Ponderosa Broadband acquires CommunityLTE in Maricopa

A sign along Papago Road near Dollar General announces Ponderosa Broadband’s acquisition of CommunityLTE, the local internet provider for Hidden Valley and Thunderbird Farms. Aug. 29, 2025. [Elias Weiss]

Hidden Valley and Thunderbird Farms residents are seeing a new internet provider name on their monthly bills. 

O’Neals, Calif.-based Ponderosa Broadband last month acquired locally owned internet service provider CommunityLTE, according to a press release. It’s a move the new provider says will “accelerate network upgrades, expand coverage and deliver new services while maintaining the customer-first approach CommunityLTE is known for.” 

Ponderosa is a family-owned communications company focusing on providing internet and telephone services for rural communities in southern and central California.  

CommunityLTE entered the rural Maricopa market in 2023, when it said it wanted to bring “lightning-fast internet speeds at affordable prices” to Thunderbird Farms and Hidden Valley.

“From day one, CommunityLTE has been about neighbors helping neighbors. Ponderosa shares that mission,” said co-founder Morey Bang.

A CommunityLTE tower serving Maricopa. Nov. 2, 2023. [InMaricopa file]

Currently, the options for high-speed internet in Hidden Valley and Thunderbird Farms are exceptionally slim, with satellite internet provider Starlink the only other real option. However, the startup costs will run most customers at least $400, including a $250 demand surcharge.

Customers won’t see any immediate changes other than Ponderosa branding on communications and billing. Bang said current CommunityLTE customers will soon see faster speeds and expanded coverage. However, there is no word on how soon this may occur.

In the meantime, there are no plans to change rates, customer service, billing or general internet service, according to the press release.