Submitted by TDS
Last month, TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS®) was approved for $123.5 million in broadband expansion projects in 20 states. The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will be used to expand high-speed Internet services to business and residential customers.
“This is great news for our customers and employees alike,” says Dave Wittwer, president and CEO of TDS Telecommunications Corp. “TDS has always believed our rural and suburban customers deserve equal access to high speed broadband services. We fully support the government’s initiatives aimed at this common objective.”
The August announcements mean 42 of the 46 applications TDS submitted in March (for second round broadband stimulus funding) are being funded. More approvals could be forthcoming as the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) continues its work to meet a September 30, 2010 statutory deadline requiring the agency to distribute all $2.6 billion in federal broadband stimulus funding under their jurisdiction.
In total, TDS will receive $92.6 million in federal grants and provide $30.9 million of its own funds to complete the projects. These public-private partnership awards follow TDS’ round-one successes—$12.5 million in grants to construct and expand broadband networks in Chatham, Mich. and Butler, Ala.
“Now we have the opportunity to bring reliable and affordable broadband out to some of our most difficult to reach customers,” says Andrew Petersen, director of external affairs and corporate communications for TDS. “Increasing access to a high-speed broadband connection will positively impact local economies and help to draw in businesses considering a move to the area, but unwilling to choose an area without a high speed connection.”
Once contracts for round two applications are signed, TDS will have 36 months to complete construction of the networks. The round one projects are on track to be completed in 2012.
See what TDS president & CEO had to say about the first RUS announcement (three announcements were made in August); check out the national and local maps to see the TDS areas that will be impacted across the U.S.
(Editor's Note: According to the above map, no Vermont locations are included in this project.)
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