Broadband to improve for 159,612 locations in U.S.

FCC allocates $75.1 million a year to TDS

MADISON, Wis. (Feb. 17, 2017) – TDS Telecom (TDS®) will expand broadband to nearly 160,000 locations in the United States thanks to funding from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  The FCC allocated to TDS $75.1 million a year for the next 10 years to reach residents in some of the hardest to serve areas in the country. The funding will also be used to maintain existing voice and broadband network as well as build outs to new locations.

Residents can visit the TDS website to find out how this federal program may impact their location. As TDS finalizes the engineering and buildout plans, more details, including project start dates, will be added to the website.

Depending on location, most TDS customers in eligible rural areas will receive guaranteed broadband speeds of 25Mbps download and 3Mbps 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 proud to be part of this massive modernization project with the FCC,” said Kevin Hess, executive vice president at TDS. “We are eager to begin work to build faster connections to nearly 160,000 locations throughout the country.”

For nearly a decade, TDS has worked with FCC Commissioners, their staff and federal trade associations to create a plan to allow for the expansion of rural networks served by rate-of-return companies, including TDS. This FCC funding ensures more rural residents will have access to improved broadband service and reliable speeds.