WHAT’S INSIDE
A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
by JASON MOOTHART
AT INTERBEL, WE BUILD CONNECTIONS THAT GO BEYOND TECHNOLOGY.
Dear InterBel Members,
InterBel was built by this community. Not by a distant corporation that spotted an underserved market. By neighbors. People who knew what it would mean to connect one of the most remote corners of the country to the rest of it. That origin still shapes what we do.
The source of your internet matters. A signal traveling through decades-old copper wire behaves very differently than one traveling through fiber optic cable. Fiber handles the way households actually run today: video calls, online school, telehealth, working from
home, three people streaming in three different rooms, without the slowdowns and dropped connections that older infrastructure can’t always avoid. We’ve continued expanding fiber throughout the Tobacco and Flathead Valleys because this community deserves technology that keeps up, and then some.
What we’re building isn’t just for today. Fiber handles things we haven’t invented yet. We don’t know what 2035 looks like, and neither does anyone else. We’d rather be ready.
This issue is full of stories that remind us why any of this matters. The Creative Arts Center in Eureka has been part of this community for decades, and watching them use reliable connectivity to keep serving kids, families, and local makers is exactly the kind of thing we hope to support. And Bailey Palmer’s story, growing up around this cooperative, coming back, building a career here, is a picture of what a cooperative is supposed to look like from the inside.
It’s a good community to work for. We don’t take that lightly.
With appreciation,
Jason Moothart
JASON MOOTHART General Manager & CEO, InterBel
RELIABLE INTERNET THAT GROWS WITH YOU
At InterBel, we’ve been connecting rural Montana since 1962 — first bringing telephone service, then dial‑up and DSL, and now high‑speed fiber internet that keeps your home, school, business, and community thriving.
We know quality connectivity is essential for everyday life — from online learning and telehealth to working from home and streaming what you love. That’s why we continue expanding fiber infrastructure throughout the Tobacco and Flathead Valleys and beyond, bringing fast, reliable internet right to your doorstep.
WHAT’S NEW AND HAPPENING:
FIBER WHERE YOU LIVE
Symmetrical speeds up to 1 Gbps now available for more homes and businesses than ever.
SUPPORTING LOCAL SCHOOLS
Projects like the recent distance learning rollout in Trego help students connect to classes, specialists, and the world beyond small-town limits.
CONFIDENT CONNECTIONS
Our service and support team is dedicated to helping you stay connected with less lag, fewer outages, and better coverage.
Whether you’re streaming, working, learning, or gaming, InterBel is here to keep your community connected — because life is better when your internet is up to speed.
Call 406‑889‑3311 to check availability or start service today Visit InterBel.com to learn more and explore plans.
HOW INTERBEL SUPPORTS THE CREATIVE ARTS CENTER IN EUREKA
ART, COMMUNITY, AND CONNECTION
A PLACE FOR CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY
Since its founding in the late 1980s, the Creative Arts Center (CAC) in Eureka has been a cornerstone for arts education and enrichment. While CAC offers programs for all ages — from toddlers in family yoga to adults exploring Pilates and tai chi — the center’s heart is in nurturing young creativity. Over 1,100 students walk through its doors each week, many of them children discovering dance, art, and movement for the first time. Various creative classes give kids a safe space to express themselves, build confidence, and connect with their community.
KEEPING UP WITH CHANGING TIMES
“When I first started in the 80s, there wasn’t even internet. The technology is so different now,” Cheryl Bressi, one of CAC’s founding members, reflects. Today, running a modern arts center requires more than just instructors and classrooms. Music for dance classes, research for art and science projects, maintaining databases, and even providing internet for parents in the building all demand reliable connectivity.
That’s where InterBel comes in. Their high-speed internet has become an essential tool for keeping CAC’s programs running smoothly and helping teachers bring the best experiences to children. “It opens the doors for all the activity directors that are involved with the Creative Arts Center,” Cheryl says.
IT HAS BEEN A GAMECHANGER AND ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT WAYS INTERBEL TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE FUNCTION AS AN ORGANIZATION.”
— CHERYL BRESSI, FOUNDING MEMBER
Reliable internet also allows CAC to maintain a robust membership database, track class enrollments and ages, and support event planning, giving staff the tools to meet the evolving needs of kids and families. Parents waiting for their children can also connect, making the center a comfortable, connected hub for the whole community.
Reliable connectivity has also changed how CAC operates behind the scenes. In 2020, the organization transitioned to hybrid board meetings. “It has been a game-changer and one of the very important ways InterBel technology has changed the way we function as an organization,” Cheryl shares. With reliable internet, board members can join meetings remotely when weather or travel keeps them away, while still staying connected to conversations happening at the Creative Arts Center.
BRINGING ART AND PEOPLE TOGETHER
CAC hosts community events like the annual Holly Faire, where local artisans and crafters sell their creations during the holiday season. InterBel’s internet allows vendors to connect payment systems seamlessly, ensuring smooth transactions and a professional experience for everyone.
With InterBel’s support, CAC continues to expand its role in the community, making classes, workshops, and events more accessible to kids, families, and local makers alike. “They have always been such a big support to the Creative Arts Center, we’re so grateful to have the support of InterBel and so many others in the community,” Cheryl says, highlighting the value of their longstanding partnership.
GROWING TOGETHER, GENERATIONS STRONG
CAC’s programs reach across generations, but children remain at the center of its mission. Former students are now enrolling their own children, carrying forward a legacy of creativity and community engagement. “The students that I had are now putting their kids in the program. That’s really cool because it’s going into the next generations,” Cheryl shares.
With InterBel’s continued support, CAC is well-equipped to grow and evolve with the community’s needs, ensuring that arts and culture remain accessible, vibrant, and connected for kids and adults. “We are all evolving together with technology,” Cheryl says. “It’s pretty special to have InterBel in our community.”
ROOTED IN EUREKA, BUILT ON CONNECTION
The Creative Arts Center exemplifies how a small-town organization can flourish with the right combination of vision, community support, and modern technology. Thanks to InterBel, CAC isn’t just offering classes — it’s giving children and families opportunities to explore, create, and connect, building experiences and memories that will resonate for generations to come.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A BIG SUPPORT TO THE CREATIVE ARTS CENTER, WE’RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF INTERBEL AND SO MANY OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.”
— CHERYL BRESSI
EMPLOYEE PROFILE
BAILEY PALMER A LIFETIME OF CONNECTION
THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, I WOULDN’T BE WHERE I AM WITHOUT INTERBEL .”
— BAILEY PALMER
Bailey Palmer has grown up alongside Eureka and InterBel.
Her grandfather worked at the cooperative for 42 years, and Bailey spent much of her childhood exploring the office, watching the team at work, and soaking up the community spirit. Those early experiences gave her a lasting sense of connection to the cooperative and the people it serves.
“I remember being around seven years old, running around the back warehouse. Now I’m here as a full-time employee. It’s crazy to be part of the new generation at InterBel,” she reflects. From those early childhood memories to her current role as billing administrator, Bailey has witnessed firsthand how the cooperative has grown and evolved
A CAREER THAT CAME FULL CIRCLE
Bailey’s journey at InterBel began in high school as a student worker, helping with smaller tasks from labeling routers to checking spreadsheets for accounting. After college, she returned in 2021 as a full-time customer service representative and eventually made it to her current role in the finance department.
Her early experiences taught her the value of every role in the cooperative, and how teamwork behind the scenes ensures members get the service they need.
In her role, Bailey answers member questions, resolves billing issues, manages regulatory reporting, and oversees important
processes. But what makes her work most meaningful is the people she serves and the relationships she’s built over the years.
“I think being able to grow up with InterBel, from seeing it as a child to now, is a cool transition especially seeing all the people who are still here from when I was a child. I’m most proud of that because not everybody gets to experience seeing InterBel for 25 years,” she shares.
She enjoys connecting with members, helping them when they have questions, and seeing familiar faces come through the office. Those everyday interactions make her work feel personal, rewarding, and rooted in the community.
LIFE IN EUREKA AND MONTANA
Bailey has lived in the Tobacco Valley her whole life, and it shows in how much she values the people and the place. “I’ve lived here 25 years, born and raised here. It’s been a really great place to grow up. There’s always something to do in the mountains,” she says. Bailey appreciates the strong sense of community that makes Eureka so special.
Bailey and her husband enjoy getting outside and taking in Montana’s wide-open spaces. “I love the freedom it gives you. You can go out, be alone with your thoughts if you need to, and just have that space,” she says. From snowmobiling in the winter to boating in the summer, and hiking and hunting in between, Bailey embraces the simple joys of life here, finding balance and peace in Montana’s natural beauty.
I’VE LIVED HERE 25 YEARS, BORN AND RAISED HERE. IT’S BEEN A REALLY GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP. THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO IN THE MOUNTAINS.” — BAILEY PALMER
WITNESSING INTERBEL’S GROWTH
Having spent so much of her life around InterBel, Bailey has a unique perspective on the cooperative’s growth. She appreciates both the teamwork behind the scenes and the relationships that have lasted for decades.
Watching the cooperative evolve over time has deepened her respect for both the people who keep it running and the members it serves. She values seeing familiar faces in the office and the way the community comes together to support each other. For Bailey, that sense of connection makes working at InterBel more than just a job. It’s being part of a community.
CONNECTIONS AND GRATITUDE
For Bailey, the relationships she’s built are just as important as the work itself. She treasures her coworkers and the members she interacts with regularly. Bailey reflects: “This is a great place to work, I wouldn’t be where I am without InterBel.”
From childhood memories of running around the warehouse to helping members today, Bailey embodies the cooperative spirit: rooted in family, community, and service, and dedicated to making meaningful connections along the way.
I REMEMBER BEING AROUND SEVEN YEARS OLD, RUNNING AROUND THE BACK WAREHOUSE. NOW I’M HERE AS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE. IT’S CRAZY TO BE PART OF THE NEW GENERATION AT INTERBEL .”
— BAILEY PALMER
WHICH INTERBEL INTERNET
PERSONALITY ARE YOU? (TAKE THE QUIZ!)
Ready to find out what type of InterBel internet user you really are?
Pick the answers that fit your everyday life:
Streaming movies without buffering
Zooming into work meetings like a pro
Helping kids with homework and online classes
All of the above
Zero lag gaming nights
Video calls that never drop
School projects anytime
All of the above, all the time
Shared across three generations
A top secret code only your dog knows
Written on a sticky note somewhere... maybe
Whatever InterBel set it to (because it just works)
You want fast, reliable speeds that keep videos smooth and entertainment flowing. InterBel fiber is built for you.
Crystal‑clear meetings, fast uploads, no interruptions — business‑level internet that keeps your workflow on target.
Speedy and smooth
“Did someone hit pause?”
It works… mostly
Easy, fast, reliable
The one that never shows up
A brief pause before greatness
A spinning wheel of doom
Wait… what’s a loading screen?
The envy of the neighborhood
Mostly fine, with occasional hiccups
Built on hopes and prayers
Ready for anything: movies, homework, Zoom, you name it
From online school to telehealth to weekend game night, strong connectivity brings everyone together.
You want it all and you want it now. InterBel’s high‑speed, symmetric fiber internet delivers the performance you expect in today’s digital world.
INTERBEL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE INC.
300 DEWEY AVENUE
EUREKA, MT 59917
OFFICE: (406) 889-3311
TECH: (406) 889-1500
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY, CONNECTED BY FIBER.
From
Proud to be your local cooperative.