After nearly four years, Cox Communications has announced the completion of its broadband expansion project in rural Yavapai County, Arizona. The multi-year broadband expansion was one of three projects featured in NCTA’s docufilm, “Every Last Mile.”
“Every Last Mile” captures the untold story of bringing high-speed internet to remote and underserved communities in Alaska, Arizona, and Minnesota. To learn more about the work being done to connect every American, visit NCTA’s website and watch “Every Last Mile.”
Bringing Fiber to Hard-to-Reach Communities
The broadband expansion was the result of a nearly four-year public-private partnership between Cox Communications and Yavapai County aimed at bringing reliable high-speed internet to some of Arizona’s most difficult-to-serve areas. The project extended connectivity to approximately 2,500 homes and businesses in previously un- and underserved communities, including Congress and Black Canyon City.
“Rural fiber is hard because the environment is always the boss — the heat, the terrain, the distance, and surprises you only find once you’re in the ground,” said Cox Communications Construction Director Todd Niesen.
To complete the build, construction crews deployed more than 100 miles of fiber infrastructure across rugged desert terrain, navigating challenges that included hard rock construction, complex permitting requirements, and coordination across federal lands. The completed network now gives residents access to opportunities and services that depend on reliable broadband.
Reflecting on the journey, Niesen said, “This is what digital access looks like in real life, building infrastructure where it’s hardest, so opportunity isn’t limited by zip code. When a community gets a reliable connection, it opens doors for schools, work, healthcare, and small businesses, and that’s worth every last mile.”
