TDS to expand network in western Colorado

Construction is under way to expand and improve broadband to nearly 3,000 locations in western Colorado. TDS Telecom (TDS^®) began work in the spring in portions of Delta and Gunnison counties. Construction is expected to be done in the fall of 2018.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated $1.6 million each year to reach residents in some of the hardest to serve areas in Colorado. The funding will also be used to maintain a voice and broadband network as well as building out to these locations. The FCC’s Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) will provide funding to more than 3,000 locations in western Colorado with hundreds of additional customers to receive benefits from the network upgrade work.

Colorado residents can visit the TDS website (https://tdstelecom.com/networkupgrades.html) to find out how this federal program may impact their location.

Depending on location, most TDS customers in eligible rural areas will receive guaranteed broadband speeds of 25Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25/3). Under the agreement with the FCC, the remaining customers will receive broadband service at lower speeds of 10/1 and 4/1Mbps.

“We are excited to bring faster connections to customers in western Colorado,” said Gail Long, manager – State Government Affairs at TDS.

In January, TDS announced it elected to receive approximately $75.1 million a year to increase broadband access in 25 states from the FCC’s A-CAM, under the Connect America Fund (CAF) program. TDS will leverage the funds over the next 10 years to support the buildout of rural broadband networks to nearly 160,000 locations across the country.

TDS has been doing business in Colorado since 1991 and owns two telephone companies in the state. TDS employs 159 people in Colorado.