Open access fiber network in Montana
Yellowstone Fiber Bozeman
A Bozeman nonprofit building an open access fiber network across the city and Gallatin County. It owns the infrastructure and does not sell service. Private internet providers ride it and compete on the same fiber.
Yellowstone Fiber is a Bozeman nonprofit, created in 2015 as Bozeman Fiber, building a 65 million dollar open access fiber network to roughly 22,000 homes, businesses and public buildings in the city, with rural Gallatin County to follow. UTOPIA Fiber operates it. The important thing about it is structural: Yellowstone Fiber owns the infrastructure and does not sell service. Private providers ride the same fiber and compete on it, which makes Bozeman the only Montana metro where several carriers can reach one address over one new network.
Where Yellowstone Fiber is strong
- Open access, so several providers can reach the same address over one network and compete on price and service
- Advertised business capacity up to 100 Gbps, which is unusual for a city of Bozeman's size
- Nonprofit, with UTOPIA Fiber operating the network, so the model is proven elsewhere rather than experimental
- New build throughout, so there is no inherited copper anywhere on it
Yellowstone Fiber in Montana specifically
- You cannot buy from Yellowstone Fiber. Pick a provider on the network. The contract, the support and the SLA are that provider's, not Yellowstone's.
- Advertised business capacity runs up to 100 Gbps, which is unusual for a city this size and is a real reason to look here first for a heavy requirement.
- New build throughout, so there is no inherited copper anywhere on it.
- The build is in progress. Being in Bozeman is not the same as being passed by it.
- Ask which provider on the network sells a dedicated product with service credits, because they do not all offer the same thing.
Best fit. Bozeman and Gallatin County businesses, and any Bozeman address where the requirement is larger than a business broadband tier.
What to watch for before you sign
- You cannot buy from Yellowstone Fiber. Pick one of the providers on the network, and the contract, the support and the SLA are theirs, not Yellowstone's.
- Bozeman and Gallatin County only. It is not a Montana-wide option.
- The build is in progress. Being in Bozeman is not the same as being passed.
- Ask which provider on the network offers a dedicated product with service credits, because not all of them do.
Products
- Open access fiber infrastructure
- Wholesale access for retail providers
What a Montana business pays, and how to judge a quote from Yellowstone Fiber
Business internet is priced per address, so there is no Yellowstone Fiber rate card anyone can hold them to. What follows is what businesses in Montana typically pay at a building that is already lit, whichever carrier serves it. Use it to judge the quote you get.
| Bandwidth | Dedicated internet, monthly | Business fiber broadband, monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 50 Mbps | approximately $329 | approximately $100 |
| 100 Mbps | approximately $369 | approximately $100 |
| 200 Mbps | approximately $464 | approximately $150 |
| 500 Mbps | approximately $499 | approximately $200 |
| 1 Gbps | approximately $680 | approximately $400 |
| 10 Gbps | approximately $2,500 | approximately $2,500 |
What installation usually costs
| Situation | Typical up front cost | What is happening |
|---|---|---|
| Building already lit | $0 to $500 | The carrier is already inside. A cross connect and a router. |
| Short lateral build | $0 to $15,000 | Fiber runs nearby. Carriers often absorb some or all of it on a longer term. |
| Long or difficult build | $15,000 to six figures | Real construction. Permits, trenching, possible crossings. |
Contract term
- 36 months is the usual starting point for business fiber and dedicated internet. 12 and 24 month terms exist and normally cost more per month.
- 60 months buys the biggest discount and the largest construction contribution, which is why it is worth pricing even if you do not sign it.
- Ask for the construction charge at 36 months and at 60 months as two separate numbers. That gap is the real negotiation.
- Check the renewal and the annual escalator before the monthly price. A cheap year one with an automatic uplift is not a cheap contract.
Full Montana dedicated internet pricing, or Montana business fiber broadband pricing.
Compare against the alternatives in Montana
Metro guides that compare Yellowstone Fiber
Each of these works through the local carrier picture, typical pricing and install timelines for that market. Availability is still a per address question.
Yellowstone Fiber in Montana: common questions
Is Yellowstone Fiber available at my Montana address?
Carrier footprints change constantly and no public map is accurate at the building level. We check serviceability directly with each carrier before telling you what you can get. Give us the address and we will confirm with Yellowstone Fiber directly, along with every other carrier that could reach it.
How much does Yellowstone Fiber business internet cost in Montana?
Business internet is priced per address, so there is no Yellowstone Fiber rate card to quote, and a site that shows you one is guessing. In Montana we typically quote approximately $329 a month for 50 Mbps of dedicated internet and approximately $680 for 1 Gbps, at a building that is already lit. Business fiber broadband at 1 Gbps typically runs approximately $400. Construction, contract term and which carriers reach the building move the real number.
Is Yellowstone Fiber the cheapest option in Montana?
Sometimes, and it depends almost entirely on whether your building is already on their network. A carrier who is already in the building will normally beat a carrier who has to build, regardless of list pricing.
Can I buy Yellowstone Fiber through you at the same price?
Yes. Pricing is the same as going direct. The difference is that you get every other carrier's number at the same time, and you are not managing the process yourself.
Check Yellowstone Fiber availability at your address
We will confirm whether Yellowstone Fiber can serve you, and quote every other carrier that can reach the building at the same time.
Prefer to talk through your options?
Bring your address, timeline, and internet requirements. Book a call with Cody for independent guidance.
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