September 16, 2013 — TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS®) announces completion of its second American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus-funded broadband Internet project. About 250 additional households just west of Port Byron, N.Y. (see map) now have access to high-speed Internet service.
“The best part about finishing this project is that more customers have access to high-speed Internet service,” says Joe Kirk, manager of Project Implementation at TDS. “It’s especially meaningful because people who didn’t have Internet access before now have access to a reliable, high-speed Internet connection.”
More than seven miles of fiber optics cabling was installed and three cabinets (which protect the advanced network electronics) were placed throughout TDS’ Port Byron Telephone Company to provide high-speed Internet access to more residents.
TDS is receiving partial funding for 42 of their 44 projects, including this one, from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) as part of the ARRA. This is TDS’ fourth ARRA broadband stimulus project accessible by residents—and the second to be 100 percent complete. In mid-July, TDS announced completion of its project near Orchard Farm, Mo. TDS ARRA projects around Chatham, Mich. and Wind Lake, Wis. are accessible to a portion of households; these two projects are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“With funds from the federal broadband stimulus program, we’re able to connect residents and businesses in some of the most remote parts of communities we serve,” added Kirk. “Thanks to funding from the ARRA program, more New York residents now have access to a high-speed broadband connection.”
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 to more than 20,000 customers.
For more information, visit www.tdstelecom.com/stimulus.
