Federal stimulus grants help TDS® expand broadband Internet services in Colo.
Customers in Delta County Tele-Comm, Inc. serving area to receive broadband access
TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS®) has been approved for $2.4 million in broadband expansion projects to bring high speed Internet services to residents and businesses near Cedaredge, Crawford, and Somerset, Colo. This award to TDS, for Delta County Tele-Comm, Inc., was announced today by the USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
The project is expected to put 48 people to work in the area constructing the network during the next 36 months. For this project, TDS will receive $1.8 million from the RUS and will invest nearly $609,000 to construct the network.
As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, TDS submitted 46 applications in the second round of broadband stimulus funding availability in March. Coupled with announcements on Aug. 4 and 18, TDS has been approved for 42 of the projects they applied for totaling $123.5 million for broadband expansion in 20 states. TDS will receive $92.6 million in federal grants and provide $30.9 million of its own funds to complete the projects.
“This is great news for our local customers, contractors, and employees alike,” says Dave Wittwer, president and CEO of TDS Telecommunications Corp. “We know it’s been a long wait for many in this community. These funds will help us close the gap and deliver broadband to more residents and businesses waiting for high speed connectivity.”
More approvals could be forthcoming as the RUS continues its work to meet the September 30, 2010 statutory deadline requiring the agency to distribute all $2.6 billion in federal broadband stimulus funding under their jurisdiction.
“The announcement today demonstrates the trust RUS has in TDS’ ability to deliver quality broadband services,” says Andrew Petersen, director of external affairs and corporate communications for TDS. “We fought hard to have the rules changed after round one to increase the number of markets that could qualify and we submitted very detailed applications.”
Once contracts are signed, TDS will have up to thirty-six months to complete construction of the networks in these 42 project areas.
This month’s announcements follow TDS’ success in round one. The company received $12.5 million in grants to construct and expand its broadband networks in Chatham, Mich. and Butler, Ala. Construction began recently and both projects are on track to be completed in 2012.
NOTE: Click to view the Aug. 4 and Aug. 18 announcements and national/local maps.
—30—
