TDS Telecom to sell Colorado phone company to Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, Inc.

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS^®) and Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association (Eastern Slope Technologies/ESTech) announced they have signed a stock purchase agreement to transfer ownership of TDS’ Strasburg Telephone Company to Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, Inc.

“We are confident there will be a seamless transition of operations,” said TDS Telecom President and CEO Jim Butman. “Customers can expect a high-level of quality service with their new provider.”

Eastern Slope Rural Telephone Association, Inc. has served the Eastern Colorado communities of Hugo, Arriba, Bennett, Eads, Flagler, Genoa, Haswell, Karval, Kit Carson, and Woodrow for over 70 years. Eastern Slope Technologies proudly provides reliable high-speed internet services and voice services, with customer centric service and tech support. 

“As the local Cooperative broadband service provider in surrounding areas, this purchase allows us to expand our reach into the Strasburg community and provide the same excellent service that we provide to our current members,” said Bradley Welp, Eastern Slope’s CEO. “As a leader in telecommunications and connectivity solutions, we are excited for the opportunity to improve broadband services for our neighbors in the Strasburg area, expanding opportunities for education, healthcare, remote work compatibility, entertainment, e-commerce, and business operations.”

Eastern Slope is committed to creating a seamless transition for current TDS customers and will reach out after the closing date to continue transparent communication and maximize customer satisfaction throughout the transition. Eastern Slope is dedicated to providing every customer with service that not only meets their needs but exceeds their expectations.

For more information on Eastern Slope and its services, visit www.easternslopetech.com.

TDS, a Madison, Wisconsin-based company, has been doing business in Colorado since 1991 and is retaining its cable operations in the state. In February, TDS announced the transfer of ownership of its Delta County operations in Colorado. Subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.

Stifel served as the exclusive financial advisor to TDS in this transaction.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: intense competition; the ability to attract people of outstanding talent throughout all levels of the organization; TDS Telecom's lack of scale relative to larger competitors; changes in demand, consumer preferences and perceptions, price competition, or churn rates; advances in technology; impacts of costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties and/or expansion of TDS Telecom’s businesses; the ability of the company to successfully construct and manage its networks; difficulties involving third parties with which TDS Telecom does business; uncertainties