Innovating Rural Prosperity: Siskiyou Telephone’s Broadband Boost to Jobs and Economy

Eighty One Million Dollar Project Bettering Siskiyou County

In the rugged terrain of Western Siskiyou County, a telecommunications revolution is quietly unfolding. Siskiyou Telephone Company, a local telecom provider with deep roots in the community, is partnering with the state of California to bring cutting-edge broadband infrastructure to one of the most challenging and sparsely populated regions in the state.

Siskiyou Telephone has long been guided by the principles of being “Local, High Quality and Reliable.”

This philosophy is evident in the company’s mission statement:

“Our mission at Siskiyou Telephone is to be the preferred provider of reliable, advanced telecommunications solutions and quality customer care in the communities that we serve, enhancing company value through growth and diversity while remaining an employee and community oriented company.“

This commitment to local service, quality, and community orientation sets Siskiyou Telephone apart in an industry often dominated by large, impersonal corporations.

At the helm of this innovative company is CEO Russ Elliott, who is celebrating his third year leading Siskiyou Telephone. Elliott brings with him 30 years of experience in broadband infrastructure development and policy, most recently working closely with governors in Wyoming and Washington state to build robust Wi-Fi and fiber optic networks focusing on serving small rural communities.

CEO Russ Elliott pictured

The company’s current project is nothing short of ambitious. With nearly 80% of their fiber build-out complete, Siskiyou Telephone will be utilizing multiple construction crews and numerous funding strategies to navigate the remaining  remote and vast area. The steep terrain and granite bedrock make this region one of the costliest areas for underground fiber construction  in the country.

One of the biggest projects underway is The Middle Mile project, a joint build with the state of California, which will highlight the power of public-private partnerships. Siskiyou Telephone has already built 80 miles, while the state will construct the other 80 miles of the network. This collaboration enables significant cost savings for both Siskiyou Telephone and the state in connecting the network to the world, building in redundancy and allows Siskiyou to add the remaining homes to the network at a much reduced cost.

“It’s about working together and sharing infrastructure,” Elliott explains. “This prevents building redundant systems and focuses on the most cost-effective approach – opening the ground only once, laying the pipe, and closing it up.”

The project’s scope is immense: 161 miles to be built, with 80 miles already complete as part of Siskiyou Telephones’ federal obligation, and the remaining 80 miles to be finished by 2026. This will create a highly reliable, redundant system covering 2,300 square miles and serving an area with less than three people per square mile.

Siskiyou Telephone’s network includes seven exchanges across western Siskiyou County. All of these exchanges have areas without commercial electricity. In these areas, Siskiyou Telephone provides power to its voice and data services.

The total investment is substantial, with up to $70 million for the middle mile project and just announced last week, an additional $11.7 million awarded for a last mile project. This last mile project will complete several key areas including West Moffett Creek, McAdams Creek, Soap Creek, Light Hill, and Orofino. Importantly, this will work in concert with the middle mile fiber network eventually including the remaining homes along Island Road, effectively completing central Scott Valley. 

“This doesn’t result in money in the company’s pocket,” Elliott emphasizes. “It all has to be spent on the infrastructure benefiting the citizens of Siskiyou County.   It will however provide our community with economic growth, jobs, and stability for years to come.”

This extensive network isn’t just about home internet connections. It’s worth noting that when customers choose Siskiyou Telephone for their service, they’re part of something much larger than a typical telephone/broadband network. In fact, the local cell towers are powered by Siskiyou Telephone’s fiber network, underlining the company’s crucial role in the region’s overall telecommunications infrastructure.

As a company that is regulated by the California Public Utility Commission, Siskiyou Telephone is not allowed to earn more than an 8% rate of return.  Because Siskiyou continues to reinvest in more robust infrastructure across our region, Siskiyou Telephone has never realized the full allowed return.  Instead, the company focuses on reinvesting in the remaining challenging builds with the best performance in an effort to reach 100% of our customers with the critical fiber we all will soon demand. 

“We are future-proof,” Elliott proudly states. “Think about it – during the pandemic, what would we have done without this infrastructure?  Broadband will be our most critical infrastructure going forward.   Broadband is powering our lives today and will power exponentially more tomorrow.”