TDS® submits 46 applications to expand broadband
Federal stimulus applications would connect 27,870 households in 20 states.
The bell rang on round one; with the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) granting TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS®) $12.5 million for broadband expansion in Chatham, Mich. and Grove Hill, Ala. Now, TDS is ready for round two; announcing today the company has submitted 46 applications in 20 states. The applications also include eight markets re-submitted from the first round.
“We fought hard to have the rules changed after round one, so that more rural communities we serve would meet the eligibility requirements,” says Andrew Petersen, director of external affairs and communications for TDS. “If all our applications are approved, 27,870 more households will gain access to a high speed broadband connection in our markets.”
Petersen is referring to round one guidelines which defined eligible market size and distance from metro areas. No longer does the remote definition of being "at least 50 miles from a population of 20,000" restrict TDS’ ability to apply for RUS funding. Changes to the second round qualifications allowed TDS to submit a greater number of applications, which would serve 27,870 households and potentially create 2,683 private sector jobs.
TDS filed round 2 applications for the following companies:
Alabama
Butler Telephone Company, Inc.
Peoples Telephone Company, Inc.
Arizona
Arizona Telephone Company
Colorado
Delta County Tele-Comm, Inc.
Florida
Quincy Telephone Company
Georgia
Blue Ridge Telephone Company
Idaho
Potlatch Telephone Company
Indiana
Camden Telephone Company, Inc.
Home Telephone Company, Inc. {Waldron}
Tipton Telephone Company, Inc.
Tri-County Telephone Company, Inc.
Kentucky
Leslie County Telephone Company
Salem Telephone Company
Maine
Hartland and St. Albans Telephone Company
Somerset Telephone Company
The West Penobscot Telephone and Telegraph Company
Michigan
Communication Corporation of Michigan
Island Telephone Company
Minnesota
Arvig Telephone Company
Mid-State Telephone Company
Missouri
Orchard Farm Telephone Co.
Mississippi
Calhoun City Telephone Company, Inc.
Southeast Mississippi Telephone Company, Inc.
New Hampshire
Kearsarge Telephone Company
Merrimack County Telephone Company
New York
Deposit Telephone Company, Inc.
Port Byron Telephone Company
Township Telephone Company, Inc.
Oklahoma
Mid-America Telephone, Inc.
Oklahoma Communication Systems, Inc.
Wyandotte Telephone Company
Tennessee
Tennessee Telephone Company
Virginia
New Castle Telephone Company
Washington
McDaniel Telephone Company
Wisconsin
Badger Telecom, LLC
Burlington, Brighton & Wheatland Telephone Company, LLC
Central State Telephone Company, LLC
EastCoast Telecom of Wisconsin, LLC
Grantland Telecom, LLC
Midway Telephone Company, LLC
Riverside Telecom, LLC
Scandinavia Telephone Company, LLC
Southeast Telephone Co. of Wisconsin, LLC
Stockbridge & Sherwood Telephone Company, LLC
The Farmers Telephone Company, LLC
UTELCO, LLC
On Jan. 15, 2010, RUS and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration released separate Notices of Funding Availability. The two agencies will be awarding approximately $2.6 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, in grants, loans, and loan/grant combinations in the second round of broadband stimulus funding.
“Certainly TDS is experienced at providing rural areas with broadband. In fact, over 93 percent of our customers nationwide enjoy high-speed Internet service today,” says Petersen. “These funding packages will help us reach customers who have been clamoring for broadband, but for whom the economics simply didn’t add up.”
Results from round two are expected to be announced by September 2010.
