TDS Breaks Ground on First Stimulus Project

TDS begins construction on their first of many broadband stimulus funded projects.

Chatham, Michigan is the first market where TDS will put broadband stimulus dollars to work, bringing broadband to some 900 unserved households. TDS will use a combination of fiber to the home (FTTH), DSL, and “other technologies” to bring broadband speeds of between 3 Mb/s and 10 Mb/s to these new broadband deprived homes. TDS spokeswoman Cindy Tomlinson tells Telecompetitor that the Chatham project represents the largest, cost wise at $8.6 million, of their 44 total stimulus projects and will create or retain 170 jobs. TDS received a total of $105 million in broadband stimulus funding, primarily from the RUS BIP program for last mile access projects. They plan to add $31 million of their own funding