In a rapidly evolving broadband market, speed matters. When Project Telephone Company, part of the Nemont Telephone Cooperative family, set out to expand fiber-to-the-home service into a new Minnesota territory, they weren’t alone. A competitor has eyes on the same area, and they were already building. For Project Telephone, success depended on moving fast, maintaining quality, and keeping residents happy.
Anderson Underground stepped in as a trusted construction partner, ready to adapt to aggressive timelines, rocky terrain, and the pressures of parallel competition. From underground directional boring through tough soil to damage prevention, communication, and punch-list closure, Anderson’s team made sure the client stayed in the race, and crossed the finish line with confidence.
CHALLENGES
This project brought a unique blend of urgency and environmental difficulty. Unlike other jobs that proceed on flexible timelines, the Nemont Telephone Cooperative needed to move fast. Their competitor had already started work in the same service area, creating a high-stakes construction race. Getting there first and doing it right was the only option.
Adding to the pressure was the physical terrain. The jobsite included residential areas with golf courses and high-end housing developments, where public perception and professionalism were key. On top of that, soil conditions were unpredictable, with rock and cobble in areas that complicated both plowing and drilling.
Navigating around an active competitor’s infrastructure also presented a great risk. The Anderson Underground team had to carefully coordinate locates and avoid damaging either party’s facilities, while protecting their own.
PROCESS
Anderson Underground was awarded the bid after the project had already been designed. The timeline wasn’t ideal, but the team adjusted quickly, mobilizing resources to meet the client’s tight schedule. Coordination was fast-tracked, and internal workflows were adapted to ensure the project could move efficiently without delay.
Scope of Services Delivered:
- Rural cable plowing using crawler and quad-track plows
- Directional boring through populated and rock areas
- Coordination with Selcon and UtiliSource (internal partners)
- Damage prevention support via UtiliSource
- Real-time project visibility through a centralized dashboard
- Final punch-list walkthrough and remediation with the owner
Field crews worked with a heightened focus on damage prevention, a necessity in a dual-contractor environment. In-house teams maintained current locates, constant situational awareness, and direct communication with the competing contractor’s teams to avoid conflict.
Internally, Anderson Underground maintained close dialogue and frequent status updates to keep crews focused and aligned with the project’s urgent timeline. It was a more hands-on management process than usual but it paid off.
“There was some urgency on this project. The customer had an aggressive goal, we got there when they needed us, adapted, and made it work.” – Nick Anderson, Anderson Underground
RESULTS
Despite rocky terrain, timeline pressure, and construction overlap with a competitor, Anderson Underground delivered the project successfully, on time, with quality intact.
Key outcomes include:
- Full fiber-to-the-home build completed within the client’s desired timeline
- Rock and cobble zones successfully navigated using directional boring
- All punch list items resolved collaboratively with client engineers
- Positive experience for both client and end-users in high visibility neighborhoods
- No major facility damage during a complex dual-contractor deployment
- Clear communication and visibility maintained via project dashboard
Beyond the checklist, this job demonstrated the kind of grit, adaptability, and partnership-first mindset that defines Anderson Underground’s work. Whether it’s hitting tight deadlines or navigating sensitive jobsite dynamics, the Anderson team delivers.
