February 13, 2014 — TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS®) announces part of its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus-funded broadband Internet project in Maine, south of Kingfield, is now accessible to some residents.
Construction on the stimulus-funded project should wrap up by summer 2014. Once complete, more than 1,450 residents and businesses in parts of Franklin and Somerset counties will gain access to a high-speed Internet connection.
More than 100 miles of fiber optics cabling is being installed and 40 cabinets (which protect the advanced network electronics) are being placed throughout TDS’ Somerset Telephone Company, to provide high-speed Internet access to more residents. TDS will alert customers when service is accessible or customers can call 888-225-5837 to sign up.
TDS is receiving funding for 44 projects, including this one in Maine, from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) as part of the ARRA.
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 27,000 customers.
For background information and updates, visit www.tdstelecom.com/stimulus.
