UPDATE: TDS® completes broadband Internet project near Au Train, Mich.

TDS® announces the ARRA broadband stimulus project is complete; high-speed Internet service now available to businesses and nearly 1,300 households in areas around Chatham, Au Train.

TDS Telecom (TDS®) announces its broadband Internet project in Michigan — around Au Train and Chatham — is now complete. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus-funded project makes high-speed Internet accessible to just over 1,300 area residents and businesses, about 400 more homes than projected in TDS’ application for funding.

In November 2012, TDS announced a portion of this project in Michigan was completed; the portion around Au Train remained a work in process.

“This was a large and complicated project,” says Joe Kirk, manager of Project Implementation at TDS. “Pulling it all together successfully took the effort of many teams, people, and partnerships.”

Kirk points to the following for their efforts and ongoing support:
Local TDS team, led by David Moore
TDS support teams in Madison, Wis.
CHR Solutions, the engineering firm
Vendor partners Alcatel-Lucent USA, Calix, Inc., Metaswitch Networks, and R. Roese Contracting Company
Rural Utilities Service liaisons William Vogt and Kristine Reddy

TDS installed more than 125 miles of fiber optics cabling and 29 cabinets (which protect the advanced network electronics) throughout its Chatham Telephone Company. Customers interested in signing up for services should call 888-CALL-TDS (888-225-5837).

This is one of 44 projects that TDS is receiving funding for from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) as part of the ARRA. TDS projected the cost at about $8.6 million, which is funded in part by the RUS grant.

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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For more information, or a high-resolution map, contact: Cindy Tomlinson, Associate Manager-Public Relations / TDS Telecom / 608-664-4471 / cindy.tomlinson@tdstelecom.com

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS Telecom/TDS®) delivers high-speed internet, TV entertainment, and phone services to a mix of small to mid-sized urban, suburban and rural communities throughout the U.S. With 1.1 million connections, TDS’ mission is to create a better world through its communications services. Powered by fiber-optics and new industry-leading technologies, TDS delivers up to 8 Gigabit internet speeds and offers internet-protocol based TV entertainment solutions along with traditional phone services. TDS also offers businesses VoIP advanced communications solutions, dedicated internet service, and data networking services. Visit tdstelecom.com.

TDS Telecom, headquartered in Madison, Wis., employs 3,300 people and is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS]. Founded in 1969, Telephone and Data Systems provides wireless, broadband, video and voice services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses: UScellular and TDS Telecom. Visit tdsinc.com.

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