wouldn’t that be wonderful,” David said. If awarded, both Graham County and Valley Telecom would match funds of up to $730,000 for the grant, with the county using funds from its last round of COVID relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act to bolster its application. The project in Graham is estimated to cost around $4.8 million, Graham County Supervisor Danny Smith said. “In a pre-COVID world, it would be kind of unusual for the county to be involved in such a thing because we don’t have the money to do such a thing,” Smith said. “But there’s money for broadband out there, and we’re trying to make sure we’re not leaving money on the table because it’ll go to other communities if we don’t apply for it,” he said.

Compared to a satellite internet connection, a fiber internet connection can support higher bandwidth and data rates. Most satellite internet providers offer speeds between 25 and 150 megabytes-per-second (Mbps), whereas cable and fiber can reach over 1,000 Mbps (or one gigabit per second). “With a fiber build, these communities will be able to get much more capacity,” said Heather Floyd, a spokesperson for Valley Telecom Group. “And just to be able to provide this level of service to a rural community…you can’t get this sort of service sometimes even in the bigger cities, so we’re ecstatic.”

Following the grant application deadline on Jan. 31, the Arizona Commerce Authority plans to announce grant recipients at the end of February. If the county’s project is selected, Floyd said things could move quickly. “All the grants have to be used within 24 months, and we’re estimating we could be done in about a year. There’s about a three-month time period for permits and securing a contractor, and once we have all that lined up, it’s about an eight-month build-out,” she said. Typically, only about a third of customers take the initial offering of a new internet provider, which adds up to about 300 households for this project, Floyd said, but once word gets out, interest will likely grow. “That tends to be our experience, really, with any product. There’s always early adopters and then people who wait until a little bit afterwards to commit, but then once the product is out there, more people tend to start calling in,” she said.

Valley Telephone Cooperative’s Board President, David Thompson said “We believe that supporting these students in furthering their education is what gives back to our community and we are so pleased to be able to invest in their future through higher education." Since 2003, the foundation has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships to worthy students and this year’s recipients were recognized during Valley Telephone Cooperative’s Virtual Annual Meeting on May 1, 2021.

The Valley Telephone Cooperative Foundation donated a total of $94,000 which was distributed between 10 school districts within their serving area. These donated funds were used to purchase laptops and tablets to support at-home student learning during the height of COVID-19. In addition, to further assist families during the pandemic, Valley created the DASH (Discounted Access for Student Homework) program, which provided discounted Internet service to families in need..
About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. They have offices in Animas, NM; Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been serving this area since 1962.

The last year has been difficult for many residents in our local communities and the grim reality of the coronavirus pandemic has put a large part of our population at risk. From November 1^st through mid-December of 2020, for each new customer that signed up for internet service, Valley TeleCom gave a $50.00 bill credit and donated $50.00 to support the customer’s favorite local cause. It was an arrangement designed to donate money back into the parts of our local communities that need it most.

“Through this campaign, we’ve been able to donate $4,300 to local food banks throughout Graham, Cochise, and Greenlee Counties in Arizona, and Luna and Hidalgo Counties in New Mexico. For those customers that chose animal shelters, Valley donated 2,100 pounds of cat food and 4,000 pounds of dog food to local animal shelters throughout these same counties,” said Lana Estes, Customer Relations manager, “We’re so proud to support our local communities.”

Now, more than ever, fast and reliable broadband internet is necessary to keep people connected to family, friends, and loved ones. The ability to work and learn from home has become an essential need as we face the challenges of living in a post-COVID world. Valley TeleCom is dedicated to ensuring easy and reliable access to internet and worry-free WiFi.

For more information, please contact Valley TeleCom Group at 800-421-5711.

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. They have offices in Animas, NM; Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been serving this area since 1962.

Many changes have occurred in the rural telecommunications industry in recent years and the Board of Directors has decided that the time is right to merge CVT into VTC. Once this merger is complete, all CVT customers will become patrons of VTC. Since VTC is a Cooperative, any profits generated are distributed to the patrons in the form of capital credits. After the merger, current CVT customers, now patrons of the Cooperative, will be eligible for capital credits from VTC for the first time. This merger will be very transparent to all customers and will not result in any rate changes or the appearance of your monthly bill.

Again, this will be a very transparent transaction to CVT and VTC customers and the new fiber construction that it will enable will be a tremendous benefit to customers in our serving area. We appreciate being your choice of
telecommunications service providers and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office at 1-800-421-5711.

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. They have offices in Animas, NM; Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been serving this area since 1962.

From now through mid-December, every time a new customer signs up for internet service, Valley TeleCom will donate $50.00 to support the local food bank or animal shelter, whichever cause the customer chooses. And, as a bonus, the new customer will receive a $50.00 credit on their bill. It’s a win-win arrangement that will donate money back into the parts of our local communities that need it most.

“There’s so much more we can do when we choose to work together,” said Jamie Wright, Customer Relations Supervisor. “During this season of magic, we’re reaching out and working with each new internet customer—to get them connected and to help them contribute to a greater good. It’s something we can do together to make great things happen in our communities.”

Now, more than ever, fast and reliable broadband internet is necessary to keep people connected to family, friends, and loved ones. The ability to work and learn from home has become an essential need as we face the challenges of living in a post-COVID world. Valley is dedicated to ensuring easy and reliable access to internet and worry-free WiFi—and to making sure each new connection contributes to the health of our local communities. For more information about the “Together, Let’s Create Some Magic” campaign, please contact Valley TeleCom Group at 800-421-5711.

About Valley TeleCom Group

Valley TeleCom Group is a local telecommunications company that provides high-speed Internet, phone and business solutions to southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. They have offices in Animas, NM; Clifton, AZ; Safford, AZ; and Willcox, AZ and have been serving this area since 1962.

•   Valley TeleCom Group Awards $84,000 in Scholarships to Local Area Students.
•   Valley Telephone Cooperative Returns Patronage Capital to Membership.
•   Valley Telephone Cooperative Holds 48th Annual Meeting at the Animas Public School
•   Valley TeleCom Group Awards $84,000 in Scholarships to Local Area Students.