TDS submits 13 broadband applications

After months of anticipation and weeks of hard work, TDS submitted 13 application requests for broadband funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A summary of the 13 proposed applications we filed with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture in mid-Aug. are now available on the Broadband USA Web site.

You’ll recall, the federal stimulus act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in Feb. 2009. At the end of July, the guidelines for applying for broadband stimulus funding were released—identifying an unserved “remote” area as a community located at least 50 miles from a populated area of 20,000 or more. After reviewing the definitional guidelines, we identified remote areas in nine states we serve met this definition and would qualify for 100 percent grant funding, including: Ariz., Ala., Colo., Ky., Mo., Maine, Mich., Minn., and Ore.

The applications, if approved, will expand broadband services to thousands of unserved, rural TDS customers. Funding decisions are expected to be announced by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Nov. 7 or later.

Please understand, if your area is not on this round-one submission list, we believe there is still hope for future funding opportunities. We’re working hard and talking with our federal representatives in Washington. We’re urging them to make modifications to the broadband stimulus application guidelines for round-two, so we can connect more businesses and consumers in our rural, unserved areas with reliable, high quality broadband services.

In related news, TDS is quoted in Business Week and Telecommunications Online offering perspective on the availability of stimulus funds.