TDS announces completion of the ARRA broadband stimulus project near Orchard Farm, Missouri

TDS Telecommunications announced completion of its first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus-funded broadband Internet project. Now, about 150 households near Orchard Farm (MO) have access to high-speed Internet service.

About 3 miles of fiber optics cabling was installed and three cabinets (which protect the advanced network electronics) were placed throughout TDS’ Orchard Farm Telephone Co. 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’ third ARRA broadband stimulus project accessible by residents—and the first to be 100 percent complete. 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.