Advanced Communications Technology (ACT) and Blackfoot Communications Announce Strategic Partnership

Combined use of network assets will streamline last-mile connectivity
to customers across the Pacific Northwest

SHERIDAN, Wyo. & MISSOULA, Mont.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConnectMT?src=hash" target="_blank"gt;#ConnectMTlt;/agt;–Advanced
Communications Technology (ACT) and Blackfoot
Communications announced today a strategic partnership to expand
their fiber network footprint, bringing high-speed, reliable
connectivity to businesses of all sizes across the western United
States. With more than 125 years of combined experience, plus a 15+ year
working relationship between ACT and Blackfoot, customers can expect a
seamless and time-saving experience when connecting last-mile locations.

This strategic partnership will transform today’s carrier services
environment with a combined service territory of more than 30,000
locations across 16+ states.

“Over the past several years, ACT and the Range Companies have
established a fiber optic network extending from southeast Montana to
Denver, Colorado with interfaces that allow for nationwide
connectivity,” said Aaron Sopko, General Manager at Advanced
Communications Technology. “A partnership with a high caliber company
such as Blackfoot Carrier Services will not only extend our reach, but
strengthen our offering through a combination of resources.
Geographically diverse, low latency routes to major destinations are
becoming more important, and ACT is able to accomplish both through
partnerships such as this one with Blackfoot.”

Businesses are facing increasing demands to support current and future
technologies and applications such as the internet of things (IoT),
autonomous vehicles, video-first content and augmented reality. This
demand will put additional pressure on expanding a connected network.
The ACT and Blackfoot partnership will enable customers to quickly turn
up connections across a reliable, high-capacity, low-latency fiber
backbone.

“We announced our newly established Blackfoot Carrier Services business
unit in 2018 and we’re already seeing tremendous interest in partnership
opportunities,” said Todd Twete, Director of Carrier Services at
Blackfoot Communications. “Expanding our fiber network with partners
like ACT will allow businesses to reach their customers across a wider
footprint with faster turn-up times and a full suite of voice and data
solutions to meet their growing and demanding needs.”

ACT and Blackfoot Carrier Services will be exhibiting at the 2019
International Telecoms Week (ITW) show in Atlanta, GA. Learn more at www.blackfoot.com/act-partnership.

ACT is part of The Range Companies, leaders in technologically
advanced communications solutions for residential, business and
wholesale customers. To learn more about Advanced Communications
Technology, visit www.actaccess.net.

Blackfoot Carrier Services is part of Blackfoot Communications, a
provider of advanced application and technology solutions to
residential, business and carrier/wholesale customers. To learn
more about Blackfoot Carrier Services, visit www.blackfoot.com/carrier.

Contacts

Blackfoot:
Wil Anderson, 406-541-5212

ACT:
JJ McGinnis, 307-673-0910