TDS® announces completion of two ARRA broadband stimulus projects in Maine

Completed projects in deliver high-speed Internet service to a combined 1,250 households.

TDS Telecom (TDS®) announces the completion of two American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus-funded broadband Internet projects in Maine. The completion means businesses and a combined 1,250 households in Maine have gained access to high-speed Internet service.

TDS is receiving funding for 44 projects, including these two, from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) as part of the ARRA. A third project in Maine, in parts of Somerset and Franklin counties, is also nearly finished.

In mid-March, TDS announced a portion of the project around Corinna and Stetson was accessible. Today, the project is complete and enables nearly 550 area residents access to high-speed Internet service —about 100 more households than projected in TDS’ application. TDS installed nearly 15 miles of fiber optics cabling and seven cabinets throughout the area to complete this West Penobscot Telephone and Telegraph Company project. The cost, nearly $2.1 million, was funded in part by the RUS grant.

The other completed project in Maine impacts customers around Hartland and St. Albans. More than 20 miles of fiber optics cabling and 11 cabinets was installed throughout TDS’ Hartland and St. Albans Telephone Company. In late-February, TDS announced a portion of this project was available to customers. Today, nearly 700 residents — about 100 more households than projected in the application — have gained access to high-speed Internet service in this area. TDS projected the cost at nearly $2.7 million. The RUS grant covered 75 percent of the cost and TDS invested nearly $700,000.

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. With the help of ARRA funding, TDS has already expanded high-speed Internet service access to more than 30,500 households across the country.

For background information or to sign-up for services, call 888-225-5837 or 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 3,400 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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