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With support from InterBel, the Eureka Volunteer Ambulance Service is bringing necessary care to rural Montana
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InterBel is expanding our fiber network southward to support businesses like Stillwater Bar
by JASON MOOTHART
We don’t just provide internet services— we aim to be an integral part of our customers’ lives. That’s why we work tirelessly to ensure that our network not only connects you to the digital world but also keeps you connected to each other. As your local Connected Cooperative, we know that it’s also important to keep you connected to everything happening behind the scenes at InterBel. I’m proud to share another edition of InterBel Happenings, highlighting stories from our team and customers.
Stillwater Bar’s recent upgrade from decades-old copper internet to highspeed fiber is just one example of how we’re supporting local businesses through our southward expansion. Faster connections mean you can enjoy your time (and a couple of pints) at this local landmark while staying seamlessly connected to the world.
But it’s not just about technology. Our community is defined by the people who make it special. We’re proud to stand alongside the Eureka Volunteer Ambulance Service (EVAS), offering our support with high-speed fiber internet and funds for a new Smart Board for EMS education. Together, we’re making a significant impact on the safety and well-being of our neighbors.
As we continue to expand and improve our fiber network, rest assured that our commitment to local service remains at the core of everything we do. We believe that by empowering our community with the best technology solutions, we can help you grow and thrive along with us.
Thank you for entrusting us with your connectivity needs. We’re honored to be part of this remarkable community, and we look forward to a future filled with progress, partnership, and prosperity.
Warm regards,
Jason Moothart
JASON MOOTHART General Manager, InterBel
The Tobacco Valley is home to some of the most beautiful and impressive countryside on the planet. With small towns and rural populations come boundless vistas with endless skies and rolling hills–after all, there are no skyscrapers to mar the view.
With views like these, it’s no surprise that we choose to live in this remote country. From hiking to hunting, wildlife watching to wilderness exploration, life in the Tobacco Valley is practically paradise–but it comes at a cost.
When we choose to live in a rural community, we don’t always think about how far away our home is from the nearest hospital–at least 45 minutes. With life and livelihood on the line, moments cannot be wasted. Thankfully, Eureka and the surrounding areas can rely on the stellar team at the Eureka Volunteer Ambulance Service (EVAS) to connect them to the care they need, quickly.
Serving over 531 square miles, the EVAS is made up of 21 dedicated volunteers who vary in age from late teens to mid-seventies. Last year, the EVAS answered 630 calls for help, delivering lifesaving care to the people of the Tobacco Valley.
That care comes with a sense of community. Rachel Durham is the Director of Operations, AEMT, and a lead instructor for the EVAS. Durham spent her childhood in Eureka and returned as an adult. The people she serves are people she’s known her entire life--that’s part of why she is so passionate.
“You get to know people and they become your family,” Durham said.
At InterBel, we know how important it is to be a part of a community–we’re community members too, after all. That’s why, when the EVAS needs support with their technology, we are excited to jump in and help.
Internet is essential to the EVAS, and a slow connection won’t cut it when every heartbeat matters. EMTs use iPads at the station and in the field–when a call comes in, the EMT on duty can download critical patient information before jumping into the ambulance and hitting the siren.
Those moments while the EMT waits for the patient information to load need to be as short as possible. With fiber
from InterBel, what could have been a long wait for a download now is lightning fast, meaning EMTs can get to the scene quicker.
High-speed and high-quality internet is vital to more than just the work the EVAS does in the field. The EVAS needs powerful connectivity as they continue to shape the future of EMS in the Tobacco Valley. With both initial training and continuing education for their volunteers, the EVAS creates opportunities for folks to get involved, save lives, and contribute to the community.
When a job is as varied and as hands-on as EMS work, a pen and paper just won’t cut it.
“We had a dinosaur of a projector that has been here way before my time,” Durham said, “So I was looking for options. What could we do for our training? How could it enhance our training?”
Durham tried for two outside grants to get money for a new Smart Board, with no success. A friend told her to try the local cooperatives, so Durham did just that. When she stood before a meeting of the InterBel board of directors and made her case, we were more than happy to provide the necessary funds.
With new tech comes the need for new knowledge. Since jumping from static to
smart means learning whole new systems of software, InterBel was ready to assist the EVAS in any way we could to ease the transition.
“[InterBel] went above and beyond and installed it, and helped me learn some of it,” Durham said. “It felt like they wanted to give so much without any question at all.”
The new Smart Board will help shape the future of EMS education at the EVAS. Eventually, Durham hopes to incorporate training for the highest level of EMS: paramedic training. Typically, a prospective paramedic needs to find a technical school or college to earn their credentials. For hopefuls in Eureka, those schools are often out-of-reach if they want to continue to live in the Tobacco Valley.
YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE AND THEY BECOME YOUR FAMILY.
— RACHEL DURHAM
“The closest paramedic facility is Flathead Community College,” Durham said. “And for us to go there, it’s so many days a week to drive back and forth for two years.”
Offering a paramedic certification course and the required continuing education would open up more access to high-quality emergency care in Eureka. With the new Smart Board, the EVAS can offer distance learning.
“Our goal is to train them locally. With the Smart Board being smart as it is, we can have a lot of teachers that are from other places to do it remotely,” Durham said.
Working in EMS means more than just knowing how to tie a tourniquet–it means serving our community and being there for folks on what is often the worst day of their lives. At InterBel, we wanted to go above and beyond for the EVAS because they go above and beyond for us every day. We’re honored to be able to serve the EVAS in any way we can, whether it be funding for a Smart Board, high-quality connectivity, or helping them help the Tobacco Valley.
[INTERBEL] WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND… IT FELT LIKE THEY WANTED TO GIVE SO MUCH WITHOUT ANY QUESTION AT ALL.
— RACHEL DURHAM
Halfway between the towns of Eureka and Whitefish, Montana, tucked among the pines and firs, sits a bar.
Established in the 1900s as a watering hole for weary railroad and lumber workers, Stillwater Bar has since become a staple of northwest Montana, drawing in locals and travelers alike. From the solid wood structure to the placid lake that gives the establishment its name, much of Stillwater Bar has stood untouched over the years. That said, there have been a few changes–and not just the addition of hazy IPAs and fruited sours to the taplist.
This summer, Stillwater Bar’s outdated copper internet line was upgraded to high-speed fiber as part of InterBel’s southern expansion. Christopher O’Boyle, Sales Executive & Brand Ambassador at InterBel, explains that the upgrade will take Stillwater Bar’s
connection from less than 20 megabytes per second up to one gigabit.
With this increased speed, patrons at Stillwater Bar can enjoy free Wi-Fi right from their seats. Employees appreciate the improvement to their once agonizingly slow credit card processing system.
“The services that InterBel is providing is going to make everything so much quicker for the day-to-day staff here at Stillwater,” O’Boyle said.
Stillwater Bar is just one of over 1,000 homes and businesses in Lincoln and Flathead counties that will be upgraded to fiber internet as part of InterBel’s ongoing expansion. In 2022, we accomplished our goal of connecting the entire town of Eureka to high-speed fiber–but our work was far from over.
“There are so many underserved areas south of Eureka where the internet connection is subpar. Their current speeds are just unsatisfactory,” O’Boyle said. “InterBel will come in and update them to the highest speeds possible.”
Even as InterBel grows, we remain committed to providing our customers in Kalispell and beyond with the same level of local service we’d give to our next-door neighbors.
O’Boyle, who lives and works in Kalispell himself, is especially passionate about forging relationships with new business customers in his area.
“The relationship between InterBel and our customers is essential,” O’Boyle said. “We want to provide the local businesses with the best possible technology solutions so that they can help grow along with us.”
Businesses, residents, and visitors across northwest Montana will soon be able to experience the cutting-edge connectivity InterBel has to offer–while still enjoying the beautiful scenery that has been drawing people to places like Stillwater Bar for decades.
“We have mountains, beautiful lakes, waterfalls. It’s just an outdoor paradise,” O’Boyle said.
“With InterBel, you can be at a bar on a remote northwest Montana lake and still have amazing one gig speeds.”
THE SERVICES THAT INTERBEL IS PROVIDING IS GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING SO MUCH QUICKER FOR THE DAY-TODAY STAFF HERE AT STILLWATER.
—CHRISTOPHER O’BOYLE
Sales Executive & Brand Ambassador at InterBel
In the past months, InterBel has achieved significant success in obtaining various grant awards aimed at expanding its network and enhancing its service offerings. The primary highlight is the USDA ReConnect 4 grant, which has enabled the cooperative to extend its fiber network in Eureka and Rexford, while also reaching remote areas like Star Meadows in Flathead County.
This $12 million grant, awarded at a 100% rate, empowers InterBel’s commitment to providing high-quality service and reduces the financial burden on cooperative members. This expansion into new territories is a strategic move to safeguard InterBel’s future from pricecap carriers, ensuring that the community continues to receive the level of service and support it deserves.
The USDA ReConnect 4 grant has been a game-changer for InterBel, particularly in facilitating the completion of fiber buildout projects in Eureka and Rexford. Moreover, the inclusion of Star Meadows in the expansion plan reflects InterBel’s dedication to reaching even the most remote and underserved regions, thereby enhancing connectivity for
those who need it most. The grant has not only accelerated the cooperative’s efforts but also reinforced its commitment to bridging the digital divide in rural areas.
In addition to the USDA ReConnect 4 grant, InterBel secured another grant through the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telehealth program, amounting to $275,000. This grant is directed toward replacing hardware in three local schools–Eureka, Fortine, and Trego–and establishing the necessary infrastructure to support telehealth services. By investing in educational institutions, InterBel is contributing to the welfare of the community, facilitating improved access to education and healthcare services, and furthering its mission of community support.
The Connect MT grant has also been instrumental in InterBel’s growth. The cooperative received three distinct projects that cover a substantial portion of West Valley in Flathead County. Leveraging existing transport fiber constructed in 2020, InterBel has established its independent route out of Lincoln County. This not only enhances network redundancy and reliability but also
strengthens InterBel’s position as a reliable and innovative telecommunications provider. These projects reflect InterBel’s commitment to continued improvement, ensuring that their services remain robust and resilient.
InterBel’s successful grant awards–with the USDA ReConnect 4 grant at the forefront–have significantly advanced its mission to expand its network into new territories and serve underserved areas. These grants not only lessen the financial burden on cooperative members but also protect the cooperative’s future from less service-oriented carriers. The expansion into areas like Eureka, Rexford, and Star Meadows highlights InterBel’s dedication to rural communities. In addition, the grants support educational and healthcare initiatives, contributing to the overall well-being of the community. The Connect MT projects further solidify InterBel’s presence in the region and underscore its commitment to providing reliable and high-quality telecommunications services. InterBel’s grant awards are a testament to its ongoing commitment to enhancing connectivity, supporting communities, and ensuring a robust telecommunications network for all.
EUREKA,
59917 OFFICE: (406) 889-3311 TECH: (406) 889-1500
