TDS commends FCC for acting on A-CAM

Rate-of-return carriers, including TDS, are ready for rural broadband expansion.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved — and ordered — the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) for the nation’s rate-of-return carriers, including TDS®. Implementation on this critical broadband modernization program will begin in January 2017.

The following statement can be attributed to Bob DeBroux, director of Public Policy and Federal Regulatory Affairs for TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS):

                "The Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) for rural rate-of-return carriers, including TDS, is a great illustration of the FCC’s leadership on matters impacting rural broadband expansion. This program, now approved, will result in hundreds of thousands of rural citizens receiving upgraded, broadband connections.

                “Since the release of the FCC’s national broadband plan in 2010, TDS has worked continuously with FCC Commissioners, their staff and our federal trade associations to create a plan that allows for the expansion of rural networks served by rate-of-return companies, including TDS. Ultimately, this program will ensure more people have access to improved broadband service and more reliable speeds.

                “Today’s decision represents the culmination of those efforts. It also marks the beginning of a ten-year plan to modernize rural broadband availability and affordability in many of the nation’s most hard-to-serve areas.

                “TDS commends the commissioners and staff at the FCC for dedicating the time and effort, on a bi-partisan basis, to solve this vexing problem — the lack of sufficient and reliable access to broadband. This monumental decision will have an extremely positive impact on our rural customers, the communities we serve, and our employees who build these critical broadband networks.”