Working from home in Montezuma County can be incredible, but your day hinges on a solid internet connection. Whether you’re near town or out on acreage, you want to know what will actually work for video calls, cloud files, and reliable uptime. In this guide, you’ll learn which technologies are available locally, what speeds you need, how to check an address, and what funding may change things soon. Let’s dive in.
Internet options in Montezuma County
Montezuma County has a mix of wired service in and near towns and wireless or satellite options across rural areas. Cortez and parts of Towaoc and Mancos see more wired choices, while many outlying properties depend on fixed wireless or satellite.
Wired service in town areas
CenturyLink advertises fiber in parts of Cortez with plans up to about 940 Mbps where available. Check current availability at your exact address on the CenturyLink Cortez fiber page. Aggregated availability snapshots show cable and fiber pockets vary by street and town, so always verify specifics using county provider summaries.
Fixed wireless across rural areas
Local wireless ISPs serve many rural addresses using tower-to-home radio links. Providers include CYAN Wireless, Ethos Broadband, Zumacom, Nimbus Solutions, Visionary, Farmers Telephone Company, and AlignTec. Some advertise multi‑tens to hundreds of Mbps where line of sight to a tower is possible; see example offerings on CYAN’s WAVfiber page. Because speeds depend on terrain and tower placement, confirm address-level service and expected performance before you commit.
Satellite and LEO options
Starlink is widely available in rural Colorado and lists typical download speeds in the 25 to 220 Mbps range with land latency commonly 25 to 60 ms, which supports video calls and VPN for many households. Review typical specs in Starlink’s service document. For very remote sites, geostationary satellite services like HughesNet and Viasat are often available, but high latency measured in hundreds of milliseconds limits real-time collaboration; Hughes explains this in its latency overview.
DSL and other legacy lines
CenturyLink DSL reaches many addresses where newer wired builds are not present, and Farmers Telephone serves some areas. Upload speeds and latency are typically more limited than fiber or well‑aimed fixed wireless, so confirm your actual upload needs if you rely on large cloud transfers.
Best options for remote work
Choosing the right connection depends on your address and workload. Here’s how common options perform for video, VPN, and cloud files.
Fiber
- Pros: High download and upload speeds, low latency, excellent for multiple users and large uploads.
- Cons: Limited to certain neighborhoods and streets; confirm address-level availability on the provider’s site. See CenturyLink’s Cortez fiber for an example.
Cable and town-limited fiber
- Pros: High download speeds and generally low latency for smooth calls and VPN.
- Cons: Upload speeds can be lower than downloads, which can slow big file pushes. Availability varies block by block; check local availability snapshots.
Fixed wireless
- Pros: Strong rural option with lower latency than geostationary satellite; many plans support HD video and work-from-home tasks. See example plans at CYAN WAVfiber.
- Cons: Requires a clean line of sight to a tower. Trees, terrain, or storms can affect performance. Get a written estimate for expected speeds at your address.
Mobile 4G/5G home internet
- Pros: Easy setup and useful as a backup or primary in some semi‑rural spots with good signal.
- Cons: Performance can vary during peak hours and uploads may not meet heavy needs. Check coverage strength at the property.
Starlink (LEO satellite)
- Pros: Works at many rural sites without tower line of sight; typical latency often supports video and interactive tools. See Starlink’s specs.
- Cons: Costs can be higher than some alternatives and speeds vary by location and network priority.
GEO satellite (HughesNet, Viasat)
- Pros: Nearly universal coverage, often the fastest path to basic connectivity.
- Cons: High latency and data policies make it a last resort for real-time work. See Hughes’ latency explanation.
How much speed you need
Your workload and household size drive the numbers.
- For one remote worker with HD video: a practical baseline is 10 to 25 Mbps down and about 5 Mbps up. Vendor guidance shows an HD call can use roughly 1 to 3 Mbps, but background apps push real needs higher. See typical video call needs in Zoom’s bandwidth guidance.
- For two or more simultaneous video users or heavy uploads: target 50 to 100+ Mbps down and 10 to 25+ Mbps up.
- For low‑latency tasks like VoIP and real‑time collaboration: aim for solutions under about 100 ms latency. Fiber, cable, quality fixed wireless, and Starlink LEO typically meet this.
Reliability and backup
If your work is mission‑critical, consider a secondary connection. Many rural residents pair fixed wireless or wired service with a cellular hotspot or Starlink and use a dual‑WAN router to fail over automatically. Confirm data limits and costs before you set it up.
Tune your home network
Use wired Ethernet for your primary workstation and enable Quality of Service on your router to prioritize video traffic. Run speed tests during typical work hours to see real performance. Montezuma County also encourages residents to share real speeds for mapping; see the Montezuma County Broadband Initiative page.
How to check an address
Use a mix of public maps, real‑world tests, and direct provider checks.
Step 1: Review state maps
Start with the Colorado Broadband Office mapping hub for a high‑level view of reported coverage and project areas. Visit the Colorado broadband map hub.
Step 2: Test and document speeds
If you can visit the property, run speed tests at different times of day and save screenshots. These help with provider conversations and mapping challenges. The county explains how to participate on the Broadband Initiative page.
Step 3: Contact local providers
Request an address‑level check and written expectations for speeds and install timelines. The county maintains a development contact list that includes local telecom and internet providers.
Funding and projects to watch
Significant public investments are in progress. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe received major federal awards to build fiber that will improve connectivity for Towaoc and nearby communities, reported at The Journal. Colorado’s Broadband Office continues to update mapping and administer BEAD-related programs. For the latest timelines, check the state mapping hub and county announcements. Build schedules vary by project and can take months to years.
Buyer and seller checklist
Getting clear on internet early can save headaches later.
If you are buying
- Ask the seller for the current provider, plan name, and whether the connection is fiber, cable, fixed wireless, or satellite.
- Request a recent wired speed test at peak hours and verify both download and upload.
- Confirm if there is rooftop equipment or a fixed wireless antenna that might need re‑alignment after closing. See county guidance on the Broadband Initiative page.
If you are selling
- List the ISP, plan speed tier, monthly cost, and whether equipment conveys with the property.
- Note any service contracts or transfer requirements. If you have a dedicated fiber drop, highlight it as a technical advantage. You can reference typical fiber offerings like CenturyLink’s Cortez fiber to describe service type.
The bottom line
You can work remotely in Montezuma County with the right connection. In town, fiber or cable often delivers the best experience. In rural areas, quality fixed wireless or Starlink can support modern remote work, especially when you plan for backups and tune your home network. If you are weighing properties, verify the address, document speeds, and get provider commitments in writing.
If you want local guidance on which neighborhoods and properties align with your remote work needs, reach out to Holly Matson for a practical, data‑driven plan.
FAQs
What internet types are available for remote work in Montezuma County?
- In and near towns, you may find fiber or cable; in rural areas, fixed wireless and Starlink are common, with geostationary satellite as a last resort.
How do I check if a Montezuma County property has good internet before I offer?
- Ask for the current provider and plan, run a wired speed test at peak hours, and verify address-level service with local ISPs using the state map and county contact resources.
What upload speed do I need for video calls from home?
- A single HD call can use about 1 to 3 Mbps, but plan for at least 5 Mbps up to keep calls stable alongside other apps; households with multiple callers should target 10 to 25+ Mbps up.
Is Starlink good enough for full-time remote work in rural Montezuma County?
- Often yes; typical latency around 25 to 60 ms supports video, VPN, and interactive apps, but speeds and priority can vary, so confirm your location and consider a backup option.
Will state or tribal funding bring fiber to my road soon?
- Projects are underway, but timelines vary by permitting and construction; check the Colorado Broadband Office mapping hub and local announcements for address-specific updates.
