TDS Kicks Off Final Rebuilding Project in Ruidoso with Ribbon Cutting

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS^®) joined a special ribbon cutting ceremony held today, Sept. 10, led by the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) at Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso. The event marked the start of construction on two grants to help rebuild vital communications connections in the state following last year’s wildfires. TDS will receive $251,300 through the state’s Connectivity to Declared Disaster Areas Grants program to help restore the final, hardest-to-reach areas in Ruidoso, with fiber-optic infrastructure.

“Rebuilding after a disaster is always challenging, but moments like this show what can be achieved when public and private partners unite behind a common goal,” said TDS Senior Vice President of Network Operations Joe Read. “This grant gives us vital support to not only restore the remaining lost connections, but also to make them stronger than ever with new fiber infrastructure.”

OBAE Director Jeff Lopez said, “We feel it’s imperative that we award these grants to help families and communities affected by disasters like wildfires and flooding.”

Last year, TDS lost its main network hub and miles of key infrastructure that connected the main cell towers in the community. Although the company quickly restored services to those towers and most customers, some areas of the company’s network were a total loss. TDS will leverage the funding to build a fiber-to-the-home network that will deliver up to 8 Gig symmetrical speeds along with TV and voice services.

“We would not be here today without the support and leadership of the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham,” said Read. “We thank you for your trust and support. We are honored to carry this work forward and help ensure that Ruidoso not only recovers but thrives.”