Broadband service now available in areas around Valders, Cleveland, Howards Grove, Wis.

TDS® announces the ARRA broadband stimulus project is now available to some homes; more residents will gain access to high-speed Internet service during next few months.

TDS Telecom (TDS®) announces part of its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus-funded broadband Internet project in Wisconsin—in the Valders area, as well as an area between Cleveland and Howards Grove—is accessible to some residents.

Construction on the stimulus-funded project should wrap up this spring. Once complete, more than 500 residents will gain access to a high-speed Internet connection.

More than 11 miles of fiber optics cabling is being installed and nine cabinets (which protect the advanced network electronics) are being placed throughout TDS’ EastCoast Telecom, to provide high-speed Internet access to more residents and businesses. TDS will alert customers when service is accessible or customers can call 888-225-5837 to sign up.

TDS is receiving funding for 44 projects, including this one in Wisconsin, from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) as part of the ARRA.

Nationwide, more than 95 percent of TDS customers already have access to high-speed Internet service. TDS is intent on providing as many remaining customers with broadband connectivity as possible. According to TDS, federal stimulus funds are helping to close the gap and deliver Internet connectivity to more than 27,000 customers.

For background information and updates, visit www.tdstelecom.com/stimulus.

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