MADISON, Wis. (May 23, 2017) – Construction is now under way to expand and improve broadband to nearly 2,700 locations in Craig County, Va. TDS Telecom (TDS®) began work in January of 2017 in the New Castle Telephone Company coverage area. Construction is expected to be done in early 2019.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated an average of $2.3 million a year for the next 10 years to reach residents in some of the hardest to serve areas in Virginia. The funding will also be used to maintain a voice and broadband network as well as building out to these locations. The FCC’s Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) will provide funding to 1,267 locations and the remaining customers will also receive benefits from this network upgrade.
Virginia residents can visit the TDS website to find out how this federal program may impact their location.
Depending on location, most TDS customers in eligible rural areas will receive broadband speeds of 25Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25/3). Under the agreement with the FCC, the remaining customers will receive broadband service at lower speeds of 10/1 and 4/1Mbps.
“We are proud to be part of this massive modernization project with the FCC,” said Tom McCabe, manager – State Government Affairs at TDS. “We are eager to begin work to build faster connections to more than 5,200 locations in Virginia.”
In January, TDS announced it elected to receive approximately $75.1 million a year to increase broadband access in 25 states from the FCC’s A-CAM, under the Connect America Fund (CAF) program. TDS will leverage the funds over the next 10 years to support the buildout of rural broadband networks to nearly 160,000 locations across the country.
TDS has been doing business in Virginia since 1974 and owns three telephone companies in the state. TDS employs 13 people in Virginia.
Media contact: Cheryl McCollum, Associate Manager of Public Relations / 608-664-2388 / cheryl.mccollum@tdstelecom.com
TDS Telecommunications Corporation (TDS Telecom/TDS®), a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., is the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the U.S. and a growing force in the cable industry. TDS provides 1.2 million connections to high-speed internet, phone, and TV entertainment services in nearly 900 rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities. For residential customers, TDS deploys 1Gig internet access, IPTV service, cable TV options, and traditional wireline services. The company offers businesses advanced solutions, including: VoIP (managedIP Hosted voice), high-speed internet, fiber optics, data networking, and hosted-managed services. Visit tdstelecom.com or tdsbusiness.com.
Headquartered in Madison, Wis., TDS Telecom operates OneNeck IT Solutions LLC and BendBroadband, which is part of TDS Broadband Service LLC. Combined, the company employs more than 3,400 people.
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 500® company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately six million customers nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, and TDS Broadband Service LLC. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. employs 10,400 people. Visit tdsinc.com
Cherokee County, Alabama could certainly use some upgrades, too.
Judith, Yes, Cherokee County is on our list of places to receive an upgrade. Our team is working on scheduling a timeline for the hundreds of communities that will be receiving upgrades over the next few years. Would you like to be added to a list of individuals who have asked to be updated on upgrade timelines? Cheryl
I have heard rumors that the Craig county upgrade will not be completed as soon as it was stated. Is there any truth to this?
The Craig County upgrade is expected to be done in early 2019.
Hi, How can I find out where and when the upgrades to Craig Co. VA are taking place.
I was told our area would have it done by Fall 2017. Our internet is now just about non-existing. Having trouble paying bills and getting emails. Not good in rural VA.
Waiting anxiously. Thank you.
Hi Joanne,
The upgrades are expected to be done in early 2019. We remain under construction in Craig County. Cheryl
Can we get an update on the Craig County, VA broadband upgrade?
The upgrades are expected to be done in early 2019. We remain under construction in Craig County. Cheryl