RUS, NTIA web site hosts summary of stimulus applications filed
All TDS applications for funding posted
MADISON, Wis. — This week, the Broadband USA Web site was updated to include a summary of all applications received by NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) and RUS (Rural Utility Service). The site includes all 13 funding requests submitted by TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS™) in mid-Aug.
“We’re hopeful we’ll receive full grant funding in each of the areas where we’ve applied,” says Drew Petersen, director of external affairs and communications for TDS. “With these potential partnership funds, we’ll be able to connect more than 8,000 homes and businesses in nine states with fiber-optic, high-speed broadband Internet.”
When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act first passed, TDS planned to apply for broadband stimulus funds to connect all TDS customers without access to high-speed connections in rural areas. After reviewing the guidelines created by the Rural Utility Service (RUS) in Washington, D.C., however, very few TDS areas qualified for 100 percent grant funding.
The RUS guidelines defined an unserved area as a community located at least 50 miles from a populated area of 20,000 or more. This significantly reduced the number of markets TDS could apply for in the first round of available funding (two additional rounds of funding are anticipated).
TDS did apply for funding in every market where we were eligible for a 100 percent grant and high-speed broadband Internet was not already available. A complete summary of TDS’ applications is available at the Broadband USA Web site.
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