All communities and rural areas of Webster County are currently covered by fiber internet.

WCCTA provides service to Gowrie, Lanyon, Moorland, Barnum, Clare, Badger, Vincent and Duncombe, and are currently constructing service on the west, north, and east rural areas of Fort Dodge.

Lehigh Valley Cooperative Telephone Association (LVCTA) provides service to Dayton, Callender, Harcourt, Lehigh, Burnside, Otho and Coalville, as well as rural areas south of Fort Dodge.

Fort Dodge Fiber is working toward completion of 100 percent fiber service within the city limits of Fort Dodge.

Woolstock Mutual Telephone provides fiber service to a specific residential area, and Stratford Mutual Telephone is also 100 percent fiber in their rural area within Webster County.

“Iowa has the most independent internet providers, more than 120, of any other state in the nation as part of the Iowa Communications Alliance,” said Marcie Boerner, chief operating officer of WCCTA. “These local, community-based providers like WCCTA and LVCTA have been leading the way for fiber. Some areas have many options for internet, but providers use

various different forms of infrastructure such as copper, coax, or fixed wireless, each having their own limitations or in some cases providers not maintaining the network.”

WCCTA began replacing copper cables in 2002, finishing the 16 cooperative communities with 100 percent fiber by 2011. In 2018, they expanded competitively into the towns of Lohrville, Lake City, Rockwell City, and Manson. According to Boerner, they expanded in 2023 into rural Fort Dodge.

“To date, we have more than 1,000 miles of main line fiber throughout our service area,” said Boerner. “Fiber is more expensive initially, but will last 30 to 40 years, so it’s more economical in the long run.”

Fort Dodge Fiber, the City of Fort Dodge’s municipal broadband utility, has helped to bring the county to 100 percent fiber status. Since the local utility began laying fiber and conduit in March 2023, they’ve placed more than 620,000 linear feet of conduit and more than 250,000 linear feet of fiber cable.

“We are very excited to be a part of making Webster County fiber ready,” said Fort Dodge Fiber Director Jeremy Pearson. “A reliable internet connection is now a basic necessity for homes and businesses across Webster County, Iowa, and the nation. There is no better way to deliver the connection than on a fiber optic connection. By having fiber optic cable available, everyone in Webster County will be ready for the future and whatever that will bring!”

Since May 2024, Fort Dodge Fiber has installed more than 1,400 customers and is scheduling installations more than three weeks out.

Fiber internet, according to Boerner, “literally moves data at the speed of light.” With Webster County being 100 percent fiber ready, the opportunities for businesses and residents who utilize technology and the internet every day is endless.

“Currently, Webster County’s fiber providers are offering up to Gig service or more in a symmetrical format (same speeds up and downloading),” said Boerner. “While not everyone may need those speeds now, demand for bandwidth continues to increase.”

“As small providers, our customer service aspect is what makes us all unique,” added Pearson. “We are here in the same communities, fighting the same battles, and using the same connections as our customers. We want to make sure that our customers are happy and completely satisfied.”