For Many years, the Hopi Tribe struggled with inadequate telecommunications services on the Hopi Reservation. Prior to Hopi Telecommunications, Inc.(HTI) providing telecommunications services, the network, which was operated, maintained and regulated by non-Tribal entities, lacked many of the basic features and capabilities that are taken for granted in most other parts of the country. Telephone customers commonly experienced service outages, cross-talk and fast-busy signals due to inadequate network capacity. Many Tribal residents lived without phone service because the network was not available in their location. Attempts to contact the local carrier regarding service issues often lead to frustration and disappointment for Tribal Members.

Beyond the daily frustration of living with inadequate service, the Hopi Tribe identified a far greater problem with the previous telecommunications network on the Hopi Reservation. The lack of quality service was hindering the social and economic health of the Tribe. Today's education, healthcare, and commerce environments required greater connectivity and interaction on a local, regional and worldwide basis. The previous network made it difficult for the Hopi Tribe to compete with the rest of the world in these areas.

While the local, Tribal-employees of the telephone company desired to provide quality service, their efforts were unable to compensate for network investment decisions made from corporate headquarters located off the Hopi Reservation. The main focus of these organizations, based off the Hopi Reservation, was on their company's bottom line than they were of the needs, desires and well being of the Hopi Nation.

Hopi Telecommunications was established by the Hopi Tribal Council to deploy advanced telecommunications services that served the best interests of the Hopi Nation.

Hopi Telecommunications. Inc
HTI was established on April 9, 2004 by the Hopi Tribal Council. HTI is wholly owned
by the Hopi Tribe. We are a Tribal-owned and Tribal Chartered Corporation.
Mission of Hop] Telecommunications. Inc.
- To provide better quality telecommunications services to the Hopi Reservation
- To create a sustainable business that provides jobs to Tribal Members
- To provide a telecommunications infrastructure that promotes economic and social development
- To promote Tribal sovereignty through empowerment, self-sufficiency, and self-regulation

Purposes of HTI
- To construct, operate, and maintain telecommunications as a secure and profitable business of the Hopi Tribe as it relates to the retail or wholesale of telephones, computers, electronic equipment, and the provision of telecommunications services, including but not limited to: the receipt and transmission of telephone signals over the wire line, microwave, and cellular radio systems; the provision of cable television service and electronic data of all types and kinds, including software; and the provision of service and maintenance on all equipment sold or handled by Hopi Telecom and all similar equipment wherever manufactured, sold, and distributed.
- To develop, improve, and manage the telecommunications infrastructure on the Hopi Reservation and the lands of the Hopi Tribe; and
- To improve, promote, and develop businesses and economic opportunities for the Hopi Tribe and its members on or near the Hopi Reservation and the lands of the Hopi Tribe; and
- To enable the Hopi Tribe to develop its resources for the benefit of Tribal members; and
- To provide for the efficient and effective utilization of the resources of the Hopi Tribe in a manner which protects the long-term interests of the Tribe and provides income and opportunities to the Tribe and its members from the utilization of those resources; and
- To provide employment opportunities for the Hopi Tribe and its members on or near the Hopi Reservation and the lands of the Hopi Tribe; and To assist the Hopi Tribe in developing its Reservation into an economically viable homeland for present and future generations of Hopi people.

A five member Board of Directors serves as the primary policy-making body for Hopi Telecommunications, Inc. This Board will consist of at least 2 tribal members and 3 members with significant business experience.

The current Board consists of the following individuals:
Chairman of the Board - Carroll Onsae
Vice Chairman of the Board - James Underwood
Board Member - Wilbur Maho
Board Member - Donald Massey
Board Member - James "Mickey" McKandles
Board Member - Willie Moore

Carroll Onsae
President/General Manager


Carroll Onsae has a master's degree from Northern Arizona University in Business Administration and Custom Management. Mr. Onsae also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Science in the field of Business Administration and Management. Mr. Onsae served as Community Development Coordinator with the Hopi Tribe from 1978 to 1980. Mr. Onsae worked from 1980 to 1991 as Assistant Director and Director of Personnel for the Tuba City Unified School District. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Onsae served various roles including Personnel/Business Administrator for the Flagstaff Unified School District. Currently, Mr. Onsae works for the Hopi Tribe as Tribal Operations Officer.

James Underwood
Vice Chairman of the Board


James Underwood graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in the school of agriculture. Mr. Underwood was Office Engineer from 1963 to 1969 for Hicks & Ragland Engineering. He oversaw construction inspection, plans & specifications, drafting, plant records and system design. From 1969 to 1977, Mr. Underwood served as Office Engineer and Field Engineer, Southwest Area REA Telephone. During his stint he reviewed telephone loan designs for rural companies, plans & specifications and provided assistance to engineers and telephone companies. From 1977 to 1980, Mr. Underwood served as Engineering Branch Chief, Southwest Area REA Telephone. His duties included overseeing all engineering activities regarding REA borrowers in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana. From 1980-1998, Mr. Underwood was Director of Telephone Engineering for Hicks & Ragland Engineering and in 1986 became the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Hicks & Ragland. From 1999 until 2004, Mr. Underwood served as a Board Member for San Carlos Apache Telecommunications Utility, Inc. (SCATUI). SCATUI became a very successful rural telecommunications company which was wholly owned by the San Carlos Apache Tribe.


Wilbur Maho
HTI Board Member

Wilbur Maho is an U.S. Army 82nd Airborne veteran and has more than 30 years of managerial and financial management experience. Mr. Maho has been a branch manager in Keams Canyon and Tuba City, Arizona for Great Western Bank, Citibank (Citicorp) from 1978 to 1984 and 1985 to 1991. From 1984 to 1985 Mr. Maho was staff assistant to Hopi Tribal Chairman and Vice Chairman where he personally represented the offices at various functions held in local and state levels, including accompanying both Chairman and Vice Chairman to national functions. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Maho served as the Director of Administration for Hopi Tribal Housing Authority at Second Mesa, Arizona. Where he was the direct supervisor and management of the departments of Homeownership, Housing Management and Finance. Starting in 1995, Mr. Maho is currently the Administrative Manager for the Hopi Judicial Branch. In his current roll he prepare and provide reports of program activity, fiscal and operational status to Tribal Council, Chief Judge and funding agencies. Mr. Maho has implemented computerized case management system and help acquired grant funds from the Department of Justice of over $1.5 million.

Wilbur Maho has been active with the Keams Canyon Lions Club, Polacca Day School Board, PTA, Polacca Election Board and Candidate Hopi Tribal Chairman. Mr. Maho is converse fluent in Hopi and is familiar with Hopi Judicial Systems, Hopi Tribal Council, Southwest Native American population and political elements.

Donald Massey
HTI Board Member

Donny has 40 years of experience in the telecommunications business with Roosevelt County Rural Telephone Cooperative (RCRTC) in New Mexico.  Donny was instrumental in the establishment of Yucca Telecommunications Systems, Inc. (YTC) in 1984 a subsidiary of RCRTC.  YTC provided two-way radio equipment, two-way radio repeaters, one way digital paging, local access to the internet, long distance, calling cards, wireless internet, satellite internet, Roadrunner Express, cellular telephones.  Donny attended Lubbock Christian College.  He also received the NTCA Life Achievement Award for 2002.

James "Mickey" McKandles
HTI Board Member


Mickey McKandles was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone from 1951 to 1990. He held the positions of Stockman, Frame man, Plant Assigner, Central Office Repairman, Chief Switchman, Equipment Chief, Division Manager, Area Manager of Network Operations. Mr. McKandles served as a Board Member from 1995 to 2003 for San Carlos Apache Telecommunications Utility, Inc. (SCATUI). SCATUI became a very successful rural telecommunications company which was wholly owned by the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Wilfred Moore
HTI Board Member


Mr. Moore, an Army Corps of Engineers Veteran, has been involved in construction since his honorable discharge from the Army in 1960. Wilfred has been a Foreman or General Foreman in the construction business in or around the Seattle, WA. area. He has been involved in large concrete jobs from a new Veterans Administration Hospital to a 16 story, 2 year project to a 48 story, 3 year project. He has helped build warehouses and processing plants for the fishing industry in Alaska where winds would approach 100 knots and temperatures to 70 degrees below zero. In 1977 he returned to the Hopi Reservation to start his own business and to give back to the Hopi Tribe through the concrete business. Wilfred has recently retired from W. Moore Concrete Construction, but is still a Hopi Tribe Certified Contractor.