Based in Madison, Wisconsin, TDS Telecom is an American telecommunications company. It is the seventh largest local exchange provider in the United States and a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems Inc.
More than 900 rural and suburban communities, as well as urban metropolitan areas, are served by TDS Telecom, which provides telephone, high-speed Internet and television services to customers in thirty states.
TDS Telecom has revealed a remarkable increase in its year-end target for new fiber runs. The company’s new goal is to reach 200,000 by the end of the year, up from 175,000 initially planned.
This choice was made in response to TDS’s fiber performance in the third quarter, which was “better than expected”.
TDS Telecom reached 61,000 fiber-connected sites in the last quarter, bringing its annual total to 127,000. These figures add to the remarkable total fiber runs of 709,000.
Michelle Brukwicki, chief financial officer of TDS Telecom, is optimistic about the company’s future goals. By the end of 2023, TDS intends to introduce fiber to each of its growing markets, according to Brukwicki.
These markets consist primarily of regions in the Pacific Northwest and Wisconsin, TDS’ home state.
Montana (Missoula, Butte, Helena and Great Falls), Idaho (Twin Falls and Caldwell) and Wisconsin (Fond du Lac and Sheboygan) are notable recent additions to the list of growing markets.
TDS has elected to participate in the Federal Communications Commission’s 24-state Enhanced Alternative Connect America Model (A-CAM) to further improve the services it offers. According to the company, 270,000 underserved locations in the ILEC coverage area are to receive speeds of 100/20 Mbps.
TDS will receive $90 million in Enhanced-ACAM support annually in return for its efforts; This is an increase from the $82 million previously provided annually under the current A-CAM program.
Over the next 15 years, income support is expected to reach nearly $1.3 billion.
TDS Telecom recognizes the growing competitive pressures in its historic territory while celebrating its fiber optic achievements.
Michelle Brukwicki said, “We are considering capital prioritization and expected economic returns as we respond to competition in certain ILEC markets with fiber optic builds. »
“The E-ACAM program will provide funding to help us defend these markets. »
TDS intends to “slow down [its] spending and focus on increasing broadband penetration and revenue in our new fiber markets,” according to Brukwicki, for 2024. This suggests the company will lower its new overage target for that year.
She said: “Service addresses in 2024 are likely to be closer to those we delivered in 2022,” indicating TDS 133,000 new fiber runs were made in the previous year.
TDS reported a stable operating revenue of $256 million per year in terms of financial performance.
In contrast, residential income increased 4% to $177 million. The expansion of wireline services is responsible for this increase, which brought in $20 million.
TDS Telecom’s ambitious fiber expansion plans demonstrate the company’s commitment to providing high-speed Internet services to disadvantaged populations.
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