TDS lauds Governor Walker broadband announcement

Broadband investment proposals hold tremendous promise for Wisconsin residents.

Today, Governor Walker announced and forwarded important broadband investment proposals to state legislators. The proposals encourage policymakers to pass stand-alone legislation to increase funding for broadband expansion grants. The current program, which was created as part of the 2011-13 biennial budget, has an annual grant award budget of $1.5 million. The proposal Governor Walker announced today aggressively accelerates that amount to $15.5 million.

The following statement can be attributed to Drew Petersen, vice president of External Affairs and Communications for TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS^®):

            “TDS is energized to continue working with Governor Walker and Wisconsin legislative leadership to expand broadband service to thousands of high-cost, hard-to-serve homes and businesses across our service footprint.

            “For years, TDS has focused on providing robust, reliable communications services for our rural and suburban customers. In fact, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars bringing broadband service to more than 95 percent of our customers. We know these services bring essential educational and economic opportunities to high-cost, rural areas of the country.

            “Today’s action by the Governor shines an important spotlight on getting broadband service to all parts of the state. We have a proven track record when it comes to leveraging state and federal grants to improve and expand broadband service, here in Wisconsin and across the country. In fact, in recent years, we received grants from the Wisconsin Broadband Grant Program to provide broadband in the Town of Cranmoor, in central Wisconsin, and the Town of Berry, in southeastern Wisconsin. We plan to aggressively pursue more grants, should the legislature enact these important economic development proposals.

            “Wisconsin residents deserve highly reliable and affordable broadband service, no matter where they reside. With this announcement, Governor Walker has made broadband infrastructure investment a top budget priority. TDS looks forward to partnering with the State of Wisconsin to ensure broader coverage and availability of broadband thereby setting the course for Wisconsin to become the best in the upper Midwest.”